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04-13-2016, 05:06 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Posts: 283
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I'm fairly new with the orchids too, but here is what I've done with others (not Cym.) orchids I've potted on.
I make up a batch of water with super thrive (or some other additive to encourage new root growth) and maybe some very weak fertilizer. Soak the plant in the bath for 20 or 30 minutes. This softens up the roots and makes it easier to get it out of the pot and/or to remove old media. I think soaking is fine for most orchids, you just don't want to leave them in the water all the time.
Then you can rinse the roots under running water to help get old media out, clip any rotten bits, etc.
You can leave the plant out of media for a couple of days if you need to, for example if you realize you don't have the right pot or whatnot -- and that can give the roots a chance to dry a bit.
You might also want to soak the new media in just plain water overnight or for a few hours and give it a good rinse.
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04-14-2016, 01:40 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Zone: 9b
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rothrock42
...... I think soaking is fine for most orchids, you just don't want to leave them in the water all the time....
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Impacted root balls on Cyms are not like "most orchids". After repotting thousands of orchids over the 45+ years I have been specializing in growing them with multiple awards, I think I have seen just about every scenario in roots. There is no way the media can be washed out of this root ball. Nor, should all the roots, especially if they are rotten which these may be, be allowed to stay in the new mix.
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Post Thanks / Like - 2 Likes
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04-15-2016, 12:19 AM
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 13,906
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I don't agree with trimming roots to a specific length... I hate to cut a firm, healthily-growing root. Mushy rotted ones need to go, for sure. In attacking an overgrown Cym, I try to open up the plant by pulling apart at a natural space. If I can't generate the muscle, I'll slip a serrated-edge knife (sterilized in my propane torch flame) to cut enough of the rhizome to get some leverage. But then I can get at the middle, clean out dead roots and reduce the number of back bulbs if there are too many. If you want to divide the plant, this is the time. But any division needs to have at least three or more firm pseudobulbs, any less will give a weak plant. If you have cleaned out non-productive growth from the middle, it may fit back into the same size pot, or go up a bit - but they do like "tight shoes", and tend to bloom best just before they break the pot.
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04-15-2016, 02:01 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Zone: 4a
Location: New York state
Posts: 1,495
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question for CymLady
I appreciate your expertise and would like to ask you if you can treat a large Oncidium that's all roots the same way you would do a Cymbidium ?
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04-25-2016, 02:06 PM
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Jr. Member
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cym Ladye
First of all, are the roots firm? From the photo, they appear soft and grey. If soft, you definitely need to remove at least half of them. Potting up rotten roots will only cause more problems.
Do not try to get the old mix off. Simply cut the root ball off about three inches below the pseudo bulbs. Twitching out the old mix from a compacted root ball like you have will only break the roots, assuming they are still good. Since you need to trim at least half the root length before you place in a new pot anyway, why not do it first?
The mix you have shown is OK for Cyms. but it depends on where you live. If you are in a part of the country where it is hot and humid in the summer, you will want a coarser mix. If you are in a hot and dry climate you will want a mix which holds water longer. The mix shown here is halfway in between,.
It is more difficult to pick the old media out of a wet root ball than a dry one. I do not water my plants to be repotted for at least a week and often two before I tackle them.
For an excellent free guide on repottiing Cymbidiums, send a PM to goldcoastcymgrowers@gmail.com. Many of the Forum members here have done so and have said it was very helpful.
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The roots are very firm and healthy. No squishiness or discoloration. Thanks for your response!
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04-25-2016, 02:12 PM
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Jr. Member
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cym Ladye
Impacted root balls on Cyms are not like "most orchids". After repotting thousands of orchids over the 45+ years I have been specializing in growing them with multiple awards, I think I have seen just about every scenario in roots. There is no way the media can be washed out of this root ball. Nor, should all the roots, especially if they are rotten which these may be, be allowed to stay in the new mix.
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Also I recently got a water softener and I don't know what to use to water all my little guys. Distilled water with fertilizer? I've heard that softened tap is bad. Mineral water? I know this is a basic question. I just don't want to hurt them with the softened water. I have also heard pure distilled will leach the nutrients from the plants.
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04-25-2016, 04:05 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,393
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leslieann88
Also I recently got a water softener and I don't know what to use to water all my little guys. Distilled water with fertilizer? I've heard that softened tap is bad. Mineral water? I know this is a basic question. I just don't want to hurt them with the softened water. I have also heard pure distilled will leach the nutrients from the plants.
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Don't use the softener water. It's high in salt, and fertilisers are salts, so too much will burn the roots.
If you use RO or distilled water, then you need a fertiliser that adds calcium.
Go to First Ray's site and do some reading up on fertilisers.
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04-25-2016, 10:28 PM
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Jr. Member
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Zone: 7b
Location: Dallas Tx
Posts: 6
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I just watched a video on you tube about a similar plant that they did soak in water over nite to remove all the old material you might want to search there, it looked so much like what you have, good luck
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04-26-2016, 01:27 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Zone: 9b
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baroness
I just watched a video on you tube about a similar plant that they did soak in water over nite to remove all the old material you might want to search there, it looked so much like what you have, good luck
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I always like to say "Ask 10 hobbyist orchid growers how they repot their plants and you will get 12 different answers, at least"! There are some basic sterilization rules to follow, but the rest is up to the individual. My only suggestion is to try different ways and 6 mo to a a year from repotting, gently lift the plant part way out of the pot and see what the roots are doing. You may be surprised. Just remember on Cyms, no matter how firm a root, it will die if it is broken.
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