cymbidium and dividing

[mattryan]

thanks for all the great advice here I have a question regarding a cymbidium that I have. Should I of divided it this past summer? We didn't really have a great summer so I got lazy and didn't divide it. It is a reliable bloomer and I think has 1 spike developing. I think it might have too many old bulbs curious to see if others think I should of divided. If so I wil do so this spring

[estación seca]

It was fine either way. When they've been in the same pot that long the medium often is breaking down, and that becomes the reason you need to divide. Also, how much plant can you lift?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It was fine either way. When they've been in the same pot that long the medium often is breaking down, and that becomes the reason you need to divide. Also, how much plant can you lift?

I agree on both counts... if it has been in the pot for 3 years or more, it definitely needs repotting. Wrestling with a big, overgrown Cym is a physical challenge. Not only do you have to lift it, but you have to get it sufficiently apart to get some of those old back bulbs out of there. It is less damaging to tear it apart than to cut, since it will break along natural lines with minimum ancillary damage to good p-bulbs and roots. But depending on the strength of one's hands that may or may not be possible. When dividing, don't be too aggressive - the p-bulbs on this look fairly small, so you'd want divisions with at least 5 p-bulbs (big standard Cyms are OK with 3) But then too, how many of these plants do you want? In the photo, it looks like one could get two nice, robust divisions. Maybe 3. If the divisions are big, they may very well bloom the following fall. If small, they would have to get big again, and probably would miss a year. So I favor a few robust divisions rather than many puny ones.

[Cym Ladye]

This plant is waaaay past dividing. When you get this many BBs in the center, it means the roots have broken down and are nothing but mush in the center of the pot. This causes them to hold too much moisture in the pot.

If you will send a request to goldcoastcymgrowers@gmail.com (a branch of the Cymbidium Society of America) they will be glad to send you the free "How to divide a Cymbidium". Many on this Board have found this very helpful.

You will find that you will get as many answers on how to properly repot a Cymbidium as people you ask.

[mattryan]

Thankyou for the replies. I figured that it probably should of been repotted this past spring. Will it be OK until this spring or should I repot now? I know how to repot as I've repotted both of my cyms in the past. My husband is going to love the fact I have another cym

[Roberta]

I suggest waiting until spring... Plant looks healthy so I don't think there's an emergency. I don't know anything about growing Cyms in your area (where clearly it's indoors through the winter) but as the days get shorter and darker (even if it is not terribly cold with greenhouse protection) I would not expect it to be doing a lot of new growing just now.

[flowerpower]

I would wait as well. When you do divide, I would take off some backbulbs to make even more cymbidiums!!! It looks like an ideal candidate.