Cymbidium makeover time! Help required please

[aprilia4life]

Long time/first time



Posted this on reddit but would appreciate any assistance from this forum also.

Got this Cymbidium from my mum a while back, it has been doing OK (put out a lot of healthy flowers last year) but I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can to keep it growing well. I am based in Sydney, Australia

It has a couple of yellow leaves, but it does get quite a bit of winter sun (it's shaded in summer due to sun angles). Some of the ?bulbs? have died back which is a bit concerning, but my watering has been pretty sporadic over summer (in Australia, so very hot).

Questions:

1) Are the yellow leaves anything to worry about, given it's in the sun a bit

2) Are the black spotted leaves anything to worry about? Anything that can be done

2) Are the ?bulbs/nodes? dying a problem due to me not watering properly, as some are surviving well enough

3) Should I let leaves/organic matter sit in the gaps of the plant on top or should I clear it out so the top gets air/light

4) I take it I should repot soon, as it's getting quite busy in there, should I hold off on repotting until after flowering. It's coming into winter here, should I repot now or is it too risky doing it just before it cools down (temps will get to 4C/40F overnight and 20C/70F during the day)

5) Are they flower spikes coming through? There are at least 3 in the picture.

6) I wouldn't mind keeping the pot, should I just drill some more holes at the bottom for drainage during the repot

7) When I repot, should I remove the bulbs/nodes that have no leaves

Thanks!

[Bulbopedilum]

I have no experience on Cymbidiums but I'll answer number 7.

Originally Posted by aprilia4life

7) When I repot, should I remove the bulbs/nodes that have no leaves

No. They will serve as storage for water and energy. Don't remove any bulbs.

Also, I can't see the pic.

[Roberta]

The picture says "removed" so I can't see it. But here are answers to some questions:
1. Old leaves will yellow and drop. Force of nature. For newer leaves, ideal color is sort of lime green, meaning they are getting enough light to bloom. Dark green not so good, may not bloom
2. Black spots can be fungal (if leaves got splashed with cold water) Dark leaf tips can be hard water or too much fertilizer. Not particularly a problem
3. Don't get too compulsive about it, but it's a good idea to clean up old leaves and other crud which can attract bugs, etc.
4. Wait until after blooming to repot. It's best done in the late winter or into spring, when new growth is active. (Which can be right after spring, but even in the summer is OK if plants can be protected from extreme heat. Definitely not now in the southern hemisphere.
5. Can't see the picture, but early on it can be hard to distinguish between new growth and spike (as they develop the new growth is more flat, the spikes round) The plant will tell you soon enough...
6. When you repot, you want the pot to be just big enough for about 2 years' growth. So whether you keep the same pot or get another will depend on how much new growth there is... which you can't know yet.
7. Bulbs with no leaves (back bulbs), if they are firm and green, are the "storage tanks" for the plant. Don't be in a rush to remove them unless they are shriveled. A plant, or division, should have at least 3-5 bulbs (with or without leaves) to have enough vigor. I prefer to have one big strong plant rather than several small weak ones. Once it gets big enough, you can remove excess back bulbs that take up too much room. But you just want to be sure that your plant has adequate reserves.

[aprilia4life]

Sorry all, photo link wasn't working. Should be good now.

Also, had a feel of the bulbs and most feel pretty firm, with only a couple that just feel empty and dried out.

[Roberta]

Now I can see it. I see a couple of yellow new growths.. sometimes they just don't make it. The plant looks pretty healthy. I can't see anything that looks like spikes, but there is plenty of time for those to develop, it is only the middle of fall for you. While some Cyms bloom this early, most will bloom in the late winter or early spring..

When you repot, you may want to remove some back bulbs. That will have the effect of dividing the plant (but you can put all the pieces back in the same pot unless you want pieces to trade with other people) Again, though, EACH piece needs to have at least 3 bulbs (with or without leaves), 5 would be better since on this plant they are small. You'll want to remove rotted roots, but depending on what you find when you unpot it, you probably don't want to be too aggressive. I tug on roots that look bad - if they come loose easily, that's fine. If just the outside comes off and the center "stringy" part is firmly attached I leave it, it's still capable of hydrating the plant. So it depends on how many are good and how many are bad, as to how aggressive to be in removing the not-so-good ones. But... no rush, this activity is 3-4 months in the future.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

You can't be careless watering Cymbidiums in hot, dry weather. They shouldn't dry out. In your climate they should be very easy to grow outdoors all year.

[aprilia4life]

Picture of the back of the pot. That clear space is solid with roots. Looks like I am going to need a bigger pot...

[Roberta]

You may need a bigger pot, but see what you get when you unpot it... depending on the quality of the roots and the old pseudobulbs, you might end up consolidating the growing part. You'll see in the spring. (ES, remember that aprilla4life is in Australia... it's mid-fall, heading for winter - and maybe Cym. blooming time. No potting until spring is approaching)

[estación seca]

Yes, but she mentioned she hadn't watered enough during hot, dry weather. That can cause yellowing leaves. The developing shoot looks good, so I'm guessing watering has been more consistent.

[Cym Ladye]

If you are serious about finding the answers to your repotting questions, consider sending a request to goldcoastcymgrowrs@gmail.com. They will be glad to send you the complimentary, complete instructions on dividing and repotting your Cym. as well as the CSA recommendations on care. They are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many on this Board have sent for these and have been really glad they did.