Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
Register Gift cymbidium--what do I do now? Members Gift cymbidium--what do I do now? Gift cymbidium--what do I do now? Today's PostsGift cymbidium--what do I do now? Gift cymbidium--what do I do now? Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
Go Back   Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! > >
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-31-2008, 02:42 PM
dupree1977 dupree1977 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2007
Zone: 6a
Location: Eastern Kentucky
Age: 47
Posts: 14
Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
Default Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?

My Aunt gave me as a gift this orchid which she says is a Cymbidium. It has no id but it looks like one to me, what is left of it, that is. She told me I could have it if I could save it (little did she know that I've never even owned a Cymbidium).

I am not sure whether I should repot it or give it time to re-establish itself. The pot is huge, 10-12 inches.

So I appeal to those of you with more experience, what should I do with this?
Attached Thumbnails
Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?-100_5780-jpg   Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?-100_5781-jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-31-2008, 03:02 PM
Royal Royal is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jan 2008
Zone: 8a
Location: Piney Woods of East Texas
Age: 47
Posts: 3,253
Default

Yeah, it looks like a Cymbidium, or what is left of one... Looks like you got your hands on it just in time!

It definitely needs repotting. Separate out out the rotten stuff and put the new growth in something that drains better. I'm no expert, but someone should chime in with a good medium.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-31-2008, 03:13 PM
stonedragonfarms's Avatar
stonedragonfarms stonedragonfarms is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2007
Zone: 9b
Location: Gleneden Beach, OR
Age: 48
Posts: 1,309
Default

Dupree:

It is a cymbidium...and it appears that it was wayyyy overpotted...
1. Get it out of that pot/mix. Wash the roots off and examine them. I suspect that there are very few viable roots left--any that are brown/deep grey will have to go. Some will advocate cutting them back, I usually just give them a tug and pull off the outer root structure, but leave the "thread" that runs from the pseudobulb down the root intact. I am guessing that nearly all of the existing roots are no longer alive.
2. I am also conjecturing that once you get the plant out of the pot you will find that the majority of the remaining back bulbs will either fall from the clump, or will be in a state of decay/dessication. With sterile shears or a knife remove them. I would aim to have the existing sprout and the bulb that it is growing from(and any live root material should there be any from either) at the end of this step.
3. There are a few different routes you can go form here, but I would put the "plant" at this stage somewhere dry and 70F or so to dry a bit for 48hrs or so. The cuts that you made will callus a bit at this time, and the remaining roots (if any) will stiffen a bit.
4. I would repot the sprouting backbulb into pure sphagnum (remember to soak the sphagnum 12 hours or so before you use it); squeeeze the sphagnum to remove excess moisture, and gently tease it around any remaining roots. Pot your bulb in the smallest pot that will accomodate it (and any roots that it has) I use 3" Anderson Band pots.
5. Bottom heat will aid in the development of roots in cymbidiums, but I do not usually find it necessary...especially if you are starting them out in the spring. Grow your bulb on in Bright (not direct) light, and warm conditions (65F min, 80F max)
6. Make sure that you keep the sphagnum moist, but not wet (inside water 1x a week to start)
7. When you reach the point in time that nights in your area are consistently over 55F, continue on with your growing outside--start your plant out in shade for a week or so (it should get no direct light of any kind), after this, move it to a location that gets morning sun, but no direct sun overhead at the height of the day.
8. I would start a fertilizing routine when you place the plant outside. Cymbidiums are prolific feeders. Initially aim to feed 1x a week, though if you see good growth of foliage, increase feeding. (I feed my plants at every watering in the summer--and I water everyday)
9. If all goes well, you should make up a fat growth this season, but you will, most likely, need another season before you will see bloom.
Let us know how this goes, or if you need anything more specific. Anyone else have additional tips?
Good Growing,
Adam
__________________
I've never met an orchid I couldn't kill...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-31-2008, 08:22 PM
dupree1977 dupree1977 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2007
Zone: 6a
Location: Eastern Kentucky
Age: 47
Posts: 14
Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
Default

Thank you Adam, this is exactly what I needed. I have never grown Cymbidiums before, so this will be a real learning experience for me. I will keep you posted on the progress of the plant.

Though my Aunt owns a flower shop, she has very little experience with orchids (other than cut and used in arrangements), and there is little interest in rural eastern Ky for orchids anyway, so it just sat in the back room of the shop until she remembered to bring it to me. She told me the original plant came like this "off the truck" (except in much better health originally).
Thanks again,
Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-31-2008, 11:37 PM
Don Perusse Don Perusse is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2007
Zone: 8b
Location: SW Georgia
Posts: 1,321
Default

Adam covered it thoroughly I would say. Good luck. Hope it survives as Cyms are really a nice flowers. A favorite for many years as corsages.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-01-2008, 06:19 PM
Des Des is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Port Elizabeth
Age: 77
Posts: 898
Default

Thats good advice you got there. consider putting the Cymbid into S/H .I grow about 1500 in S/H and they do really well .
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-01-2008, 08:41 PM
dupree1977 dupree1977 is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Nov 2007
Zone: 6a
Location: Eastern Kentucky
Age: 47
Posts: 14
Gift cymbidium--what do I do now?
Default

I ended up with two good backbulbs (with new growth on each) and several healthy roots--and three earthworms. Minus the worms, they are repotted in sphagnum.

Thanks again for the assist, I'll let you know how it goes!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-01-2008, 10:37 PM
stonedragonfarms's Avatar
stonedragonfarms stonedragonfarms is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Aug 2007
Zone: 9b
Location: Gleneden Beach, OR
Age: 48
Posts: 1,309
Default

Good luck Jeff!
__________________
I've never met an orchid I couldn't kill...
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
cymbidium, gift, huge, owned, repot, cymbidium--what


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cymbidium Maureen Carter ‘Dafon’(大凤) smartie2000 Cymbidium Alliance 11 08-29-2014 08:54 AM
Cymbidium ensifolium v. Tie Gu Su Xin (铁骨素心) smartie2000 Cymbidium Alliance 21 08-24-2009 07:35 AM
Cymbidium questions Becca Beginner Discussion 8 01-23-2008 07:49 PM
Chinese Cymbidium ? harrygermany Identification Forum 12 07-22-2007 06:56 AM
Cymbidium Valley Flower "Cherry Ripe" Ironwood Cymbidium Alliance 6 03-23-2007 09:13 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:48 PM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.