Yellowing growth on cymbidium

[Rross]

My cymbidium hybrids are starting to produce flower spikes, but the spike on one plant (Pure Sarah Snowball) is bigger but more yellow than all the others. It looks a bit dodgy - almost as if it grew too fast and then went on strike. I’ll attach a pic. Could anyone say if it’s ok?

[Roberta]

This one may or may not make it... sometimes a spike starts and then rots, <sigh> It might have gotten damaged hitting the edge of the pot. (I think that when spring arrives, it likely needs repotting, and I would choose a deeper pot - Cyms have long-aggressive roots)

[Rross]

Thanks Roberta. We had strong winds that kept knocking over the pots. This orchid isn’t supposed to flower till September. If I had noticed that spike earlier, I would have moved the pot to a more protected spot.

[Roberta]

Guessing that this is Cym Pure Sarah 'Snowball' ('Snowball' being a cultivar of Pure Sarah) So that would Sarah Jean x Pure Destiny. I grow Sarah Jean, which is in bud now so spikes would have been visible (had I noticed) a couple of months ago, a month or two late, we had a really cool fall and winter. September in the southern hemisphere would be about what I'd expect too, it is 'way early. But since orchids don't read the books, they do sometimes so their thing out of season. If it takes after Sarah Jean, it would tend to be pendant. So having the spike come out sideways like that is to be expected. The spike may still make it, or else do another spike(s) at more like the usual time. You likely will get flowers this year, either from that spike or from one or more that develop later.

[Rross]

Thanks for your reassurance. A minute ago, I had a look at that spike. It is definitely doomed. Fingers crossed for another one. I haven’t had any spikes on it, ever. I bought it about 4 years ago. In any case, I’ve got some good spikes on other cymbidiums, so all is not lost.

[Roberta]

After the "normal" bloom time (late spring) do consider putting it in a deeper pot. Not familiar with the other parent Pure Destiny, but I looked it up, more of a standard Cym. If so, long roots - depending on plant size, a 4L or 8L cylindrical pot is what I'd use if it were my plant. The shallow pot that it's in likely isn't letting the roots grow the way they want to. (Actually, I have had very good results with the really tall Japanese-style pots, especially for smaller plants. Like these Heavy Duty Cymbidium Pots
– Brisbane Orchid Supplies . Lots of room for the roots to grow fairly straight, relatively small volume. ) They do tend to be top-heavy, so the ones that I don't hang I put into terracotta pots for stability.