Pot a mounted cymbidium tigrinum?

[Dalachin]

So I just got this cymbidium tigrinum from Andy’s. Lovely little thing. I was sort of envisioning growing this species in a pot with a terrestrial mix, would it be unwise if me to pot it up? The moss looks really fresh, I wonder how established it us under there. Also for anyone growing this, how do you winter it?

[Louis_W]

I cant really give cultural advice on this plant but, I cant do mounts, so I've dealt with this problem too.

I think it's best to just stick the mount into a pot. Don't bother "unmounting" it. You can cut part of the mount off if need be but otherwise just sink it into the media to the right depth best you can.

[stonedragonfarms]

You can grow tigrinum potted, that's how I have traditionally always grown it in the past. I usually use a 'bulb pan' type pot [ie wider than in is tall] as the roots mass seems to be more compact than with some of the other species, with a fairly open mix [along the lines of 1:1:1:1 1/4" sponge rock:medium orchid bark:seedling orchid bark:aliflor]
I'd transition exactly as Louis indicated, but I'd not cut away the top of the mount [if the plant continues to grow 'up' rather than down into the media, take the cue... ]; use the smallest pot that the mount will fit into, and aim to have the bulbs sit about 1/8" above media grade, so developing roots will actively [and observably] grow down into the media [you're also less apt to rot off current roots this way, as conditions in the pot will dry substantially less than the mount does...]

[Dalachin]

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

You can grow tigrinum potted, that's how I have traditionally always grown it in the past. I usually use a 'bulb pan' type pot [ie wider than in is tall] as the roots mass seems to be more compact than with some of the other species, with a fairly open mix [along the lines of 1:1:1:1 1/4" sponge rock:medium orchid bark:seedling orchid bark:aliflor]
I'd transition exactly as Louis indicated, but I'd not cut away the top of the mount [if the plant continues to grow 'up' rather than down into the media, take the cue... ]; use the smallest pot that the mount will fit into, and aim to have the bulbs sit about 1/8" above media grade, so developing roots will actively [and observably] grow down into the media [you're also less apt to rot off current roots this way, as conditions in the pot will dry substantially less than the mount does...]

I like that idea… I think I have just the pot to try it. Might wait until it is in active growth this spring. I’ve found it a nice spot in the cool plant fish tank for now.

[Fairorchids]

I am with Louis W (Andy mounts everything, I usually de-mount what I get from him).

Cym tigrinum is reported to grow primarily as a lithophyte. On that limited description, I would lean towards using 'filler material':

A. Spaghnum/small size bark mix (maybe 2:1)
B. My terrestrial Cymbidium mix (ratios reflect that I mix large batches):
3 parts cedar mulch
3 parts composted cow manure
1 part perlite
1 part medium bark

[Dalachin]

It started to put out new roots and I decided to pot it in a pot. It popped off the mount pretty easily once the fishing line was cut, it wasn’t really attached yet. I put medium bark and granite chips in the bottom half, and small bark and rock chips in the top half. Hope it likes its new home!

[Fairorchids]

According to IOSPE it is a lithophyte. Most on-line photos show it in a pot, so potted is clearly better than mounted.

Whether semi-coarse bark is suitable will depend upon how much you water it. I tend to grow all Cymbidiums in a terrestrial mix (cedar mulch/composted cow manure/potting soil/bark/perlite)..

[Roberta]

Looks great. Don't know what Andy was thinking to mount that one . I'll be much happier in a pot. I grow most of my Andy plants mounted, usually on their original mounts (though I usually have to remount the ones on shingles) but this one, I think, definitely needed to be moved. Good call.