Twisted Cym bud

[healey]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, but have had a cymbidium for several years now. The 1st year we had flowers, second year fewer, and for the last three we've had none or the buds have fallen off. I think in the past I had not kept the plant cool after moving it inside...and possibly didn't have the right humidity. Here in Wisconsin the plant lives outside until the 1st frost, then in the house for the winter.

This year I moved the plant to a cool spot in our house, have watered about once a week, fertilized every other watering with blossom booster, and put the plant on a humidy tray.

The daytime high temp where the plant sits in our house is about 65 and it gets indirect sunlight from two nearby windows. The low temp at night is 55. The humidity is about 50%. The plant is currently in bud and I'm watching after it like a paranoid parent. Here's my question:

The buds recently protruded from the flower stalk. One of the buds is bent back and caught on the sheath of the stalk. See following photo link.

Should I try and free it, or just let it be. Also, anything else I should do to ensure the buds survive? I'd hate to lose them again!!

IMG_4482 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[dounoharm]

if you try to straighten it, you run the risk of breaking it.....but i would do so myself very very carefully....still, the blossoms might not make it....tricky problem...

[camille1585]

I think it's possible to free it, and the risk of snapping the bud can be low if you don't touch it. In cases like this the best thing is to take a sharp razor blade and gently cut the sheath to peel it back off the bud. That will relieve the pressure on the bud, and even if it doesn't straighten out, it will have a chance to bloom normally.

My cym finally bloomed for the first time in the 3 years since I got it (lack of light was the problem) and I also left it outside until first frost before bringing it in. The buds didn't appreciate the sudden change in temps and started blasting at an alarming rate. Luckily the landing of our apartment is unheated (so around 55-60°F) and has a large window, so I moved it there, where the buds started opening with no further problems. I only lost one spike due to the blasting, but the other 7 were OK! So keep yours cool, and it should be fine!

[healey]

7 spikes! Wow, your Cym sounds like it's doing very well.

Thanks for the advice! I cut the sheath back, so the bud is now free. I'll keep you posted!

Robert

[Cym Ladye]

Healey,

This is very common, very easy to fix and I do it regularily. Gently split the sheath covering the bud in half from the top and peal it off to each side, removing it from the bud (and eventually from the raceme itself). I tear mine to preclude damage to the bud but, if REALLY careful, the sterile razor blade works too. Small fingers with longer fingernails work the best but "gentle" is the key word.



CL

[healey]

One week after trimming back the sheath. So far so good.

IMG_4490-r on Flickr - Photo Sharing!