GRR... Cymbidium on the floor! AGAIN!

[PinkCloud]

I've been having a bit of trouble with my new Cymbidium that I got from South Africa. It doesn't have almost any roots and it's refusing to stay in its pot and keeps on falling out. In just 2 months I think I've had to repot it maybe 4 or 5 times.. I tried tying it with my knitting kit! LOL! hopefully this will do the trick.
Also I think it might have some tiny tiny white worms..? Is there something you could recommend for that?
But on the other hand it is doing quite well. A lot of new roots are pushing out and I think there is a new growth on its way. (?)

[Discus]

Most people drive a stake (or several) into the pot or use a "pot clip" or " rhizome clip" when their plants keep falling out. Fortunately, I haven't had too many problems like that - but I have had to tie some top-heavy plants down to stop them tipping over. You can probably make one yourself if you're handy with wire bending out of a coathanger or similar.

Couldn't quite make out the tiny white worms in your picture. Do they move?

[Marissa]

Hi PinkCloud,

Do you pack you medium really well? I sometimes use a hammer handle to pound the medium around the side of the pot. I've also learn that you can leave a few long old roots and pull the velamen (white or silvery cover on old roots) so you have something to hold the plant in place.

BTW, looks to me like you have a spike. Of course I could be wrong

[PinkCloud]

Discus-> I put 3 knitting needles in there and tied some of my pink tread around it. LOL..
But the worms are so tiny that I wouldn't be able to get a picture of them. I suppose they are more like maggots? max a half a millimeter long.

[PinkCloud]

Marissa-> Spike? Really! I was kind of hoping someone would say that as I have no idea what the flowers of this cymbidium look like!
Must not get too exited though.. Does the plant even have enough roots to get the spike to bloom?

[camille1585]

Marissa,
I think no amount of packing will keep that plant in the pot. Too many leaves and too few roots to anchor it.

I had a Catt like that, but since I had no clue how to make a rhizome clip I took a piece of coathanger wire, folded in half and jammed in into the pot between 2 bulbs. Then I folded over the bits of wire sticking out of the drainage holes. Voila, plant was attached to pot! unusal method, but at least it kept the plant in place.

[RosieC]

At least it looks like some new roots are growing. But these worms you mention worry me. I'm afraid I'm not good on pests so not sure I can help, although I read only just now about fungus gnat lava being like small white worms arround the roots. This is the link Eyebabe gave for that. http://www.sdstate.edu/ps/Severin-Mc...&PageID=712939

I have no idea if that's what you've got or something else though, so hopefully someone else will have more idea on that.

[Zoi2]

Your new growth and roots look great. Can you set your plant in a heavy cache pot to keep it from falling over?
Joann

[PinkCloud]

Thank you all so much for all the suggestions and tips. I think I got the plant stabilized.. at least for now.
But now I'm a little worried about the worm/larva things. I haven't seen any flies flying around so I'm not sure if it is fungus gnats. hmm.. The plant used to be outside in South Africa.. So it might be something that came from there? If I soak the roots in some pesticide will it damage the new growth and new roots?

[Des]

What I do is to push a stainless steel rod through a leafless backbulb and fix that to the rim of the pot works well for me and does little or no damage to the plant when the rod is removed. I also tie some leaves to the upright rod this helps to steady the plant in the pot . Remember that if the newly repotted plant has a lot of movement in the pot that the new root tips ,which are very fragile , will be damaged and stop growing the plant will then have to try again . So anchoring the plant in the pot properly is essential. this also applies to Catts