What you guys think about this Cymb mix?

[Sandra75]

This mix looks different from what my Cymbs came in from the store.

This mix: Canadian peat moss, coarse vermiculite, coarse perlite, nutritional minor elements, aliflor and other organic ingredients

What you guys think about it?

Is it a good mix for Cymb?

If not or yes, why not and what makes it good?

Any opinion is very much appreciated!

[Cym Ladye]

Sandra,

This is definitely not a mix I would use for my mature plants as it is too lightweight and undoubtedly too expensive for 1,000 plants. I might consider using it for seedlings or starting BBs but I would have to see its consistency first.

It always amuses me to see packaged, and I assume this is a package, mixes coming out from vendors who tout them, sometimes with no proof, as "new and different and therefore better". Try it on a few plants if you are really curious. There is an old saying among hobbyists, "The only reason to put plants in pots is so they will not tip over and you can carry them to an orchid show"!

Cym Ladye

[Sandra75]

Thank Cym Ladye!!

It is very light! Bigger pieces of that mix is the aliflor and the sponge rock. There are some larger pieces of tree fern too. I dont even know why I am asking now .... after buying the mix LOL.

They call it terrestrial mix. Maybe adding some bark to it will make that mix more suitable to Cymb?

I did heard that saying LOL .... If Cymb are in growing stage, they will adapt better to the change of potting soil?

[Sandra75]

BTW, I just took a pic of that mix and this is what it looks like .......

[Angurek]

Originally Posted by Sandra75

BTW, I just took a pic of that mix and this is what it looks like .......

It looks like it'd be too wet for a Cymbidium. Then again, I have very limited experience with this genus, and I'm not sure if they like having wet feet.

[Sandra75]

From the little that I know, we cant let them dry out ... but I dont think they like having wet feet like Phrags do.

I'm not sure what to do as I already bought this mix and my Cym need to be re-potted badly.

[Cym Ladye]

Sandra,

The moss may keep it a bit wetter than some might want, but I would mix this new mix with 80% fine fir bark (soak the bark first and use only that which floats) or small coco chips, also well soaked, rinsed and drained. I think you should be fine.

There are actually some Australian growers who swear by placing shallow saucers under their cyms in the summer to keep the roots wet. I have not tried it so cannot endorse it, but with coir and chips, once they dry out, having difficulty in regaining moisture, it might be an OK idea. I plan to experiment with it this summer with a few plants.

Good luck,



CL

[Sandra75]

Thank you!!

Why bark that floats? I heard that before but I don't know why.

I dont have that much bark, but I'll mix something out. Its so dry here in my home. So the mix might end up being ok for my conditions. Is just in summer that is humid but that is just a few months a year.

[Eyebabe]

I ordered a cymbidium mix from repotme.com for my one cymbidium that I have and needed to repot.
The mix was finer than the usual bark mix for phals.
That said, it certainly did not have sphag moss in it etc.
I tried the mix and it seems to be working well so far.

[Sandra75]

Originally Posted by Eyebabe

I ordered a cymbidium mix from repotme.com for my one cymbidium that I have and needed to repot.
The mix was finer than the usual bark mix for phals.
That said, it certainly did not have sphag moss in it etc.
I tried the mix and it seems to be working well so far.

That's exactly what I had at first ... but being so expensive to order from them .... I had to go with another alternative.

I have a Cym in that new mix for over 1 month and it seems to be doing well. I think it just needs less watering since it hold water more.