Do I need to re-pot? - Orchid Board

fisher60 · #1 05-13-2011, 08:06 PM

Bought a Little Black Sambo today. Three very nice PB and 1 new PB poking out of the soil...and I say soil because it looks like dirt. It looks so healthy I hate to disturb it but I know the potting mix isn't right. what do you recommend I do?

Zoi2 · #2 05-13-2011, 09:45 PM

What kind of orchid is Little Black Sambo?
Joann

fisher60 · #3 05-13-2011, 10:03 PM

Cymbidium

Zoi2 · #4 05-13-2011, 10:42 PM

It is always a good idea to check roots and repot into a potting media you are comfortable with when purchasing a new plant.
Joann

RosieC · #5 05-14-2011, 04:18 AM

I have a memory of seeing stuff about Little Black Sambo here on OB before, and comments that it likes quite different conditions to many other cymbidiums. I'll see if I can search out what I saw.

EDIT
Here it is. Ignore what I said in the second post on that, take a look at what others posted which say that this one is different to many Cyms. Also see the links I posted within the thread below which link to other posts about this particular orchid.
Cymbidium Little Black Sambo Guidance

fisher60 · #6 05-14-2011, 08:29 AM

Thanks Rosie. I still don't see much guidance on re-potting this. The soil looks like Miracle Grow and I know, from reading all the links to LBS that you provided, that I need a much better draining potting mix. Can I get away with useing some Phal Mix? I just bought a couple bags from HD yesterday. One thing I'm afraid of tho is Cyms usually don't flower the next year after re-potting. Also, it's in a shallow clay pot, and needs to be in a deeper one.

RosieC · #7 05-14-2011, 08:48 AM

I'm not really good on repotting Cyms at all yet (only done one). I use a mix with quite large bark, sponge, perlite and some other things I'm not quite sure of. I don't think phal mix is quite right, but not sure if it's better than what you have now.

Hopefully someone else will be able to give better advice on that.

fisher60 · #8 05-14-2011, 08:55 AM

I'll wait and see if someone else offers up a suggestion

Paul Mc · #9 05-14-2011, 09:14 AM

I'm not an expert on cym's either, but I wanted to point out that some do not like being repotted and will refuse to bloom the next year as a result. If it's doing fine, I think I'd just wait until the flowers expire before attempting to repot it. Again, I only have one cym and have had it for 2 blooming seasons and nothing, lol...

On a side note, I did put mine in a more airy mix and still got nothing. Today (hopefully) I will be repotting it in a cym mix from RePotme.com. You might check out their mix if you don't have a store nearer to you. The shipping will be steep if you order from them, but you can always create your own mix from supplies you can find nearer to you based upon what they put in their mixes.

fisher60 · #10 05-14-2011, 09:22 AM

Thanks Paul, this Cym has already bloomed and has had the spike cut off. The three PBs look fantastic but when I compare it to my other Cyms, they look like they were injected with water. Soooo perfectly formed and plump. NO brown sheathing on any of them. When I first saw it I thought it was artificial. I think if it stays this way it will not make it. I have a big Orchid grower at our local flea market and I think I'll take it to them this morning and see what they have to say. I don't think they sell potting mix, but maybe can steer me in the right direction. I'll post back later today on what I find out.