Cyms ending blooming, now what? - Orchid Board

Orquiadicto · #1 09-27-2011, 03:10 PM

Two of my cyms are allmost through blooming. I guess tomorrow the last flowers will fall off. When this happens, I will cut the spike and I'm planning on repotting them, since I don't know how long they have been in their pots and I've no idea on how the roots are (I guess fine because the plants look very healthy).
After repotting I'll put them on the balcony since the sun isn't so hot anymore here in Barcelona.
Beside this, is there anything else I should do in order to make them feel good and rebloom some day?
Thanks to you all for your great help.

Bud · #2 09-27-2011, 03:15 PM

Pictures would have been nice. Usually if its not yet coming out of the pot you need not bother to repot...cyms can sulk and wont bloom for a season if you didnt replant it well...you are right in putting it in the balcony but shade it for the leaves can burn ... let it feel the cold but put it inside if theres frost...the cells will break and it will turn to water mush. The cold will make it bloom better next season.

Orquiadicto · #3 09-27-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

Pictures would have been nice. Usually if its not yet coming out of the pot you need not bother to repot...cyms can sulk and wont bloom for a season if you didnt replant it well...you are right in putting it in the balcony but shade it for the leaves can burn ... let it feel the cold but put it inside if theres frost...the cells will break and it will turn to water mush. The cold will make it bloom better next season.

Thanks Bud for your quick reply. I'll upload some pictures before weekend.
There's no danger of frost here. Only very ocasional (every ten to twelve years) temperatures fall below cero for more than one night.

Orquiadicto · #4 09-27-2011, 03:24 PM

Sorry Bud.I don't know how this picture of an Oncidium got into my reply.

Bud · #5 09-27-2011, 03:28 PM

Do not worry...post the pictures whenever you can...I am glad theres no frost in Barcelona. But even overnight if theres frost that is enough to turn your plant into ice...and when it melts...it will be water

Cym Ladye · #6 09-30-2011, 01:40 PM

In my experience, Cymbidiums are far tougher than most people give them credit for. They will not turn to mush with mere frost. They actually will take temps down to 28 F for a period of up to 6 hours with little damage except to the bloom spikes. It is good to avoid these low temps but the plants will survive quite nicely.

I am more concerned with the lateness of your re-potting unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere. Division and re-potting should be done during the most active growing season in late spring and early summer, not just before winter and the cool temps start. The plants will not send out new growths, new roots will not emerge and often will rot out, and the plants will sulk until warm weather again sets in.

Cym Ladye

Orquiadicto · #7 10-01-2011, 03:49 AM

Then, I won't repot them. I bouht them is August, in bloom. I'll put them outside now they are done blooming and the sun isn't that hot anymore. In spring I'll see if it's necessary to repot or not.

Orquiadicto · #8 10-15-2011, 08:23 AM

Sorry if I keep on asking, but it's better to ask once too often than to regret not having asked.
The cyms that have finished blooming are outside now. Since I don't have the possibility of placing them in the shadow, when I think sun is too strong, I put them bak in again and take them out when the hottest hours are over.
What I don't know is if I should continue watering and fertilizing them normally or if they need a dry-out period.
Please, help me with this.

Vanda lover · #9 10-15-2011, 11:31 AM

I continue feeding mine, because they continue growing all of the time. I find that they really love slow release fertilizer such as Smartcote or Nutricoat.

Cym Ladye · #10 10-15-2011, 12:41 PM

Check out the recent thread "Switching back to a balanced fertilizer..." on the advanced OB Forum. There are a lot of different thoughts on this topic.

Cyms can take full sun during the winter in most climates, short of burning or freezing. If shade in mid to late day is a problem, consider buying a barrel or large tub and plant a small tree in it like a maple or other deciduous tree. Use that as your filtered shade if you are on a balcony or in some other area with no natural shade. Moving plants around daily can get very tedious, very fast!

CL