Cymbidium question

[Orquiadicto]

I have had this cymbidium quite some time now and I managed to save it from a certain death. Now it's got two growths on either side of the only pseudobulb and also new roots. Both growths are different so I wonder if one is a new pseudobulb and the other one a bloom spike. The one on the left is clearly a new pseudobulb, but I'm not so sure about the one on the right. Could it be a spike?


If it turns out to be a spike, would it be better to cut it off and let the plant grow some more before blooming?

[RJSquirrel]

I let the plant take its course. M all for the plants figuring that out. If it grows and looks like crap then cut it or if its deformed cut it..Other than that.. let it be. you've done well

[silken]

It looks like a spike as it is a bit fatter and rounder. But I can't say for sure at this point. If it stays fatter with a rounder tip it is. I would let it bloom in that case. It has enough energy to produce a new growth so it must be fine. They are fairly heavy feeders when in active growth in summer so you can build it up then.

[Cym Ladye]

Those are both growths. Your plant would do better if you could cover the top roots to avoid them drying out. Covering the base of the pseudobulb also allows the new roots from the emerging growths to immediately get their tender tips into the media.

New growth eyes emerge from the bottom 1/4 of a pseudobulb or green growth. I always recommend for that reason, as well as for stability of the plant, that the bulb be buried to that point.

When was the last time you repotted your plant? There appear to be an abundance of roots on the surface, many dead, to be coming from only one green growth. Are these dead roots by any chance off the BB that has no leaves?

Cym Ladye

[Brenda Aarts]

They do look different, I would say new growth on left and spike on right at this point. Good save regardless, good luck.

[Orquiadicto]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Those are both growths. Your plant would do better if you could cover the top roots to avoid them drying out. Covering the base of the pseudobulb also allows the new roots from the emerging growths to immediately get their tender tips into the media.

New growth eyes emerge from the bottom 1/4 of a pseudobulb or green growth. I always recommend for that reason, as well as for stability of the plant, that the bulb be buried to that point.

When was the last time you repotted your plant? There appear to be an abundance of roots on the surface, many dead, to be coming from only one green growth. Are these dead roots by any chance off the BB that has no leaves?

Cym Ladye

Most of the roots you see on the surface are from the Backbulbs. As soon as I can I'll cover up the new emerging roots. I don't think I've ever repotted this particular plant.

[Orquiadicto]

Originally Posted by Brenda Aarts

They do look different, I would say new growth on left and spike on right at this point. Good save regardless, good luck.

Thank you. I also think that the one on the right might be a spike, but that could just be wishful thinking.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Orquiadicto

Most of the roots you see on the surface are from the Backbulbs. As soon as I can I'll cover up the new emerging roots. I don't think I've ever repotted this particular plant.

I suspect the roots on BBs as old as these are soft and rotten and are keeping the mix constantly too wet. They cannot convey nutrients to the bulb. The best time to repot most orchids, especially Cyms, is when the new roots are coming off the new growths, as yours will be doing shortly.

New growths can take two forms: one flat and slightly spread, and one round but hard. The round and soft usually indicates a spike. I stand by my original opinion on your two growths.

If this were my plant, I would repot now, cutting all the roots off the leafless BBs and only leaving the roots on the green bulb. If you have never repotted this plant, and it has struggled as you say, I can almost guarantee that your media has rotted too. New roots are not going to be eager to settle into this.

If you would like more info on repotting, send me a personal message with your email and I will send you our club's re-potting procedures which we have used for our hands on workshops for years. I have sent it to many other members on this forum.

Cym Ladye