4 New Cymbidiums + Semi-Hydro

[empiref]

Hello all,

I recently bought 2 new Cymbidium mericlones from a nursery in Australia and had them delivered, they arrived today. The vendor told me that they are 2-3 years away from flowering.

They are:

Cymbidium Brunette 'Choc Mint' - Sinense x Volcano (FRAGRANT)




Cymbidium Morialta 'Gingerbread' - Pumilum x Radack (MINIATURE)




This nursery has an offer on 20 different Cymbidium mericlones which I will be also getting.

I went to buy two pots and ended up buying two more Cyms in spike on offer, both for $30 USD

[Cym Ladye]

"Hope springs eternal" on small seedlings that size. Growing in semi-hydro may expedite their growth as well as keeping them in a warmer environment, but for normal hobby growing conditions, I suspect you are 4-5 years away from blooming, not 2-3. You may also want to reconsider the pot size.

They look over-potted to me, but if you have done this before with seedlings this size with success, it is your choice.

Cym Ladye

[Orchids4ever]

Hi
you picked some nice Plants-- but i agree with Cym Ladye-- they look way over-potted.

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

"Hope springs eternal" on small seedlings that size. Growing in semi-hydro may expedite their growth as well as keeping them in a warmer environment, but for normal hobby growing conditions, I suspect you are 4-5 years away from blooming, not 2-3. You may also want to reconsider the pot size.

They look over-potted to me, but if you have done this before with seedlings this size with success, it is your choice.

Cym Ladye

Thank you for your help.

I know that these are small plants, but I want to build a collection of cymbidium plants that are not available in my country.

As for the pot size, never had any experience with seedlings that size, I took your advice and potted them in smaller pots that are 4" in diameter and 7" tall.

[Orchids4ever]

Looks good

[escualida]

I may be wrong but I believe it's not possible to "overpot" when using S/H. Overpotting with regular media is a concern because it may take way too long to dry but with S/H it's not a concern.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by escualida

I may be wrong but I believe it's not possible to "overpot" when using S/H. Overpotting with regular media is a concern because it may take way too long to dry but with S/H it's not a concern.

If over-potting is not a concern with S/H then I suppose you could put these little guys in 2 gallon pots and get away with it. In my experience, these pots are still too deep and a waste of space if nothing else.

CL

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

If over-potting is not a concern with S/H then I suppose you could put these little guys in 2 gallon pots and get away with it. In my experience, these pots are still too deep and a waste of space if nothing else.

CL

I used a Sharry Baby as a guinea pig for an over potting experiment:

Back when it was a new hybrid, I bought one in a 2" pot from Ellenbergers in upstate NY while up there on business. Brought it home in my brief case, and ended up putting it into a 12" diameter x 18" tall florists cooler bucket converted into an S/H pot.

It grew and grew and grew for three or four years without blooming, then threw up more than a dozen spikes, and had several hundred flowers. When returning it lot the greenhouse, I stepped in a hole in the yard (thanks, dogs), and broke the pot. I hardly lost a pellet, as the entire pot was a giant root mass.

This is according to Ray in this thread
Sharry Baby in SH?

Maybe someone can invite Ray to this discussion, don't know how to do it myself, so we can hear his thoughts on the matter.

[greengarden]

I recognise those tags, I was at that nursery a few weeks ago, the place is amazing and I have many of his plants

[empiref]

Originally Posted by greengarden

I recognise those tags, I was at that nursery a few weeks ago, the place is amazing and I have many of his plants

Yeah Mate,

It's the Australian Orchid Nursery (AON) in Melbourne!
I'm planning on buying many more of his cyms!