Help dying Chinese Orchid

[vanda2020]

Well I have almost killed my Cymbidium Kanran or Qiubeiense. I really do not want to lose this one hard to replace.

This plant is mounted on wood with spagnum moss. Did not do well in pot. Had a shallow growing desire the new growth grows up higher than the old bulbs so pot it did not seem to be the best.

It had at least five good roots this summer and got a new growth. Looked healthy. The last two months I am losing one root after another. I have had it on a dry and light watering spray water cycle just like my other Cymbidium hybrids and my Cymbidium Sinese.

I now have three old bulbs no roots now showing signs of water being lost. The new growth stopped growing so it is two inches tall. It has a half root the bottom half shrived and died.. No signs of new root coming. Now down to half root only to support plant. I may see a root nub.

Did this need a winter rest no water like some of my Australian ones? Watering it did I make the mistake here?
How do you grow this one?

How can I save this orchid?

Thanks

Sandy

[Orchid Whisperer]

I grow only one Cymbidium, and not for very long, but based on the reading I have done, only a very few can be epiphytic. In culture, everything I have read indicates growing them in pots. Small diameter pots ("tight feet"), but tall, seem to be common. Water-retaining medium, such as medium-grade, bark-based potting medium.

I hope someone with more Cymbidium experience than me can chime in!

[Cym Ladye]

This plant may be a lost cause at this point but if the bulbs are still firm, put the whole plant, root and all, into a quart plastic ZipLok bag with a handful of moist medium. Seal the bag, place it upright in a bright warm but not directly in sun and hope. You should not have to water it as the moisture from the media will provide enough humidity and moisture for growth.

This is good first aid for most bulbs which have lost roots, but not a surefire cure. Chinese Cyms are notoriously hard to keep alive if they do not have the right conditions from the start. Once they start going downhill, they are hard to revive.

Good luck,

Cym Ladye

[vanda2020]

I think this one wanted a dry winter. I think I am going to stop watering it and dry it out. Hopefully it will make roots after this treatment. The bulbs have some wrinkling that has just started, but they are firm and green. The new growth I think I see a root nub. This one is like grass with little bulbs and seemed to not want to stay in a pot that is why I mounted it to a piece of stump. It didn't seem healthy in the pot either. Got this one over the summer. Slow growth no new roots. Growth reaching out of pot. I heard some of the Chinese ones grow at the base of tree roots, so that is why I choose stump with moss.

I wish I had treated it like my Australia one. I water it seldom during the winter till I see new growth.

Ahh! It is always the one you really love.

[Ray]

I find those to be excellent in S/H culture, and while they are pretty tolerant of a wide temperature range, they seem to do best if kept on the warmer side - like phals in my environment.