i could use lots of advice...

[kindrag23]

Went to my local home depot for insecticidal soap for my hibiscus that has aphids. I said no phals.....I get there and what do I find?! HUMONGOUS GORGEOUS CYMS! Then I thought the heck is up with that? These grow in the cooler side and we hit triple digits before June....anyhoo I said no way.....but miraculously it somehow jumped into my basket.....Idk how.....

Now the real issue....how do u take care of these. I have a black sambo cym. But it grows warm....say a prayer for that one, friend knocked it off and it had a 2.75 inch growth on it.....

Basic info thus far:

1.) I am not sure if it is a NOID or not I will have to dig out it's tag. The blooms have an odd scent I can't place.
2.) fat full phulbs no sign of infection or bugs yet.
3.) media on top does not look 2 destroyed and it's in that pot TIGHT.
4.)NO sign of Browning on the tips or rot at the base. I pulled it's packaging open and looked. *I got some funny looks for sure*

5.) I will stick it next to my bleeding hearts plant that gets bright indirect Sun from my desert tortoises heat bulbs. It seems happy there.

6.)I currently have no potting media my dog is engaged in terrible two's and destroyed all my potting media I had outside in a bucket....little monster...

Any help would be appreciated.

Also can't upload pics keeps telling me I have a security token missing. :-)

[Orchid Whisperer]

Can't help much with Cym culture but for storing medium & supplies, try a really big tote with a tight-fitting lid. Most of my orchid stuff is in a big tote under my deck. I have dogs & they don't he into it.

I do have one Cym but while the plant looks healthy I've had no luck blooming it.

[kindrag23]

He never touched it before and 3 weeks ago got a wild hair and has begun destroying everything he could get his teeth and paws on.

[kindrag23]

Oh it's letting me upload a few now!

UPDATE:
Wow just got it pulled out of its pot and cleaned off..mega media break down and stench.

Roots look really fat and healthy.....one question what do I need to pot it in because its to big for the big pot I bought for it. Any suggestions?

Pictures soon to follow of it leaning over....only thing I could get a hold of was coarse miracle gro media...it looks really broke down and I just opened it....not to thrilled but its all I can get a hold of until I go to Fort Worth this week. country living definitely has its downfalls.

[WhiteRabbit]

Broken down chunky style bark should be fine for a Cym.

[kindrag23]

great. I was afraid if it was to broke down or small it would not work well.[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 06:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 PM ----------

Any suggestion on what to pot it in that may be taller so that it's roots are not so broken?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

great. I was afraid if it was to broke down or small it would not work well.[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 06:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 PM ----------

Any suggestion on what to pot it in that may be taller so that it's roots are not so broken?

They aren't horribly fussy about media - it should retain moisture but drain well. I have in the past used medium bark mixed with terrestrial orchid mix (which is very fine). I don't use that anymore, but it didn't bother the plants at all. And while I definitely WOULDN'T recommend it, people have been known to pot Cyms in regular (not orchid) potting mix - Probably their Cyms would do better in orchid media, but they can survive in it. You can add some styro pnuts to the mix to aid drainage.

I pot my Cyms in 1, 2, or 3 gallon nursery pots. When I repot them in spring (after blooming), following advice I received from Cym Ladye, I cut off the bottom 1/3 of the root mass. But if yours is blooming, don't do that if you wish to keep your flowers now. Broken roots won't hurt the plant (seeing as cutting off a good deal of roots doesn't hurt them) - tho a lot of damage could cause the blooms to drop. If you really want or need to do this now, you could cut the spike and stick it in water - Cym flowers last pretty well in water.

I should add that Cyms do take heat well (but should be shaded mid-day and afternoon during extreme heat), but except for 'warmth tolerant' types, won't bloom if they don't get the period of cool nights in late summer - fall.

[AnonYMouse]

Garbage cans to store media.

How big is the plant? Not sure about HD but garden centers have pots 1 to 20 gallons. There are nursery sacks, too. If you have to make something, upcycle plastic containers by drilling holes.

[kindrag23]

Thanks @Anonymous it's tallest leaf is past my hip and I'm 5'6. I never thought of a regular plastic pot. I was thinking ceramic or terra cotta to hold the plant up. Its so top heavy with it's spike.

Thanks @ Whiterabbit. The media between the roots was pure powder. I will look for a heavy gardening pot. Thanks both of you! Sorry I can't load photos it keeps saying I am missing a security token. Not quite sure what that means. I may order some charcoal to add in there for weight and extra air to the roots. It will be a strictly inside plant bc the heat here in summer fall is horrible. We get our first bought of jacket weather around thanksgiving. Except this year we are just now getting freezing temps....today and yesterday was flip flop weather....go figure.

I don't care about the blooms I much rather have a healthy pretty plant. Goofy question maybe but do these go to sleep? My sambo does is why I asked.

---------- Post added at 07:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:35 PM ----------

Oh and the grasshoppers are horrible as well....so all orchids stay inside this year. :-)

[AnonYMouse]

Those big Cyms are really tough, they really don't belong indoors. They weather hot and cold pretty well.

How far are you from DFW? You need to talk to orchid people in your area. I've been in Austin in August and Dallas in December and I'm pretty sure Cyms can handle those climates.