What pot do you have for cymbidium?

[Lia23]

Hi,

Planning to repot cymbidiums and do not know what pots to use (clay or plastic), they are large and outgrown 5" pots. What would you advise?

Also, for those who has large cymbidiums, do you have them indoors, in the GH or outside?

[Orchid Whisperer]

I'm a Cymbidium novice, but so far, I am doing well growing them in plastic.

[WhiteRabbit]

I use the plastic 1, 2, and 3 gallon pots. Mine are grown outdoors.

[theloyalplum]

1+ gallon pots because clay pots at cymbidium sizes are HEAVY.

[Lia23]

I agree with you, the will be heavy! The good thing of heavy pots outside is that they won't be blown off from the balcony.
How would you deal with them when you need repotting as the roots will be attached to the sides of the pot and pulling out orchid as usual would damage velamen of the root.

[ula]

I use plastic as well, just because they're big plants. I keep mine outside as long as possible, because many require the day/night temperature drop to initiate blooming.

[Fairorchids]

100% plastic. In part because clay pots dry out faster (Cymbidiums do not need to dry out between waterings), and in part due to weight issue.

From 5" you need to go to either 8" or 10". It depends in part on how many new leads the plant has, and in part on how long your preferred Cymbidium mix will last. If you need to repot every 2 years, 8" is probably enough; with mix good for 3-4 years, 10" is called for.

[Cym Ladye]

I grow my Cyms exclusively in plastic pots of various sizes. If you want weight and want them to look pretty on your patio or porch, use a larger clay or decorative pot as a cachepot to seat the plastic pot in, elevating the pot so the top is level with the cachepot. I put mine on a smaller plastic pot in the bottom.

Using clay pots as the main pot is discouraged for all the above reasons given. I will also add they are far more expensive, especially when they break!

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Lia23

I agree with you, the will be heavy! The good thing of heavy pots outside is that they won't be blown off from the balcony.
How would you deal with them when you need repotting as the roots will be attached to the sides of the pot and pulling out orchid as usual would damage velamen of the root.

I've peeled several orchids off of mounts without serious damage by soaking them well and carefully teasing the roots off of the mount. I suspect that working in the confines of a pot would complicate this, but the principle is the same.

[Fairorchids]

Cymbidium roots are very strong, and usually they form a solid wall on the inside of the pot.

If you use a dull knife and work the blade down along the inside pot wall, you can usually get the roots to release by wriggling the blade a little. Move it over a few inches and repeat.

Note: This should be done before watering, so roots are dry.

Tease out the old material.
Place an inch of mix in the new pot.
Work some fresh mix in between the roots, and hold them together with your fingers.
Now place the plant in the new pot, so there is mix below and between the roots. Fill in along the sides, and TAMP the mix as hard as you can, so that the plant does not wobble in the pot.

Water repeatedly (= normal watering, 3-5 times with 5 min interval), to soak the mix and settle the plant.