Cym. Little Black Sambo 'Black Magic'

[brsucculents]

Last year my plant tried to put up several growths that all died back. Do you think this is a Calcium problem or is there something I'm doing wrong? I don't want to loose this plant.
A history:
This is Cym. Little Black Sambo 'Black Magic' which is a cross between two epiphytic Australian Cymbidiums canaliculatum and madidium. I got this plant in April 2014 in bloom in a quart pot. It put up a new growth that Summer. In 2015 it bloomed on the new growth. It had way out grown it's pot (it should have been repotted after I got it). I repotted it into a 8" pot as shown in the pictures. I used my Cattleya mix (bark, sponge rock, charcoal) plus 25% peat. Last Summer it tired to put up several growths but they all turned black and died back. This is the only Cymbidium I own. I did have a problem with tips dying back on my Cats in 2014. I started using a high calcium fertilizer based on what I read. I keep it dry during the Winter.

[silken]

I don't know how dry you keep it in winter and what kind of light it gets. If it is in a very cool dark place then it should be fairly dry but not bone dry. If there is bright light it needs a bit more. Both parents have a drier cooler winter but there is dew and some moisture. As well, this seems to be a fairly high light plant. What type of light does it receive in spring and summer? I just got this info from OrchidWiz. I don't grow this one but have a NOID Cym that is fairly care free so long as it gets good light, and good regular feed in summer and I water occasionally in winter. It already has new growths developing so it needs some water.

[estación seca]

It's rotting back in the summer... you live in a very high-humidity area, and I read this summer was much wetter than usual? The two parent species come from very dry areas of Australia. There is certainly summer rain and humidity where they originate but nothing like Louisiana. I would second the idea of calcium to try and strengthen the plant, and perhaps try not to let it get rained on during the summer.

[brsucculents]

I don't believe it's insufficient light. I'm not using a shade cloth during the Winter. In addition, the growths are dying in the Summer like the way Cattleya eyes die. I believe there were 4 or 5 new growths that died back this Summer. I don't believe water is getting in the eye as they are very small and conical. I know with big plants the water can sit in the leaves in Winter and rot the plant. Also I believe in Australia during the Summer the area gets a lot of rain. I was wondering if my mix was holding too much water with the peat. Perhaps just the Cattley mix is sufficient since these are epiphytic. I thought about bottom watering until the new growth develops. Perhaps a fungicide too, just to be safe. Good ideas. Thanks very much.

[silken]

There is quite a long Baker's article in OrchidWiz on the media and roots of the one parent Cym. canaliculatum. It seems the roots can be very fussy and susceptible to root rot and both parents require an open fast draining medium that does not get soggy. It is also suggested to spray roots with a fungicide to prevent rot after re-potting until new roots have developed. Maybe some seaweed too just to promote more root growth. It sounds like this is a bit fussy. Over potting is strongly NOT recommended for these as well.

[brsucculents]

Thanks Silken. I'll find someone with OrchidWiz and read the article. Come Spring, I'll pull the plant up, examine the roots, repot in Cattlyea mix and smaller pot, and treat with systemic fungicide.
So I'm not a Cymbidium person, but is the Cym Lady still on this site? Where did she go?

[silken]

I saw Cym Lady on here recently, but maybe she has been busy with Christmas functions.

[brsucculents]

That's good. I read several of her past posts on Cym. canaliculatum. They were excellent. This forum is such a great source for information.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I think she was on yesterday. PM her. Wish I could help but I only have one also. She helped me re-pot this summer and it is looking not to bad. I'm just hoping it will put out some new growths then perhaps some blooms.

Your plant looks good to me.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by brsucculents

I believe in Australia during the Summer the area gets a lot of rain.

Some parts of Australia... but canaliculatum is from Northern Territory, which does not get much rain. It's semi-desert. The plant grows epiphytically on eucalyptus trees where the roots dry out rapidly.