compost as an additive to Cymbidium potting media?

[isurus79]

Old thread.

However, I'm curious to hear an update on Dennis' Cymbidium. How is doing with the compost?

George Hatfield spoke at our OS recently and told us Cymbidiums are very heavy feeders when actively growing and he adds a lot of time release fertilizer to his plants. He's also heard of people putting a tray under their plants to hold water during the active growing season so they have access to additional moisture during that period. He doesn't employ the technique, but waters heavily during summer.

[Dollythehun]

Interesting post. I just repotted one in Repotme's Cym mix. For some reason, this bag looked amazingly compost like. I remember Kim saying he used a lot of compost or (gasp) manure.

[Fairorchids]

Yes, I have updated my mix slightly. It now consists of:

3 parts chunky peat
2 parts composted manure
1 part perlite
1 part bark

Then, in NJ I take them outside around April 20th, on a shady day, but I place them where they will get FULL SUN, all day. And, unless it rains a lot we water twice a week.

I top dress with 100 day NutriCote with micro nutrients in April.
We water with full strength fertilizer (20:20:20) every 2 weeks. In mid July we switch to a flower booster, still applied every 2 weeks.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

I top dress with 100 day NutriCote with micro nutrients in April.
We water with full strength fertilizer (20:20:20) every 2 weeks. In mid July we switch to a flower booster, still applied every 2 weeks.

Wow, you're not messing around!!

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Old thread.

However, I'm curious to hear an update on Dennis' Cymbidium. How is doing with the compost?

George Hatfield spoke at our OS recently and told us Cymbidiums are very heavy feeders when actively growing and he adds a lot of time release fertilizer to his plants. He's also heard of people putting a tray under their plants to hold water during the active growing season so they have access to additional moisture during that period. He doesn't employ the technique, but waters heavily during summer.

. . . And an update you shall have!

The compost worked so well that my (only) Cymbidium was recently grown completely against the edge of the pot, so repotted again. I repotted at an NGOS meeting as a demonstration, using mostly more conventional medium (medium bark, chopped sphagnum, charcoal). I will likely top dress with compost as the plant grows, it now has 3 new growths. Last year, my Cymbidium (Tommy 'Sweet Lime') had 2 spikes for the first time.

Other than that, water, but not heavily, on most days. Additional fertilizer on the same schedule as Cattleyas. This is what I do when the plants are actively growing outdoors. It can get quite hot here, so the Cymbidium gets close to full sun in Spring, Cattleya light in the hot months, and will move back to full sun as the weather cools, for as long as the weather is above freezing.

More recently, I have been screening the compost to separate fines (that are used on garden plants) from medium and coarser material, (mostly shredded and composted leaf-and-limb wood). This year I have planted several Oncidium back bulbs and a Coelogyne with medium compost material that passes a half-inch sieve, but is retained on a quarter-inch sieve. They are all growing and rooting well.

[Dollythehun]

Thanks for the update, Dennis! I'm breathing easier.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

I realized it was not yours OF. Remember, however, Cyms bloom on two year old bulbs so if he has had it less than that it is blooming from growths made elsewhere. If it is blooming under his conditions, then keep doing what he is doing.

I looked back through some of the old posts. Regarding blooming on 2-year old bulbs, probably some do this, but mine will bloom next winter off of this Summer's bulbs.

[AnonYMouse]

Ah, phooey! I now want a outdoor Cym and it's too late for Trader Joe's NoID Cyms. My dad had a couple of whiskey/whisky barrels of Cyms in full sun.

I have three ensifoliums in S/H and they seem to be fertilizer sensitive.

[isurus79]

Thanks for the update! Mine also grows in near full sun during the cool months. However, I bring it inside when temps are regularly above 95 degrees (~June-September) so I wonder if adding compost is a good idea for me.

[rbarata]

Just to add a little confusion to the discussion...it seems I've been doing it all completely wrong.

My Cymbs never get any sun (except in summer, when they get less than an hour late afternoon).

I water them once or twice a week (I'm lazy) except in winter when they are almost 100% of the time completely wet (they grow outside and get all the rain)

Everytime I water them I fertilize heavily, even if it happens to water them every two or three days in a row.

They stand temps as high as 35~40ºC / low 100's (frequently in summer) and as low as near the freezing point for almost all the winter.

I don't use nothing more than bark.

I've posted these photos before but anyway...this is the result:

Last year



This year



Basically, IMO, compost can kill a plant but, if it won't the benefits aren't good enough for spending time thinking about it.
The overall conditions are far more important.