Ultra Minature cymbs - Orchid Board

Dollythehun · #1 08-12-2018, 02:58 PM

I acquired two ultra Minature cymbs from Santa Barbara Orchid Estates. They are the same, Cymb "Scallywag." Top size should be 15" including pot. One is a gift for a dear friend.

They were perfectly packaged, the person I talked to at SBOE was knowledgeable, and they arrived in perfect condition and timely too. I was amused by the repotting instructions and I'm quoting them below:
"Repot your cymbidium when it is growing over the edge of the pot or the potting mix is broken down. Spring is the best time to repot. To do so, remove the plant from the pot and then with a sterilized knife cut off the bottom half of the rootball. Next, loosen up the remaining roots with a sterilized tool such as a tire iron, then divide the plant in to 3-5 green bulb divisions. Clean the dead Leaves and sheaths off the new division inspect for pests, then set the division into a pot larger enough to handle three years of growth. Next, holding a division in the pot so the bottom of the bulbs are about 2 inches from the top, start working medium - small orchid bark into the pot, tapping the side of the pot so mix falls around the roots. When half full, take a potting stick about the size of a broom handle and firmly work/ compress the bark around the roots. Finally, finish up by filling / compressing more mix until it is about an inch from the top. Put your new name tag in and you are finished. Wait a few days before watering."

Subrosa · #2 08-12-2018, 04:01 PM

Would you know if these ultra mini Cymbs are fragrant Dolly?

Dollythehun · #3 08-12-2018, 04:06 PM

I believe these are not. However, Subrosa, there are lots on their website; some might be. I could be wrong as I was choosing for size exclusively.

Subrosa · #4 08-12-2018, 04:14 PM

I took a quick look. I didn't see anything about fragrance. You don't know anything about fragrance. I'm done looking for trouble now.

Dollythehun · #5 08-12-2018, 04:20 PM

I have never known you to look for trouble...😎 More plants, yes.

WaterWitchin · #6 08-13-2018, 10:31 AM

Tire irons and broomsticks, Oh MY! I prefer hatchets, pickaxe, and a no-bounce hammer. Sterilized first, of course.

Having said that, when repotting my Monster cym, I ended up using a pruning saw and Ginzu knife to get it apart. Un-sterilized of course, because it's me.

Of course, it IS now growing in a five gallon wastebasket, S/H style. Now THAT's gonna be fun to transfer to the basement this fall.

Nice ultra mini! Can't wait to see the blooms.

Dollythehun · #7 08-13-2018, 10:53 AM

Roberta tells me someone she knew used an M80 with success. She didn't mention sterilization though. Blooms were shown as coppery orange but tag says there's a range of color.

Roberta · #8 08-13-2018, 01:55 PM

I do disagree with SBOE about cutting good roots, but if the thing is big enough, maybe it's necessary to get it apart and fit it back into a container. (I try to get to mine before they reach that point, when one has thousands like a nursery does, that's probably impossible)

Dollythehun · #9 08-13-2018, 02:01 PM

I guess one take away is they are tough plants! These guys are so small, blooming size in a 3" pot, I'm sure you could pry them apart with your fingers.

Roberta · #10 08-13-2018, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I guess one take away is they are tough plants! These guys are so small, blooming size in a 3" pot, I'm sure you could pry them apart with your fingers.

Even when it gets a lot bigger, this one should stay manageable... the floribundum(pumilum) parent keeps the size of the pseudobulbs down, though there will be many of them. The other parent (suave) has pseudobulbs that, when barbecued, would feed a small village. Fortunately, the floribundum parent is dominant for size. I have Cym. Pee Wee, which is floribundum x maddidum. Maddidum is another monster but the plant stays small and manageable.