Is it worth persevering with this cymbidium

[Billybagpuss]

Hello all,

My cymbidium had quite a bad case of spider mite after the summer. One of the pseudo bulbs the leaves have been dying off, the other leaves aren’t exactly a picture of health.

A couple of the bulbs are looking ok ish.

I have washed it just using water and sprayed it but is it beyond hope?

I was thinking about repotting it now, I know it’s the wrong time but I thought it might give it a fighting chance.

I’m a beginner when it comes to orchids so would be very grateful for any advice.

[rbarata]

I don't see anything unusual on your Cymb.
Is it growing outdoors?

[Billybagpuss]

Thank you, that’s promising.

It’s been outside over the summer which was where it got spider mites. I then brought it into my music room which is a north facing converted garage so pretty cool in temperature.

[rbarata]

How low does your temps go down outside?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Why are you thinking of repotting?

[Billybagpuss]

Originally Posted by rbarata

How low does your temps go down outside?

We are SW uk so average years around freezing, mild years lowers 5 and occasionally cold years in the minus we had one -10 but that was freak

---------- Post added at 07:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Why are you thinking of repotting?

Because one of the bulbs doesn’t look good, the leaves from that one have been dying and I don’t know if the whole plant is effected. Would I be better just waiting and hoping.

I do have a cold greenhouse so it could stay there for a while.

[estación seca]

I'm not a Cymbidium expert. I think I would repot it. I would swish it in a bucket of water to remove the old media.

I would keep it in the cold greenhouse if it doesn't get to freezing.

[Billybagpuss]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I'm not a Cymbidium expert. I think I would repot it. I would swish it in a bucket of water to remove the old media.

I would keep it in the cold greenhouse if it doesn't get to freezing.

Thank you, I think I’ll do that tomorrow.

I’ve also put it in the greenhouse today, average temperatures at the moment will be around 15c I’ve not started closing the door yet.

[rbarata]

I think you still have room for at least one more year growth. These plants like to be pot bound.
And don't worry about ugly look of the plant in general...Cymbs have, in my opinion, the ugliest leaves thast I have seen so far in the orchid world.
I asked for your low temps outside because I grow mine outside year round (these are really large plants when fully grown) and they go under temps as low as 0ºC (typically in winter lower temps are in the 5-0º C range).
Note that they need low temps to initiate blooming as well as a lot of light. If you grow them in a northern window, check if there's nothing obstructing light (such as trees, other buildings, etc).