Cymbidium Backbulb inquiry

[GreenGuru1]

It's been a while since I've visited the forum, it's just that I have been pretty busy with things. Recently I divided several of my Cymbidiums and I have a quick question. Some of last years bulbs separated on their own from the clump during the division. These bulbs have healthy leaves but no roots. Is it best to just remove the leaves so that the bulb can focus its energy on making roots and developing side shoots or is it just fine to leave the leaves alone?
My gut is telling me to cut the leaves off, but I thought I'll run it by some of you more experienced growers of Cymbidiums.
Appreciate your advice and thank you in advance!

James

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I would leave the leaves on the pseudobulb. They will continue to photosynthesize and produce plant hormones.

[Fairorchids]

You probably won't get roots on the old pseudobulbs. They should produce a new growth, and that growth will in turn produce roots.

[Cym Ladye]

Do not keep the leaves! They will only drain energy from the rootless BB. Carefully remove the leaves and any old roots. There are many ways to germinate new growths on BBs. The easiest is to seal in a Zip Loc bag with a handful of your moist orchid mix and a label. Place in a warm, shady location with the BB buried to 1/2 it length. When the growth reaches the top of the bag, remove BB and growth and pot up in a small pot. Place with other orchids in similar size pots.

There are many other ways to start growths but this is the easiest for many.