Rockwool

[veda.maas]

I bought a large, beautiful, blooming Cymbidium a month ago and it needs desperately to be repotted. The leaf tips started turning brown, the buds blasted and it seemed there was a root problem.

I soaked it in water for a few hours, took it out of the pot and discovered it was planted in rockwool. Needless to say it was completely pot bound, with mostly rotten roots.

Problem is, it is impossible to get rid of the rockwool!!! I have picked, snipped and cut away, but I can not seem to get rid of the stuff!!!

Any advice?

[Ray]

Work hard, and get as much out as you can. If your new medium is more appropriate for your cultural conditions and watering habits, they roots will compensate for the residual rockwool.

[veda.maas]

Thanks, Ray!

I do find my Cymbidiums go too dry in bark - is there a happy medium? (I grow them outside)

[dounoharm]

I bought one of those....it was in a 'decorator' pot with not drainage. I pulled it out and found the root ball was wrapped with CELOPHANE! to keep it from getting the floor wet I guess...I pulled that off and found the cubes of rockwool. that is nasty stuff, whoever thought of that one is nuts! I took a drastic measure and cut off half the dead and soggy root ball. it was hopeless. by doing that it was easier to pick out that nasty rockwool, with gloves of course! most of the flowers were already blasted (I bought it on sale, thrifty thrifty!) when I got it cleaned out, it divided itself in two, and I pulled off the loose backbulbs (4) I planted one half in clay and one half in plastic using paph mix...that's just what I had on hand. the back bulbs I put in 2" net pots, and set those inside 5" net pots for stability. the two big plants are doing great! big new growth....2 of the backbulbs sprouted and are doing fine, 2 or them went mushy and I tossed....all in all, it was a good deal for $15 bucks...but, no name...noids....hope this helps you!

[veda.maas]

Thanks!

I of course started the picking with my bare hands - no gloves!!