Giant Cymbidium milk tea, can I separate?
 

My wife just brought home a GIANT Cym. milk tea. This thing is massive. 4 spikes with like 8-10 flowers each. The whole plant is about 3 feet tall. My question is, can I separate this thing into 2 smaller plants? I assume I can after blooming but is it recommended? I need some advice!

I should add, it's not the height that bothers me it's the width. It's at least 3 feet wide. I was also wondering about the light requirements. From what I gather, is full morning and/or afternoon sun good?

Dividing cymbidiums is reasonably fail-safe. You'll need a flame sterlizised knife, and a fair bit of patience for a big orchid.
Wait until it's done blooming, then try to cut between the bulbs, keeping roots intact, and using a flame-sterilized knife.
You may be better off slicing 3 or 4 smaller divisions and leaving the larger original thand trying to cut it in half!
Good luck !

You can also try putting some carbo medicinalis at the place, where you cut that cymbidium :) i do it always when I cut orchids or their roots :)
Good luck! :)

Apart from the 4 spikes and long leaves, How many bulbs does the plant have ??? Cymbs can grow very large and have 4 spikes off few bulbs. No-one can give advice accurately without knowing this.

When dividing, I recommend keepig a minimum of 3 old pseudobulbs plus a new growth per division.

I can find no such hybrid as Milk Tea, but from the sounds of it, it's a standard cymb, so the best culture is cool temps and bright light.

What are carbo medicinals?

I was afraid you ask about that- that's why I named it in latin ;) I suppose in english it would be activ carbon? :) I'm not sure with the name, but that are pills, you can but it in pharmacy :)

Attachment 25579I think I have 5 bulbs, so would you keep 3 together and have 2 singles or keep the other 2 together? I'll attempt to attach my first photo.

Looks like 5 bulbs

If it only has five bulbs, I would not divide it.
If it's the spreading of the leaves that's bothering you, why not stake them? I use got something that's basically a wire circle that you put around the plant. It helps keep the leaves somewhat contained. I'm using it for my other cym, which has 20 bulbs or so.

Wow! 20 bulbs, that must be a monster plant. Great idea with the wire circle. Any pictures?

I looked on my computer, I don't have pictures of it. I'm in the Netherlands for my studies and I had to leave the monster Cym in France with my mom. I'll see if she has time to take a picture tomorrow after work.

As noted, 5 bulbs is not a dividable plant. You would need a minimum of 8 before considering to divide.

I don't grow cymbs because most are so big, but it sounds like yours doesn't have enough pbulbs to warrant dividing. I know you said there's a problem with the plant being about 3 feet wide, but that's the nature of standard cymbidiums. They're just big boys.

Personally, I would just find a spot where it's space is not too much of an issue and enjoy those beautiful blooms!

Absolutley, it is beautiful