Hard rubbish cymbidium
 

Around where I work in Melbourne is having hard rubbish at the moment - probably called something else in other parts, but basically throw all your old appliances, furniture, stuff too big for the bin out on the kerb for collection. On my lunchtime stroll picked up a hefty cymbidium someone had tossed. Took him home for a cleanup, still had 3 good pbs and 3 back bulbs. Mix had turned to mush (or was maybe mush to begin with), maybe half the roots had rotted but still had a good amount of pretty healthy ones. Looks a bit rough, but seems ok for now. Fingers crossed, I don't have a lot of experience with cyms but it'd be really nice if he puled through. I'm a sucker for rescue plants

Looking good after the repot. Good luck!

A couple of points: You should have cut the roots off to no longer than 3" from the base of the Pseudobulb as they are undoubtedly broken and will die. Secondly, with so few roots, it would have been better to put in a smaller sized pot. Good luck in any case.

Good to know - I didn't realise broken roots were much of an issue as the velamen is dead cells. I did think the pot was a bit big, but was accounting for the length of the roots! I'll watch how it goes, if it really struggles I'll try again with your suggestions.

Good work! Realize you are among people who think like you!

It might be best to correct the issues now rather than to have it struggle, especially getting the roots cut and potted in a smaller pot.

I don't have the depth of experience of Cym Ladye, but I do grow a fair number of them as a backyard hobby grower, and I have never cut healthy roots (even if velamin is broken). So personally, I'd leave the plant as is. The pot does look too big, though.

i'll jump in as the guy who know least about cyms but still does well. i have mine in HUGE pots and they dont care. i have never cut any root of any kind off any orchid

i love the way you have it set up and even more i love that you also recycle from the neighbors !!!

Hey Bartlebooth, I’m also an inveterate “curb burglar” as we call them - people who take things from the local curb side “council cleanup”. Usually it’s furniture as I like to do a bit of reupholstery in my spare time. My orchid haul from the curbside so far stands at 3 dendrobiums and one Stanhopea.