Lost bunch of Cymbidiums...
 

A couple weeks ago, I got somewhat serious cellulitis on my right leg so that I needed to be hospitalized for about two weeks. (sigh) The pain was...so excruciating that it was nearly impossible to walk...

During the stay at the hospital, no one was looking after my collection and I was like...expecting the worst. heh.

And after I got out of the hospital, I was deathly anxious to see my collection, and eventually found out that nearly one third of my chinese cymbidium collection was gone. Other orchids were just doing fine, fortunately.

Interestingly enough, most of the suffered cymbidiums were C. goeringii and C. sinense. Some of them were so weakend that I had to throw them into the trash can. Surprisingly, all of C. ensifoliums were just doing fine with that period without water. In fact, one of them was even sending out its flower spike! Perhaps C. ensifolium is more drought resistant to other Cym species?

Anyhow, I am just grateful that everything, well almost everything, is back normal again. :-)

I'm sorry to hear about your leg and the loss of your Cyms. I hope the leg will recover fully and maybe you can replace some of the orchids you lost. It is fun buying new ones too :)

So sorry you lost so many. I too hope your leg is doing better.

Sorry to hear about your orchids and hope you are feeling better.

I hope you continue to get better rapidly.

Lots of thanks!

Meanwhile, one of my surviving Cyms, Cym. ensifolium 'Yu Hua' has begun to sending out its first flower spike! Very exciting. hehe. :D

Two weeks without water will not kill a Cym if it has one or more BBs. Small, single growths may not recover. In nature, BBs store water for the growths during dry spells.

If all the growers had thrown out their plants damaged from the week of solid freeze here in California twenty or so years ago, the Cym sellers would have been dancing in glee. Instead the hobbyists were told to leave the plants alone, no matter what they looked like, and keep them on the dry side. Come spring, they sent out new growths.

The same should be true of yours. Keep them watered lightly and in the shade, and if they have BBs they should send out new growths in a few months.

Please do not toss any more but instead you and your plants can heal together.

I agree with this comment although I live in uk last year I went to Australia for a month was worried about my Cyms but on return there was nothing to worry about in fact some had spikes. I think if I had left someone else in charge they would probably have died due to overwatering

Thanks!

I think I managed to save couple of Cym. goeringiis. They are definitely growing again. In fact, many of them are recovering nicely somewhat. :biggrin:

Unfortunately, my Cym. sinenses are now having fungal rot and one of Cym. kanran has possible virus infection. (sigh)

You may be able to save the one with the fungal rot depending on where it is. There are several treatments discussed on this Forum for treating fungus. Isolate and keep on the dry side for a start.

The virus was not a symptom of neglect. Keep it isolated and test if is an important plant. If it tests positive, it is best to bin it.