Save Cymbidium Root Mass?
 

I was given a large Cymbidium orchid as a gift. I am sure it was from the grocery store floral section. Although I nearly killed it, I repotted it in 2-part net plastic pots and used only bark and sphagnum around the original root/dirt system. Even though the original pseudobulb seemed to die off, I did get a new pseudobulb. I decided today that the dead, brown pseudobulbs were never going to come back to life so I should divide and repot.

Since I didn't touch the root system before, I am finding it is completely rootbound. I read the instructions for cutting and removing dead roots. I have the newer green pseudobulb that I am planting by itself and two little brown pseudobulbs that have some halfway healthy roots that I'm going to pot separately and see how they do.

The original pseudobulb does have one green fleshy root and tons of hollow roots. When I pull at the hollow black/brown roots, it is like a skin comes off and there is a skinny little vein root that is alive in there. I haven't seen one photo of this on the web, so I am not sure if this pseudobulb has a chance or not.

What are these skinny roots that are inside all of the black/brown hollow roots?

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Orchid roots have a skinny thread, the real root, surrounded by a cork-like, spongy layer of water absorbing velamen. There is a good chance the roots you pulled apart were healthy.

It sounds like your plant had one healthy, leafy, new, blooming growth, and two older growths with dead or no leaves?

Cymbidiums do better as larger clumps of pseudobulbs. People recommend leaving at least 2-3 back bulbs attached to a new growth when dividing. Most people keep them as much larger plants than this. Often, due to their size, they are sold as 2 back bulbs with one blooming growth, but this is a very small plant.

Dividing them into individual growths is possible. Most back bulbs will produce new roots and growth. But it will be years before a single back bulb blooms again.

Use the Search function in the above maroon menu,, Advanced Search, and look for the term "repot" and the user name Cym Ladye. You will find threads dealing with repotting and dividing Cymbidiums.

MsDCark, if you will send a request to goldcoastcymgrowers@gmail.com with a personal addy, they will send you a great print-out of the complete instructions for dividing and repotting Cymbidiums. Well worth the effort and it is free. Just ask. Their expert growers will also be glad to answer any specific questions which you may have. Gold Coast is a Branch of the Cym Society of America and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This is a damn fine guide, couched in simple terms. You'd do well to get it.

Thanks Cym Ladye

You are welcome Bil. I am glad you found it of use. The Gold Coast Cym Growers used this Guide for over 20 years in their Hand's On Potting Workshops and it is currently distributed at their annual show and sale to all lecture attendees. It has been updated several times over the years to keep abreast of the new products coming on the market and deleting those which are no longer available.