in need of advice - Orchid Board

mattryan · #1 04-01-2011, 02:58 PM

yesterday i purchased a cym i saw them last year...but as i was just starting out with phals i passed on buying it. Now i am doing really well with phals i thought that i would try a cym. I wanted to post a pic of it and maybe somene with much more experience than i could let me know if i repot or leave it and if it seems in good condition (sorry i am a complete newbie on this). I have downloaded their culture sheet and done some reading, but still have lots to learn. I don't have a clue as to how many bulbs they produce/yr or what you do with them

Any help would be extremely welcome

Paul Mc · #2 04-01-2011, 03:24 PM

WOW! I see why you bought it! Best of luck with it. O have one CYM and am learning about them myself so I won't be able to assist that much.

WhiteRabbit · #3 04-02-2011, 02:32 AM

Beautiful!

Wait til it's finished blooming before repotting. Looks like it could go into a smaller pot, but if there's lots of roots it could maybe go back into the one it's in. I like to have about an inch of space around the perimeter of the pot for new growth. The pbulb that is blooming now could get one or two new growths, and looks like there is a newer pbulb in the foreground - that could do the same later in the year.

When you are ready to repot - be prepared - Cyms can grow massive amounts of thick, long roots, and they wind around in the pot. Leave yourself time to do it. They can be difficult to get out of their pot, too, if you can, soak the pot for 1/2 or so if you have trouble. I don't know if this will apply to yours, but best to be prepared, just in case. I have a few times read posts where first time cym repotters get on here feeling a bit overwhelmed, as they didn't expect so much roots!
This one isn't huge, so I don't expect it will be a real big job to repot - but just want you to be prepared in case

mattryan · #4 04-02-2011, 10:26 AM

Thankyou so very much paul and white rabbit! I have been reading up on cyms and i have a ? how do i know if i have a standard or min cym? I am planning on putting it outside for the warmer spring through autumn months, and can i do this while in bloom? Thanks again for the help it is greatly appreciated!

Paul Mc · #5 04-02-2011, 10:32 AM

All orchids benefit from being outside, however they may lose their flowers prematurely depending upon conditions. Those conditions would be pollination by insects and potential wind and rain damage to name a few. While there is always a risk involved with putting them outside, they do tend to do better. If you want to enjoy the flowers longer, keep it inside and then slowly aclimate it to the outside once the flowers are gone.

As far as the size, the leaves on standards can be 3 to 4 feet long. I'm not sure about the size for mini's or any other differences.

mattryan · #6 04-02-2011, 11:49 AM

Thanks again paul..i guess by my pics i have a standard then?

silken · #7 04-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Your plant looks nice and healthy. I would remove the pink foil cover and make sure it isn't sitting in water in the other container you have it in. They need to be free to drain.

Your plant looks like a standard cym. I have read, and found out first hand that sometimes when cymbidiums are re-potted, they can sulk and possibly not bloom the next year. so I don't re-pot mine every year. They like fairly high light and their leaves will get long and floppy if they aren't getting enough. They are fairly active feeders in summer and don't like to be dry for long. In the fall give them a period of cool weather to induce blooming. Lovely flowers, enjoy!

WhiteRabbit · #8 04-02-2011, 06:03 PM

I have my cyms outdoors - but if I purchased them in bloom, I usually have them inside til they have finished blooming. But, after that, they stay outside even when blooming, as it's hard for me to find somewhere to put them inside, and I don't want to risk losing buds or blooms due to the change. I do try to keep them out of rain and a lot of sun while in bloom, just to keep the blooms looking nice as long as possible. I do have one now that got hailed on a couple weeks ago - the backs of the flowers got small pock marks from it, but they still look quite good. Outside on the sheltered porch, blooms still look nice for about 3 months usually. Tho since you are in Ontario, I don't expect yours will be outside in the winter

I haven't experienced repotting causing Cyms to miss a bloom season, tho I have had a couple skip a bloom season after dividing.