What to do with cymbidium orchids?

[tim_r95]

Sorry for starting so many threads today, I just figured it's easier than surfing the web for answers, and it's better to get it from people who have actually dealt with orchids, because not all sites have the best information... But yeah, I brought my nieces with me to the orchid show/sale I went to today, and they were giving out free bareroot cymbidiums to the younger kids or whoever wanted them. we went there twice today so my nieces each got two clumps of cymbidium, they were out of bloom but they look pretty healthy from what i can tell, the roots look good and other than a few bent leaves they look great. So they got like two small clumps and two medium sized clumps, the small clumps had one bulb and one bulb with a small new bulb, the bigger ones each had 3-4. I wasn't sure on the mix or pot size to use for them, but I just kinda threw them in a pot I had about a half bag leftover of black gold orchid mix, so I put them in that, I put the small bulb with two into a pot about 3 inches and all of the rest clumped together in a 6-8 inch pot I'm not sure how big is it for sure. Oh and the black gold orchid mix is like a mix of bark perlite and regular potting soil I thought it would be okay for them because they're terrestrial orchids right? So any suggestions or things I should fix about what I did would be much appreciated.

---------- Post added at 08:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------

I have them outside right now under a big tree in the backyard to give them some shade during the hottest part of the day, is it too late for them to bloom though?
I don't see any spikes on them but we're supposed to be having some colder temperatures for the next few days before it warms up again. would that be enough to trigger spiking/blooming?

[greengarden]

The mix might be a little heavy for them, they do like a free draining mix. I use a medium orchid bark. That said I do have some growing in the garden in regular soil that seem to be doing OK.

[Vanda lover]

I find that mine do fine in a variety of media, and I'm sure the one you have is fine. I have a neighbour who pots them in tropical potting soil and they do just fine. Just be sure to put in drainage such as styrofoam peanuts. They like a deep pot. Mine are in a mixture of coconut fiber, perlite, peat and charcoal.

[tim_r95]

okay, well I'll probably have to go get some more orchid mix and maybe some bigger pots. any clue on if you think they still have a chance to bloom though?

[Vanda lover]

Put it outside for the summer in bright light. Morning sun is good, or dappled light. Don't let it dry completely and feed it well. Leave it outdoors until it has had a good chilling period. Perhaps in your area they can be grown outdoors, even in winter. They don't like a hard frost, but they can take it pretty cold. In this area they are brought in around the end of October, after there has been a good cold period.
Usually a few weeks after I bring them in, the spikes begin to appear.

[tim_r95]

I've been told that they can live outdoors here year round as long as they are protected from the few times we have frost here, I'll probably keep mine indoors most of the winter though after it gets a good chill.

[WhiteRabbit]

Cyms aren't horribly fussy about potting media - both the media and pot should retain moisture but drain well. I pot Cyms in a combination of medium and fine bark, added perlite and some styrofoam packing pnuts. The Black Gold orchid mix - is that "fine" mix? You could probably just add medium bark chips to it.

Media should not dry out completely. I grow outdoors year- round in the south bay area, protecting budded plants from frost or freeze by putting them on sheltered porch, or in the garage for those nights. Lots of sun while growing (spring -summer). Fertilize and water well during this time.

Cool growing Cyms usually only spike in fall to bloom in late winter - spring.

Culture info : http://www.cymbidium.org/cymbidium.html

http://www.sborchid.com/culture.php?...dium%20Culture

http://www.orquideas.com/growing/cymbcult.html

[tim_r95]

Here some pictures of what I potted them in, Also, I didn't really notice it before but does anyone know what the black/brown marks on the leaves could be from?

[Vanda lover]

The potting looks fine. The spots may just be sunburn.

[tim_r95]

okay, well that doesn't seem too bad then, Hopefully they'll be happy and stay healthy for me. It'll be a surprise to see what the blooms look like next season.