What is this growing at the base of my Cymbidium?

[emmajs243]

Ok final post I promise! Guys, I have researched and researched AND researched and there just isn't much info about cymbidiums out there. Especially in comparison to other types of orchids. I would guess this is because they are colder growers but! It makes it really tough as a newbie! So I have seen photos of a cymbidium new pseudobulbs and spikes once they look like little green unicorn horns (or this is what my 3 year old niece believes them to be which, is actually a pretty darn good description so I will use her words!)

I have this growth at the base of my cymbidium however it doesn't look like a green unicorn horn! Is this maybe just because it's very early on in the growing process? What do you think it is? I have read that cymbidiums grow during summer and not winter so it shouldn't be producing new growth right now correct? It is just hard to find info about the cymbidiums growth cycles! I wish someone would share their knowledge! Also, if this is a new growth would I want to fertilize or increase watering??

[Dollythehun]

Did you just notice this? It looks to me to be a pbulb that has lost its leaves.

[emmajs243]

Well it's a new orchid to me! So I guess I should say I purchased her this way! And maybe that is what it is, it is just SUBSTANTIALLY smaller then the other bulbs so that's why I questioned if that's what it was!

[TamiP]

First thing I thought was.....it's an eyeball, now it's gonna watch you back! LOL

Sorry, my mind is a little strange. I've never seen that before.

[JScott]

That's an old pseudobulb which has lost its leaves. It's so small because it is an old pseudobulb from when the plant was a seedling or baby mericlone plant.

[emmajs243]

Tami! lol geese you get me every time. That will forever be on my mind when I look at my sweet Cym from now on!

JScott! Thank you!! I guess my follow up is, is this a sign of anything or just something that happens??

[aliceinwl]

Old pseudobulbs naturally lose their leaves and hang around as energy storage. This looks normal to me.

[emmajs243]

Thank you Alice for all of your help! Although new growth is more exciting, it isn't a relief to know it isn't a sign of anything bad!

[JScott]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

JScott! Thank you!! I guess my follow up is, is this a sign of anything or just something that happens??

No, like they said above, this is normal and nothing to worry about. If it were one of the newer growths that was just a year or two old and it lost its leaves, that may be cause for concern, but old growths toward the back of the plant will naturally lose their leaves after a few years.

[Keithj]

I’m new to growing Cymbidiums, too. I have three and all are growing at temperatures around 12-15C in our conservatory. The largest, which I bought in flower a couple of months ago from a local garden centre, has three new growths that are rocketing away plus another growth that’s a little slower growing and a slightly different shape, making me hope for a further spray of flowers.

Keith