Cym Culture Need Assist

[lindad3406]

am trying to make my own medium for repotting my Cyms. I am going to use Cypress mulch. What else do I need to add to make it good for Cym? Potting Soil maybe?
thanks

[Bolero]

I wouldn't use mulch, unless you mean bark chips?

I think I would use pine bark (or fir bark), some perlite (sponge rock) and charcoal. Even pure bark is fine for them. You can break up a styrofoam box into good size pieces and places them in the bottom for extra drainage.

So far I have just had Bark and Perlite but next time I will add charcoal. You do not need more than this to grow them well. An alternative to bark which is becoming increasingly popular in Australia is good quality CHC, or Coconut Husk Chips - they seem to suit the moisture requirements of the genus, especially when mixed again with perlite and charcoal.

I would think 4 parts bark or CHC and one part perlite would be just fine.

[lindad3406]

Thanks, I will try this. I do have CHC on hand.

[Bolero]

If you have any other questions, please let me know. I grow quite a few and they are commonly grown all around the area I live in. There will be someone to answer your question (and I will of course do my best).

You will find they are easy to grow if you grow outside.

[Jim Kawasaki]

I would suggest before using CHC to pot up any orchids, not just cymbidiums, to be sure to leach out any salts in it. At a minimum, soak it for 12 hours then drain the water then soak it again and drain. Add about one teaspoon of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) per gallon of water of each soaking to help neutralize any salts within the chips.

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by Jim Kawasaki

I would suggest before using CHC to pot up any orchids, not just cymbidiums, to be sure to leach out any salts in it. At a minimum, soak it for 12 hours then drain the water then soak it again and drain. Add about one teaspoon of epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) per gallon of water of each soaking to help neutralize any salts within the chips.

Yes I do agree, but to a point. The CHC I use doesn't need leaching at all, it has already been done.

So ultimately it depends on the CHC but if in doubt go with the advice above.

[lindad3406]

Thanks again for the help.

[Angurek]

Don't use pure sphagnum moss with Cymbidiums...it'll kill the roots faster than you can say "Bang" (Mine came with the stuff as the medium, and it made the plant miserable). I transferred mine to a fine fir bark mix with perlite and it seems to be doing much better.

[orchids3]

Cyms will grow in almost anything - of course they do better in some mixes than others and it depends of the grower and his growing conditions to large extent. You dont use the same mix in Fla that you do in Calif for example. The rainfall and drainage is a big consideration. Maybe the most important cultural modification I made with my cymbidiums pH control.
Make sure your pH stays at 7 or slightly below (6.5). Low pH kills roots fastern than herbicide. Moss tends to drop pH so thats the explanination for that. A lot of the other mixes work ok. I think everyone who has grown orchids expecially cymbidiums for very long has tried cyprus mulch - dont do it a lot of the rest of us have already made that mistake.

[orchidegg]

I read in another thread that someone in Hawaii uses just cinder, I supect it's what we call pumice round these parts (volcanic rock). I'd love to use cinder since it doesn't break down but all I have on hand is small pumice that I used to have for bonsai. If I did use pumice would that work (obviously adding nutrients). Just curious as I have a sinense and ensifolium on the way.