Cym Help - Orchid Board

denvervet · #1 03-27-2012, 02:49 PM

I have had a large Cym. for about 18 months, I have written about this orchid before. Its in an East window, with a mixture of bark, charcoal and a little spag moss. I live in an extremely dry climate. We get sun almost every day and all day. Started out it had this black fly, finally got rid of it last Fall by changing the potting mixture and cleaning the roots well, trimming the roots and taking dead ones off. It dries out between waterings most weeks, I waster it with a gallon of water 2 X a week letting it run though, probably fertilize one to two times a month. Some of the roots closest to the plant are exposed due to me not having growing medium at the ready right now. It does have some new growth which started in December, not growing profusely like it did last year. I CAN put this orchid outside now but my leg is broken and I have to wait for someone to help me do that. This plant is NOT thriving, its older leaves are getting yellow and have been cut off when they need it. I a very very lucky that all of my other orchids are thriving, I only have this one Cym. Can someone tell me what might be wrong or not wrong with this orchid? Our nights are cool this time of year but I don't think it will hurt it to go outside, its been in all winter, would it hurt to ship it outside now? Any suggestion on how I am killing this orchid? Thanks guys.........appreciated.

denvervet · #2 03-27-2012, 02:51 PM

Oh this Cym is of unknown type, its got long fron-like leaves about 1.5 feet long. I was told it flowers yellow which is of course no help.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 03-27-2012, 07:39 PM

Old leaves die back only to leave behind an old pseudobulb. There's nothing wrong with this. Now if you can't get the thing to multiply because the shoots or pseudobulbs are rotting out, then you're in trouble.

silken · #4 03-27-2012, 11:05 PM

I put my cyms outside once there is for sure no risk of frost. Mine like quite a bit of sun and don't like to be dry for real long but not always soaking wet either. I think they are fairly heavy feeders in the summer. If the leaves are long, lank and dark green it means not enough sun. They should be a medium green and not real long and floppy.

Zoi2 · #5 03-28-2012, 12:41 AM

I just moved my cyms outside for the year.
I'm not sure and East window is enough light, do you have a South one?
Joann

Wjs2nd · #6 03-28-2012, 08:09 AM

So far your orchid sounds fine. It might need some more light. This is still it's dormant period. They will start new growths but then stop. The new growths won't start growing for another 3 months or so. They will grow, mature, and, hopefully, flower. After, new growths will form and will till next season.

denvervet · #7 03-28-2012, 09:32 AM

Thank you to all 4 of you who replied. I feel better now about this orchid. It'll get shoved outside today and get a lot more sun. The leaves are light green so I am hoping it has been getting enough sun. We are a mile high and the sun is more intense here. But due to Wild Fires we have lots of smoke in the air today, its awful.

silken · #8 03-28-2012, 11:08 AM

It may need to be acclimated slowly if it will be getting a lot more sun. Just so it doesn't sunburn. Keep an eye on it. Good luck and I hope you enjoy blooms next winter!

WhiteRabbit · #9 03-28-2012, 02:55 PM

Good point about your altitude, and agree with silken about acclimating your cym to brighter light a bit at a time. As we head into summer, avoid mid-day sun.
Cyms receiving sufficient light will have 'upright' foliage (shouldn't be floppy), and be lighter green (of course some just have deeper green foliage than others, but shouldn't be very dark green).

Let us know how it goes! Sorry to hear about your leg - hope you heal quickly!

denvervet · #10 03-28-2012, 03:04 PM

Its got "floppy" leaves........thanks for the tip on acclimating it.