New Acquisitions (Cymbidiums)!

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

<<I couldn't remove all the old media out from between the roots because the roots were tightly stuck together and tangled.>>

A pointed wooden skewer should have gotten the mix out from the roots, especially if you cut the bottom 1/3/ off. Was the root ball wet by any chance? Dividing a recently watered plant is MUCH more difficult than dividing a dry one.

CL

Cym Ladye,

I read your instructions carefully, and yes i used a wooden skewer to pluck out the old medium pieces, the root mass was wet because i was using the garden hose to flush the old media out.

It was a small pot with 8 bulbs in it. the root mass was like one big block of concrete!

[Cym Ladye]

I have learned over the years that when you get a plant that packed in the pot you will almost always find a "solid" root ball. In those cases, I definitely let the plant dry before I tackle it and cut the root ball more drastically to 1/2 half. Loosening and then picking away at a dry root ball I have found to be easier than washing it with water, but only trial and error on your part will determine your method of choice.

Cheers,

CL

[empiref]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

I have learned over the years that when you get a plant that packed in the pot you will almost always find a "solid" root ball. In those cases, I definitely let the plant dry before I tackle it and cut the root ball more drastically to 1/2 half. Loosening and then picking away at a dry root ball I have found to be easier than washing it with water, but only trial and error on your part will determine your method of choice.

Cheers,

CL

Hello Cym Ladye,

I moved my second Cym into Semi-Hydro, this time, I worked with a dry root ball, I took my time carefully and untangled all the roots slowly and managed to clean 90% of the old medium without cutting the bottom 1/3 of the root ball. Root damage was about 10%, all the new growth were intact.

[RosieC]

Great buy and they are looking great!

On advice from Cym Ladye I found cutting the root ball is actually a good move, because they grow such vigourous roots that will soon fill out the space again and it ensure you can get rid of the dead roots as well.

I quite fancy trying S/H on a Cym having seen yours. I might have to pick up one to try it on.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by empiref

Hello Cym Ladye,

I moved my second Cym into Semi-Hydro, this time, I worked with a dry root ball, I took my time carefully and untangled all the roots slowly and managed to clean 90% of the old medium without cutting the bottom 1/3 of the root ball. Root damage was about 10%, all the new growth were intact.

Rosie is absolutely correct. You want NEW roots to form. old ones. Also, the vigor of the new S/H roots may well be far better than the old ones. Why fill up space with old roots when you really want new ones forming off the old ones????

For S/H culture, I would cut 2/3 of the old roots back - BEFORE getting the old mix out. Roots should be no longer than 3" from the base of the pseudo bulb.

Cheers,
CL

[empiref]

This is an update for those who wonder how Cyms take to Semi-Hydro, This Cym was transferred into Semi-Hydro on 20-4-2012 and it had no new root growths, only had emergence of 3 new bulbs.

One of pot holes which I had glued, started leaking at the bottom, so I unpotted to fix the problem, and this is the result after 7.5 weeks, and the new bubls have now leaves with a height of 30 cm and they haven't skipped a beat.



This is another angle



there must be more than 100 new roots!!

[Cym Ladye]

.....and note all the dead roots proving the benefits of cutting off from 1/3 to 2/3 the bottom of the root ball. As careful as you are, roots will break, be damaged and die when you pick out the old mix. Great new roots however.

CL