Cymbidium help

[Oscarman]

So I've got this cymbidium that I bought at a garden centre, it is a NOID (not that there is anything wrong with that!).

It has 2 pseudobulbs with leaves and 6 are leafless. Yes the truth is I was grossly negligent in repotting it for a few years and I am concerned about the condition of the media.

Right now it is flowering.You've seen it right? Cym. NOID

So a few questions:
1. Should I remove the flower stem to help shift it into new growth mode?

2. Once new growth is initiated, I want to repot it. Should I split it into 2 plant and leave all backbulbs attached? I am not really interested in propagating it right now with backbulbs.

3. Instead of a terrestrial potting media, I want to put it into Semi-hydroponic. Has anyone had experience growing this way?

[justatypn]

Ahhh, yes I have seen your photo and it's absolutely stunning ... from my experience with cym's you can remove the flowering stem to help with promoting new growth. The trick is providing enough light to stimulate growth. The plant can be separated into smaller divisions but be forewarned though, its a accomplishment in itself. Cyms do not like to be distrubed or repotted to often, every 2 yrs or so. During division, the brown pseudobulbs often produce new growth, I think this depends on a consistant water pattern. They are dormat and with proper potting medium (densed and humus rich) the eyes will start new growths, I'm still waiting on mine to open their peepers. I would used the rule of thumb 3 pseudo's per division. Mine "butterball" bloomed late fall and well into spring. Stem clusters of 3 w/20 plus blooms, soon to share when I get the gallery up and running. Hopefully others have tried S/H and can share their experiences. I would like to know myself.

[Tindomul]

Hey Dave, any updates on this? What did you end up doing, and how is the plant doing?

[Ray]

Cymbidiums in semi-hydroponics?

Hell, yeah! They love it.

Just use a tall pot, as they really like to drive their roots deep.

[justatypn]

There's your answer Dave .... Ray has spoken

[Oscarman]

So guys here is a weekend update.......

My Cym. has started to initiate a new growth, I have been watering it consistently, but I want to get it out of the mix it is in (very old) and into s/h asap. That being said, I do not want to set it back too much. The new growth is 4" tall, should I wait until it is larger and there are signs of root growth?

Ray, how deep a pot are you thinking about? Right now the largest I have is your 4.5" s/h pot.

[orchids3]

I personally dont use S/H but have to admit that I have seen a few try it with a lot of success. How about posting pictures after you try it. Is the cymbidium you are growing a Standard, Intermediate or Mineature?
Standards and Intermediates need 2 inch space around the plants to allow two years growth in Bark or CHC. It would probably be the same with S/H. Mineatures of course require less space.

[stonedragonfarms]

Curious about your Cym. "problem"; I see that you are in Northern Canada, and am wondering about your growing conditions over the winter... I am assuming that you are either growing under glass with supplemental lighting or under lights alone? The reason that I am asking relates to the comment about light: it is true that a greater period of light will encourage vegetative growth...but most cymbidiums that are throwing growths now will make up part of the bulb and then slow their growth way down (Cym. tracyanum and its progeny are great examples of this)--only to rapidly restart in the heat and longer days of spring. If you are worried about your potting media putting off the roots, I would make an effort to add extra air at the root zone (if it's a plastic pot carefully make a few more slits for drainage, or if clay, wrap it in a towel and give it a whack or two with a ball-peen hammer) and keep it cool/bright over the winter. Keep in mind that most cymbidiums will again be in active growth by about mid february if grown under glass...so the end of january/beginning of februaury would be a good time to carry out the repotting. As for breaking up the back bulbs, bear in mind that any single bulbs which you aim to sprout will most likely take 2-4 years to bloom; provided that all back bulbs are in good condition, I would make sure that they are cleaned of all dead leaf bases (split them at the rib and give a tug on either side, they should come right off), and pot on the entire plant without dividing it. If you notice that the older bulbs are brown and dessicated, then by all means remove them.
I can not speak to s/h; I've tried it, but am no fan of it.
Just my two cents.
AP