cymbidium back bulbs, no luck, all died.
 

Hello knowledgeable folk,
I was given 12 cymbid green back bulbs last year which I planted with the majority of the bulb above the bark. Having no roots at all, I of course withheld water, giving them just a light misting now and then. They all either shrivelled and died or rotted and died. What is the correct procedure to get them to grow roots? Or is it hit and miss. How do you know when enough roots have grown and normal watering should commence? Thank you in advance.
Headbanger333

Misting makes orchids rot. I would recommend not doing it.

Back bulbs don't always grow, but some of 12 should have grown. They won't make roots if the medium and the air are dry. People usually put them into a very loose, organic-based mix, and water sparingly. Don't let them dry out completely, but don't keep them soggy wet. Just moist is good. Put them someplace warm but not too hot, and in bright shade. Higher humidity is better.

They tend to root and make new growth at the same time. Once you see new growth you can water more, but still don't keep them soggy wet.

The time of year matters, too. It tends to work better in spring.

Thanku for that, so it can be touch and go to some degree. Perhaps I won't delve into that again! Cheers

I have had great success nestling them in a tray of perlite, kept constantly moist with about 1cm of water sitting at the bottom.

That's actually where I got the base concept for semi-hydroponic culture.

I put them in a pot only with coarse bark. Only the bottom 1/3 of the pbulb is under the medium, enough to prevent movement.
Watering is the same as adult plants, when I notice it's getting dry I water.
In avg 2/3 of them survive.

Wow, this is all interesting info. I will try the perlite. Just one question, is the bottom of the bulb actually in the 1cm of water or is it above the continually wet perlite? Thanku!

When I did that, the perlite was about 5 cm deep, and the pseudobulbs were only nestled in the top 1-1.5 cm. The perlite wicks the water up so the area around the 'bulb is moist but remains airy.

Keep 'em shaded until there's growth! I think I watered mine as much as established Cyms.


** I have moved this thread to the "Cymbidium Alliance" forum **

There are many ways to sprout BBs. Keep in mind that the BBs do not grow roots but send out growths from nodes on the side of the BB.

I sprout my BBs in Zip Lok bags after drying them out for a couple of days. I have about an 85-90% success rate from BBs started before the first of May, less success from BBs started later in the season. I use a good handful of fine/medium orchid fir bark mix (75% soaked and drained fir bark - half fine/half medium - with 25% perlite) in a quart Zip Lok bag, placing in it no more than two BBs (three if they are small) from the same plant about ¼ of the bulb deep into the mix. I then insert a label and seal the bag. I place them in a warm attic with a skylight and the growths are to the top of the bags within 8 to 12 weeks. By keeping the temperature above 65-70 degrees F, the mold and rot do not tend to occur. The temperature can reach 85-90 degrees F on occasion. No water, no muss, and no fuss as the bag acts as a mini greenhouse.

When the growths are to the top of the bag, I plant the BBs out in individual pots of 3" to 5" depending on the size of the BB and the extent of the roots. If I cannot get to them immediately to pot up, I open the bag and add a little water if necessary to hold them until I can get to them.

Gold Coast Cym Growers have a free printout on 7 different ways to sprout BBs. If you send a private request to goldcoastcymgrowers@gmail.com they will be glad to send it on to you.

I appreciate all these BB ideas and procedures. Thanks to all.
Headbanger333