Here's my novice's question: I have several very pretty and fragrant
cymbidiums which were bought, no label, from Whole Foods a few years ago.
They've come in tall skinny black plastic containers. I have been able to
rebloom them several times, but they were less vigorous this year, even
though I gave them a sunnier spot on the porch this summer, and let them
stay out later in the Fall to get some cold exposure (down to high 40's F).
Top growth seems reasonably healthy, but not a lot of new growth. I
wondered if I should repot them. On removing them from their containers,
there was no discernable media, only dense tangles of roots (which did look
healthy) that filled the entire pot. It seemed to me that it would be
impossible to untangle this mass to repot, as I do with other species. I
asked an acquaintance with more experience how he divides his cymbidiums to
repot, and he indicated (I'm not sure whether in jest or not) "with a
machete!" I've read that cymbidiums prefer to be potbound. What should I
do? Just leave these in their original containers and never repot? cut the
root mass apart to divide? put in a larger pot without untangling the root
mass and just pack some new media around the sides?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Chuck Berlin
Pittsburgh

Any idea if they are chinese cyms?
http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11101 see how grasslike
and upright the leaves are and fewer smaller flowers?

Or standard cyms? http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11948
Maybe you can tell the plant is larger, the flowers rounder, teh leaves
broad and arched.

Chinese cyms come in tall skinny pots 6" or smaller. Standard come in 6" or
bigger, maybe a gallon.

Standard Cym, go ahead in take it out of the pot, check the roots if they're
OK then repot like normal, just remove any crappy medium put it in the next
sized pot, and infill around the sides with whatever medium you usually use.
Yes pot bound is better.

Chinese cyms want a finer medium or sometimes a medium bark around the roots
topped with a fine bark or sphagnum moss. Tall skinny pot. Long roots that
grow down not out or wind around the pot like Catts do.

I'm betting Whole Foods wouldn't sell a chinese hybrid (except maybe Golden
Elf). I bet you have a standard Cym

I use a large serrated kitchen knife if leaning my body weight on a knee on
teh root mass won't allow it to break apart along its natural seam.
Sometimes the knife comes in handy cutting the plastic pot apart, too. I've
been considering a saws all...if I can figure out how to sterilize the blade
between plants...

K Barrett

"C. Berlin" wrote in message
ster.com...
Here's my novice's question: I have several very pretty and fragrant
cymbidiums which were bought, no label, from Whole Foods a few years ago.
They've come in tall skinny black plastic containers. I have been able to
rebloom them several times, but they were less vigorous this year, even
though I gave them a sunnier spot on the porch this summer, and let them
stay out later in the Fall to get some cold exposure (down to high 40's
F). Top growth seems reasonably healthy, but not a lot of new growth. I
wondered if I should repot them. On removing them from their containers,
there was no discernable media, only dense tangles of roots (which did
look healthy) that filled the entire pot. It seemed to me that it would be
impossible to untangle this mass to repot, as I do with other species. I
asked an acquaintance with more experience how he divides his cymbidiums
to repot, and he indicated (I'm not sure whether in jest or not) "with a
machete!" I've read that cymbidiums prefer to be potbound. What should I
do? Just leave these in their original containers and never repot? cut the
root mass apart to divide? put in a larger pot without untangling the
root mass and just pack some new media around the sides?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Chuck Berlin
Pittsburgh

Here ya go. I knew there was a timing to the repot:
http://www.sborchid.com/culture.php?...dium%20Culture

K Barrett

"C. Berlin" wrote in message
ster.com...
Here's my novice's question: I have several very pretty and fragrant
cymbidiums which were bought, no label, from Whole Foods a few years ago.
They've come in tall skinny black plastic containers. I have been able to
rebloom them several times, but they were less vigorous this year, even
though I gave them a sunnier spot on the porch this summer, and let them
stay out later in the Fall to get some cold exposure (down to high 40's
F). Top growth seems reasonably healthy, but not a lot of new growth. I
wondered if I should repot them. On removing them from their containers,
there was no discernable media, only dense tangles of roots (which did
look healthy) that filled the entire pot. It seemed to me that it would be
impossible to untangle this mass to repot, as I do with other species. I
asked an acquaintance with more experience how he divides his cymbidiums
to repot, and he indicated (I'm not sure whether in jest or not) "with a
machete!" I've read that cymbidiums prefer to be potbound. What should I
do? Just leave these in their original containers and never repot? cut the
root mass apart to divide? put in a larger pot without untangling the
root mass and just pack some new media around the sides?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Chuck Berlin
Pittsburgh

Definitely a "standard cym." Thanks for the suggestions. The knee on the
root mass maneuver is a fine idea that hadn't occurred to me. I still tend
to imagine that orchids are, well, delicate. However, the more I play with
my collection the more disabused of that notion I'm getting, and the
cymbidiums are definitely the musclebound toughies of the group.
Chuck Berlin



"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
Any idea if they are chinese cyms?
http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11101 see how grasslike
and upright the leaves are and fewer smaller flowers?

Or standard cyms? http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11948
Maybe you can tell the plant is larger, the flowers rounder, teh leaves
broad and arched.

Chinese cyms come in tall skinny pots 6" or smaller. Standard come in 6"
or bigger, maybe a gallon.

Standard Cym, go ahead in take it out of the pot, check the roots if
they're OK then repot like normal, just remove any crappy medium put it in
the next sized pot, and infill around the sides with whatever medium you
usually use. Yes pot bound is better.

Chinese cyms want a finer medium or sometimes a medium bark around the
roots topped with a fine bark or sphagnum moss. Tall skinny pot. Long
roots that grow down not out or wind around the pot like Catts do.

I'm betting Whole Foods wouldn't sell a chinese hybrid (except maybe
Golden Elf). I bet you have a standard Cym

I use a large serrated kitchen knife if leaning my body weight on a knee
on teh root mass won't allow it to break apart along its natural seam.
Sometimes the knife comes in handy cutting the plastic pot apart, too.
I've been considering a saws all...if I can figure out how to sterilize
the blade between plants...

K Barrett

"C. Berlin" wrote in message
ster.com...
Here's my novice's question: I have several very pretty and fragrant
cymbidiums which were bought, no label, from Whole Foods a few years ago.
They've come in tall skinny black plastic containers. I have been able to
rebloom them several times, but they were less vigorous this year, even
though I gave them a sunnier spot on the porch this summer, and let them
stay out later in the Fall to get some cold exposure (down to high 40's
F). Top growth seems reasonably healthy, but not a lot of new growth. I
wondered if I should repot them. On removing them from their containers,
there was no discernable media, only dense tangles of roots (which did
look healthy) that filled the entire pot. It seemed to me that it would
be impossible to untangle this mass to repot, as I do with other species.
I asked an acquaintance with more experience how he divides his
cymbidiums to repot, and he indicated (I'm not sure whether in jest or
not) "with a machete!" I've read that cymbidiums prefer to be potbound.
What should I do? Just leave these in their original containers and never
repot? cut the root mass apart to divide? put in a larger pot without
untangling the root mass and just pack some new media around the sides?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Chuck Berlin
Pittsburgh

I hope you followed the link to the culture page at the Santa Barbara Orchid
Estate becasue it does say when to repot. These will sulf if repotted at
the wrong time. If not google the santa Barbara orchid estate and follow
the links to cymbidiums

K Barrett
"C. Berlin" wrote in message
ster.com...
Definitely a "standard cym." Thanks for the suggestions. The knee on the
root mass maneuver is a fine idea that hadn't occurred to me. I still tend
to imagine that orchids are, well, delicate. However, the more I play
with my collection the more disabused of that notion I'm getting, and the
cymbidiums are definitely the musclebound toughies of the group.
Chuck Berlin



"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
Any idea if they are chinese cyms?
http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11101 see how
grasslike and upright the leaves are and fewer smaller flowers?

Or standard cyms? http://www.sborchid.com/plantdisplay.php?ocode=CYM11948
Maybe you can tell the plant is larger, the flowers rounder, teh leaves
broad and arched.

Chinese cyms come in tall skinny pots 6" or smaller. Standard come in 6"
or bigger, maybe a gallon.

Standard Cym, go ahead in take it out of the pot, check the roots if
they're OK then repot like normal, just remove any crappy medium put it
in the next sized pot, and infill around the sides with whatever medium
you usually use. Yes pot bound is better.

Chinese cyms want a finer medium or sometimes a medium bark around the
roots topped with a fine bark or sphagnum moss. Tall skinny pot. Long
roots that grow down not out or wind around the pot like Catts do.

I'm betting Whole Foods wouldn't sell a chinese hybrid (except maybe
Golden Elf). I bet you have a standard Cym

I use a large serrated kitchen knife if leaning my body weight on a knee
on teh root mass won't allow it to break apart along its natural seam.
Sometimes the knife comes in handy cutting the plastic pot apart, too.
I've been considering a saws all...if I can figure out how to sterilize
the blade between plants...

K Barrett

"C. Berlin" wrote in message
ster.com...
Here's my novice's question: I have several very pretty and fragrant
cymbidiums which were bought, no label, from Whole Foods a few years
ago. They've come in tall skinny black plastic containers. I have been
able to rebloom them several times, but they were less vigorous this
year, even though I gave them a sunnier spot on the porch this summer,
and let them stay out later in the Fall to get some cold exposure (down
to high 40's F). Top growth seems reasonably healthy, but not a lot of
new growth. I wondered if I should repot them. On removing them from
their containers, there was no discernable media, only dense tangles of
roots (which did look healthy) that filled the entire pot. It seemed to
me that it would be impossible to untangle this mass to repot, as I do
with other species. I asked an acquaintance with more experience how he
divides his cymbidiums to repot, and he indicated (I'm not sure whether
in jest or not) "with a machete!" I've read that cymbidiums prefer to
be potbound. What should I do? Just leave these in their original
containers and never repot? cut the root mass apart to divide? put in a
larger pot without untangling the root mass and just pack some new media
around the sides?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Chuck Berlin
Pittsburgh

Hi, They have grasslike and upright leaves because they were crossed with cymbidium species (ensifolium) and Enid haupt is a 3rd generation hybrid wich is also crossed from different species.

Cheers - Illiberale