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#1
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help....
I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. -- Hugs, Molli |
#2
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help....
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 06:26:00 -0600, "molli"
wrote: I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. Molli - Most likely you will lose the moldy bulb. But for now the others might enjoy an nice rest in a dim corner of the grow area with some sphagnum to keep the humidity up but the air moving. Standard Cym are heavy feeders and like a sweet organic, heavy terrestrial mix. On the other hand I grow my miniatures (Chinese) Cym in SH. Going forward your babies might do well in that format. Do you have any tags with this or is it a florist special? SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#3
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help....
Molli,
Not to discourage you but it may take several years before you'll see flowers from a cym backbulb. If you have the time and space to nurse it back to health that's great but if you are tight for space you'd be better devoting your time to another healthy plant that will reward you soon. My first purchase was a cym backbulb at a garden show. The vendor from Hawaii had a beautiful display and huge cymbidiums. This was before I knew anything about orchids. I bought 3 bare backbulbs for $10. The vendor said they should bloom in a year or two. I was so gullible! That was 10 years ago. I've seen one of them bloom. The other three grow leaves. The climate here in the DC area is such that cymbidiums are a challenge. The plants grow huge. I love a beautifully grown cymbidium and envy people in areas where they can grow these outdoors year around. I'm growing some miniatures but giving up on the standards. Good luck with your adventure. Let us know what you do. Good Growing, Gene "molli" wrote in message ... I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. -- Hugs, Molli |
#4
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help....
Thanks Sue, its a florist special I'm afraid. I peeled all the dried dead
stuff off the bulb and found two starts, the bulb itself is firm and good. What really scares me about this is that this same postal worker is bringing me her other orchid next week...and according to her its 'in worse shape'. The only way it could be worse is if it were dead! On an upbeat note...Amy's Dracula carderi (inaequalis) has a spike, and her Pleuro. tarantula has TWO! Gotta love Andy's....lol |
#5
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help....
grin I did the same thing Gene, in fact still have a couple in little 4"
pots with "nada". I am not sure what your temps get to in DC but try giving your Cyms full morning sun. Cheers Wendy "Gene Schurg" wrote in message hlink.net... Molli, Not to discourage you but it may take several years before you'll see flowers from a cym backbulb. If you have the time and space to nurse it back to health that's great but if you are tight for space you'd be better devoting your time to another healthy plant that will reward you soon. My first purchase was a cym backbulb at a garden show. The vendor from Hawaii had a beautiful display and huge cymbidiums. This was before I knew anything about orchids. I bought 3 bare backbulbs for $10. The vendor said they should bloom in a year or two. I was so gullible! That was 10 years ago. I've seen one of them bloom. The other three grow leaves. The climate here in the DC area is such that cymbidiums are a challenge. The plants grow huge. I love a beautifully grown cymbidium and envy people in areas where they can grow these outdoors year around. I'm growing some miniatures but giving up on the standards. Good luck with your adventure. Let us know what you do. Good Growing, Gene "molli" wrote in message ... I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. -- Hugs, Molli |
#6
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help....
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 08:07:59 -0600, Susan Erickson
wrote: Standard Cym are heavy feeders and like a sweet organic, heavy terrestrial mix. Excuse my newbieness, but what would a sweet organic,heavy terrestrial mix consist of? I just happened to run across a cymbidium in need of a home and a re potting job. The tag says Cymbidium Freshie Pauwelsil X Finlay Sonianim. The plant itself didn't seem in bad shape, but the roots were a rotten mass. The info I downloaded from the aos suggests a mix of fir bark, perlite and peat moss, but no ratios of how to mix. bb |
#7
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help....
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 02:46:40 -0400, bb wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 08:07:59 -0600, Susan Erickson wrote: Standard Cym are heavy feeders and like a sweet organic, heavy terrestrial mix. Excuse my newbieness, but what would a sweet organic,heavy terrestrial mix consist of? I just happened to run across a cymbidium in need of a home and a re potting job. The tag says Cymbidium Freshie Pauwelsil X Finlay Sonianim. The plant itself didn't seem in bad shape, but the roots were a rotten mass. The info I downloaded from the aos suggests a mix of fir bark, perlite and peat moss, but no ratios of how to mix. bb Don always went to the local mushroom farm and got the mix they had grown mushrooms on last year. Very heavy in 'Farm organics' and rich. He used 1/3 that and 1/3 recycled bark - but for the life of me I don't know what else he mixed in. It was very heavy and may be similar to what Molli found originally. It did have a tendency to get 'gamy' or 'barnyard smelling'. I have also seen people grow them in a standard orchid mix which is what AOS is suggesting. The question is how do you water? If you use a heavy hand and have decent humidity - lighter on the peat and heavier on the perlite so it drains. If you need to retain moisture in the mix due to the dryness of your area or the length of time between watering, add more peat. SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php |
#8
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help....
You should be able to grow cymbidiums better than I can here in SC. I can
usually bring a BB to bloom in 3 or maybe 4 years. Yes my growing season is longer than yours, but your cool season is longer than mine. Try the fertilizer/bloom trick. I fertilize heavily and give good sun (noon shade only so foliage is light green - not dark) until July. For minis, I stop fertilizing July 1, for full sized cyms it's July 30. Water as usual and leave out until first sign of frost. Clean them up, spray them down well, and take them into the unheated GH which will stay above freezing. I've found that fertilizing beyond this point leads to more growth instead of setting flower buds. If you love the plants and haven't tried this, you're cutting your own throat. Give it a shot. I haven't had a full sized cym not bloom for us yet (there's always a first, I guess, but it hasn't happened yet). Gary "Gene Schurg" wrote in message hlink.net... Molli, Not to discourage you but it may take several years before you'll see flowers from a cym backbulb. If you have the time and space to nurse it back to health that's great but if you are tight for space you'd be better devoting your time to another healthy plant that will reward you soon. My first purchase was a cym backbulb at a garden show. The vendor from Hawaii had a beautiful display and huge cymbidiums. This was before I knew anything about orchids. I bought 3 bare backbulbs for $10. The vendor said they should bloom in a year or two. I was so gullible! That was 10 years ago. I've seen one of them bloom. The other three grow leaves. The climate here in the DC area is such that cymbidiums are a challenge. The plants grow huge. I love a beautifully grown cymbidium and envy people in areas where they can grow these outdoors year around. I'm growing some miniatures but giving up on the standards. Good luck with your adventure. Let us know what you do. Good Growing, Gene "molli" wrote in message ... I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. -- Hugs, Molli |
#9
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help....
On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 17:03:00 -0600, Susan Erickson
wrote: The question is how do you water? If you use a heavy hand and have decent humidity - lighter on the peat and heavier on the perlite so it drains. I would probably be considered a heavy handed waterer. I have most of my stuff potted on plain bark or commercial bagged phal mix, as per the recommendation of my local orchid house. I'm on the west coast of Florida so the humidity is fairly high. I'm currently watering my potted orchids twice a week as that's also what's been recommended by others locally. Now that they are finally in the new orchid house (yippie) I'll be able to watch the progress and adjust my plant tending habits accordingly. Is any peat ok for they cymbidium mix, or do I need some fancy orchid quality peat? Thanks for your help. bb |
#10
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Then there are those of us using SH (semi-hydro) methods. I have been using
this on a couple cyms for the past year and I'm pleased so far. It is hard to over-water using this method and you don't have to worry about mixing proportions either. Check out http://www.firstrays.com for Ray's explanation. ________________ Ken Woodward Newton, MA http://kwoodward.net "bb" wrote in message ... On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 17:03:00 -0600, Susan Erickson wrote: The question is how do you water? If you use a heavy hand and have decent humidity - lighter on the peat and heavier on the perlite so it drains. I would probably be considered a heavy handed waterer. I have most of my stuff potted on plain bark or commercial bagged phal mix, as per the recommendation of my local orchid house. I'm on the west coast of Florida so the humidity is fairly high. I'm currently watering my potted orchids twice a week as that's also what's been recommended by others locally. Now that they are finally in the new orchid house (yippie) I'll be able to watch the progress and adjust my plant tending habits accordingly. Is any peat ok for they cymbidium mix, or do I need some fancy orchid quality peat? Thanks for your help. bb |
#11
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help....
I just got some cyms and used a fine seedling bark mix for potting. Being a
orchid mix, it has everything in it. If you can't get it I'll send you a link to where I ordered it from I think it will break down enough to not worry about peat moss "V_coerulea" wrote in message .. . You should be able to grow cymbidiums better than I can here in SC. I can usually bring a BB to bloom in 3 or maybe 4 years. Yes my growing season is longer than yours, but your cool season is longer than mine. Try the fertilizer/bloom trick. I fertilize heavily and give good sun (noon shade only so foliage is light green - not dark) until July. For minis, I stop fertilizing July 1, for full sized cyms it's July 30. Water as usual and leave out until first sign of frost. Clean them up, spray them down well, and take them into the unheated GH which will stay above freezing. I've found that fertilizing beyond this point leads to more growth instead of setting flower buds. If you love the plants and haven't tried this, you're cutting your own throat. Give it a shot. I haven't had a full sized cym not bloom for us yet (there's always a first, I guess, but it hasn't happened yet). Gary "Gene Schurg" wrote in message hlink.net... Molli, Not to discourage you but it may take several years before you'll see flowers from a cym backbulb. If you have the time and space to nurse it back to health that's great but if you are tight for space you'd be better devoting your time to another healthy plant that will reward you soon. My first purchase was a cym backbulb at a garden show. The vendor from Hawaii had a beautiful display and huge cymbidiums. This was before I knew anything about orchids. I bought 3 bare backbulbs for $10. The vendor said they should bloom in a year or two. I was so gullible! That was 10 years ago. I've seen one of them bloom. The other three grow leaves. The climate here in the DC area is such that cymbidiums are a challenge. The plants grow huge. I love a beautifully grown cymbidium and envy people in areas where they can grow these outdoors year around. I'm growing some miniatures but giving up on the standards. Good luck with your adventure. Let us know what you do. Good Growing, Gene "molli" wrote in message ... I work next door to a post office, and one of the employees brought me her orchid yesterday to 'save'. It once was a lovely Cymbidium, what I received was a large SMELLY (it stunk, and I mean stunk!) pot of this nasty stuff. I managed to salvage two starts and a 'iffy' bulb which looks like its trying to grow a new offshoot. I threw out the rest of the slimy stinky mess. So far I have managed to identify rot, scale, and powdery mildew (on the iffy bulb). I would like to try to see if I can save these three pieces. Besides a dousing in physan, and some alcohol for scale what can I do? What should I pot them in (they were in regular dirt) there ARE some viable roots. Right now I have it unpotted to let it dry out some, poor thing was drowned. Any help would be appreciated, especially on that bulb covered in powdery mildew and lord knows what else. -- Hugs, Molli |
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