QuestionI got a gorgeous cymbidium orchid beginning Feb this year. It had three big beautiful mature bulbs with Blooms that lasted till begining April and 5 or 6 pre-teen to baby bulbs. I've followed all lighting and watering requirements BUT within 24 to 72 hrs perfectly healthy looking green leaves just turn brown and fall off. this happens one leaf, one bulb at a time until the entire bulb is dry and brittle. But the moss/bark potting mix is never totally dry. I SOAKED IT WHEN I 1st got it and accidently over watered about a month later.
This just doesn't make sense!!! Tips Please wonderful people out there!!!!
Info that may help; I live in Northern California, Napa area
AnswerCassia, you may have a degraded potting mix. When the potting mix decays it forms more of a soil-like mixture that holds water too long and restricts air flow to the roots. As a start, I recommend repotting it in fresh fir-bark based potting mix. As part of that process, after unpotting the plant, rinse off the roots and remove any roots that are mushy as these are dead or dying. Repot the plant, being careful not to damage any new roots or new growth. Cymbidiums like to be tightly potted in a well-drained pot. Cymbidiums do best in high light levels-- usually outside. Move the plant gradually into higher and higher light levels until, over the next few months, you have moved it to near full sun. As new growth comes along, feed the plant heavily with each watering. Many of the larger cymbidiums prefer cooler temperatures, especially in the fall (down to temperatures in the 40's).
As long as your plant's pseudobulbs are hard, that is a good sign. If a pseudobulb were to get soft, that is a sign that rot is setting into the bulb and you could rapidly lose the plant without drastic action. For now, don't worry about the leaves falling off. If you have hard pseudobulbs and growth eyes at the base of one or more pseudobulbs, the repotting and increased light level should gradually increase the health of your plant and future growth.
