Question
QUESTION: Jim,

I have a twice "potted up" cymbidium which is just about to crack its clay pot. I've treated this guy along with his/her cousins with beneficent indifference. In pots. Outside. Novato, good but not withering sun. Water when it "seems" right. Same with fertilizer. The result has been a great array of flowers each year. Now I have a mass of bulbs jammed into this one pot which I will break to get to the dividing and repotting process. It seems like I'll have to use an axe or a chisel to get the divinging job done. Suggestions as to process, size of remaining clumps. Size of new containers. This guy/gal is presently in a 12 inch clay pot.

Thanks

ANSWER: Hello Dick,

Being that it is in a 12 inch pot, it probably has around 24 bulbs.  Also, with it in a clay pot you probably will have to break the pot in order to get it out in order to divide and repot it.  

Dividing it isn't difficult but it does take some effort on your part.  Once you've unpotted it, untangled the roots, cleaned off most of the old media from the roots, you are ready to divide it.  There are several ways to divide a large cym., one is to manually break the bulbs apart into clumps of 4 bulbs each, cut the connecting rhizome between several bulbs to create clumps or just use an axe and start hacking away.  What you want to end up with are divisions with 4 or more bulbs each, but it is okay if some end up with 2 or 3 bulbs.  The reason for suggesting 4 bulbs per division is that will result in better than 75% of them producing spikes next year.  With 2 or 3 bulbs it probably will take a year longer for them to do so.  

By the way, it would be a good idea to put each of them into tall 6 inch pots.  

By the way # 2, if the roots are really long, you can trim them shorter so they will easily fit into the pot.  Just make sure the remaining roots are about 5 to 6 inches long.  

By the way # 3, if there are any backbulbs (leafless bulbs), you can try taking them off the clumps, cutting off all the roots and put them into a ziplock baggie with some barely moist media.  If all goes well, they may start a new growth from a dormant growth eye and once it has roots over 2 inches long you can pot them up.  Cheap way to increase your orchid collection.  Just be prepared to wait 4 to 5 years for them to spike and bloom.  

It can get a little warm in Novato, so placing them where they get a little overhead protection during mid day is best.  Also, if they are potted in plain unglazed clay pots, you almost cannot over water them, especially while they are actively growing from March through Sept.  

Hope this helped. Keep up the good work!  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This is a follow up question to dividing Cymbidiums. I get tired of buying "fine' orchid bark in which to repot these gems. Can I use the compose from my compost pit (grass, leaves, shredded paper, and fruit and vegetable scraps from the the kitchen)? It would sure be less expensive.

Answer
Hi Dick,

The answer is a qualified "yes".  

Qualified in the sense that there was nothing added to the compost pit that was diseased, especially material that is virused.  Plant virus are capable of surviving long periods even under some harsh environments.  Also, planted in compost may require some changes in how and when you water them due to it holding moisture longer than orchid bark.  My suggestion would be to add a little perlite or sponge rock to the compost to aid in aeration of it.

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.