Question
QUESTION: Hi Jim,
  I was wandering what I should do to my cymbidium right now?  I still have green leaves however the leaves on the outside of the bulb is drying up and the stem is also drying up.  In my pot right now I have 7 stem should I repott it?  If yes, how?

ANSWER: Hi Julie,

Those leaves dying on the outside of the pots is not unusual.  But if there are quite a few that are dying, that could indicate that the potting mix has broken down and needs to be replaced with fresh mix.  The spent flower stem may be cut off as it will not flower again.  

Repotting a cymbidium is not that difficult but does take some time and patience.  Before beginning, purchase a small bag of fine grade orchid mix (preferably one containing primarily bark).  You might also want to buy one pot about the same size as the current pot.  

To begin, remove the cymbidium from the pot, if it is difficult to get out you can try banging on the side of the pot to help loosen it.  Remove as much of the old mix from the roots, spreading the roots to get deep inside.  Cut off any soft mushy roots as they are dead.  Washing the roots with water sometimes helps loosen things up.  Put enough mix in the pot so the bottom is covered then lower the roots until the bottom of the bulbs are just below the pot rim and they are about in the center of the pot.  Put more mix in, making sure to get it all around the roots, tapping on the pot sides may help the mix get in and around the roots.  When full, gently compress the mix and add more as needed to fill the pot.  That's about it.  

By the way, it is possible to divide the cymbidium into two plants (the reason I suggested getting another pot).  After the roots have been cleaned, you can break the bulbs apart and have a division with 4 bulbs and one with 3 bulbs, from here it is just a matter of potting them as above.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



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

QUESTION: Hi Jim,
  Should I cut off all the dead leaves?
Thanks,
  Julie

Answer
Hi Julie,

As the leaves die and turn brown, the leaves will fall off on their own but if it bothers you to see them, go ahead and cut them off.  First, try to see if they will come off with a slight pull of the leaf, many times they will break off when you do that.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.