Question
Hi, Jim! Thanks for your answer to my 3/12/07 questions about the bareroot (perhaps I didn't tell you this?) cyms I bought from the orchid show.  I just came across your letter this evening as I was getting ready to ask you another question.

Yes, I live on Oahu in Aiea, with a good view of Pearl Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. I am still learning about orchids as you can see. Throughout the years I basically took to tying my common orchids to my juniper trees that are as tall as our second-story balcony that faces the street. They thrive there!  

Anyway when I bought cymbidiums in December from a Mom and Pop store in Volcano on the Big Island, I fell in love with them.  Needless to say, I spent no time at the show thinking about whether I could handle growing cyms in pots! When I asked the vendor for growing tips, he said to have good drainage and that they can be watered every day. My thought: Hmm, duck soup! (Nothing to it!) After spending a lot of time trying to decide on the nicest bunches - and attracting other people to the stall because they wanted to see what was so great - I purchased three bunches of three different colors. The next day my daughter bought two bunches which I agreed to pot also.

Then I spent some time on the web reading about how to care for cyms. That's when I saw that they should not be watered every day.

Two weeks later - and two weekly waterings - I just found out that, of my potted cyms, two bulbs from separate bunches had rotted.  So now I have a single bulb and a bunch with two connected bulbs. I took them out of their pots and left them out to dry. When they're ready, I will try potting them in orchid bark. But on second thought, what if I were to tie them to my juniper branches or trunk? I will sleep on that idea tonite.

Now that I think about it, I suspect that some of the bulbs rotted because of the rains we've had in the evenings.  The potted cyms were placed towards the middle of the patio, against the garage wall. Now that I think about it, we have had some heavy rains accompanied by strong winds recently which could have hastened the rotting. Plus, the rain could have seeped down from the balcony floor.  Ok, this was just FYI only.

The good news is that the other three bunches of cyms were little plants with small bulbs.  They look like they're doing ok so far.  By the way, when asked what I should look for, the male vendor told me to look for the biggest bulbs.  Yet, it's the little ones that seem to be doing better.  

Thanks for the info on not cutting the beautiful leaves.  I was concerned that the long leaves would cause the little pots to topple over.  But I think I solved my problem when I placed each plastic pot into a little larger cement pot.  Hmm, but did the cement pot prevent the plant's soil from drying faster?

I asked about cutting the leaves because whenever I transplant lilies and agapanthus, I always cut off most of the leaves.  

Mahalo again for the info!  Aloha, Loretta  

Answer
Aloha Loretta,

Want to apoligize for taking so long to write back.  Afraid your note got lost in the ton of e-mails I got while I was away down in Santa Barbara for the orchid show.  If you ever want to see a LOT of cymbidiums in bloom, Santa Barbara, Ca. is the place to be in March.  

Yes, putting potted cyms into another pot may have caused the rot problem.  Hope they survive!  Actually, there is nothing wrong with putting a potted cym into another heavier pot for stability as long as there are drainage holes in the bottom of them to allow water to run through and out.  

One thing to keep in mind about cyms is that the ones with the biggest bulbs also end up being huge plants.  You could try attaching some of the smaller ones to your tree if they have 3 or more mature bulbs.  Did the vendor you bought them from tell you if the small ones were pendulous or where the spikes grow downward?  If they are the pendulous type of cyms, they should really do well in the tree and put on quite a show when in bloom - especially after a few years of growing.  

By the way, was the vendor in Volcano named Bob Harris?  I've never met the man but have heard some good things about him.  He has been trying to build up a collection of cymbidiums that will grow and easily bloom on the islands.  The problem with growing cyms on the islands is that most require a winter cooling below 45F whereas the warmth tolerant ones do not.  

I love the islands, only wish I could afford to live there!  (grin)  Will be going to Kihei, Maui in late May with my wife and sister-in-law.  

Good luck with the cyms.  

Aloha, Jim