repotting a Cymbidium
the
repotting a Cymbidium
what you'll need:
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| A healthy Cymbidium should have a dense root mass. This plant was growing in a plastic nursery pot. We have cut the pot with shears and will peel it away to free the plant. | As always, sterilize your cutting tools before cutting any plant tissue and re-sterilize between plants. | We will start by trimming off any dead leaves or leaf tips. |
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| Although we could make several plants from this overgrown Cymbidium, we will divide it into two large pieces. Notice that there seems to be a natural division in the middle of the plant. A few moments observation at this point will allow you to exercise good judgment before cutting. |
Because of the
dense root mass, shears are of little use at this point. We are using
a special potting tool with a dull serrated blade to cut through the
root mass. A knife or small saw will also do the job. If using a
knife, you may need to exert some force to cut through the thick
Cymbidium roots. |
It may not be necessary to cut all the way through the root mass. Once you have cut partially through, you should be able to pull the pieces apart. If not, you will need to cut deeper . |
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| Now we have two divisions and can finish cleaning them up for potting. Remove old potting media and any dead roots that easily pull away. | Trim away any soft, mushy dead roots with sterile shears. If the roots are basically in good condition you do not need to be too extreme. The more roots you leave, the better the plant will be anchored.. | Select a pot that will allow for two years growth. Generally, cymbidiums are potted in plastic pots. |
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| We will use a fir bark mix that contains charcoal, perlite and Aliflor. Straight medium grade fir bark is also a good choice. Pre-soaking fir bark will allow it to absorb water more readily. | Place a layer of fir bark in the bottom of the pot. You do not need to use any drainage material. If you wish, you can add a few large landscape river rocks that will make the pot more stable when in flower. | Place the plant in the pot and begin adding media all around the root mass until it is within a half inch of the rim of the pot. Do not cover the base of the pseudobulbs! |
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| One long-time technique for potting cymbidiums uses a wooden dowel as a potting stick. The tool is used to compact the fir bark around the root mass to secure the plant firmly. | This method does a good job of securing the plant without the use of any additional hardware. |
Prepare a nametag and insert it into the pot. You may add the date of potting if you wish. |
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