If the plant has become untidy due to poor culture with dead bulbs in the centre it is necessary to divide the plant to remove the bulbs. This shelf gets early morning sun and shade in the afternoon, the light conditions in which cymbidiums do well. Dividing orchids can be a scary thing, especially for orchid beginners. This easy to follow step-by-step guide will help you to divide your Cymbidium. When dividing a cymbidium orchid, aim to have between three and five healthy bulbs in each division as that will ensure the plant flowers again next year. Remove older bulbs that have no foliage. A few hours of morning sunlight paired with shady afternoons should be perfect. If it's divided up any smaller it will take longer to flower. Step 2) Carefully loosen the roots, then remove the growing medium from the root ball. Or scatter slow-release pellets in the growing media at the beginning of the season. Cymbidiums are wonderful orchids to grow in temperate regions. Tip the plant from its pot, shake off compost and look for natural divisions. Just make sure the bottom of the container isn't touching the water, as this can lead to root rot. 1  Cymbidiums can be easily divided during repotting in the spring. Also, I will stop fertilizing her. Step 4) Pack orchid potting mix around the roots. When dividing your Orchids, leave at least one of the old back bulbs (type 1), two of the old bulbs (type 2) attached to the new bulb (type 3) in order for the plant to flower in the following year. Divide into two or three new plants with four or five pseudobulbs each. Orchids like some rough treatment. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Dividing orchids means removing the plant from its current pot, cutting it into smaller parts and placing the parts in new pots. If you don't have a pot large enough for all of your pseudobulbs, divide them into more than one pot, placing at least five pseudobulbs per pot. Cymbidiums have been known to briefly withstand freezing temperatures, though frost will eventually kill them. Nights with temperatures down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be fine. Their natural bloom season is during the winter, which is ideal if your plants are indoors for display. When New Growth Begins The safest time to repot and divide orchids is just as new growth emerges, or immediately before this growing period. If your Cymbidium is just way too big to fit in a pot and you need to divide it, count the pseudobulbs. That’s multipl ying by dividing. A well-grown cymbidium should be resistant to most insects and diseases. Remove any dead or damaged growth. While repotting these plants, I took the opportunity to divide the plants and to see if I could use the back-bulbs to grow new shoots. Among the types of orchids, this is one that can grow freely outside the confinement of greenhouses and similar structures. ", The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Cymbidium orchids are beautiful, hardy, and easy to care for although there comes a time when they need to be divided & repotted. So make sure to flush water all the way through the potting mixture. The new plants are set on a shelf in the greenhouse. Most inexperienced growers are afraid to split an overgrown plant. Cymbidium Orchids – 10 Essentials for Growing Stunning Cymbidiums Cymbidiums are said to be the exception to the rule when it comes to orchid care. In the Southern Hemisphere, this period lasts from August through January … If you need to raise the humidity, you can place your plant's container on a tray of pebbles filled with water. There are numerous species and hybrids of cymbidium orchids. Cymbidium have highly decorative flower spikes and are one of the least demanding indoor orchids. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. To divide the plant into two or more new plants, unpot the plant & tease apart the roots at the point between two clumps so that all the old mix has been removed. Treat as soon as possible with insecticide products, following label directions. Cymbidium Orchids are easily grown under a wide range of conditions anywhere in New Zealand, but if they are to produce vigorous growth and large healthy bulbs with resultant wealth of beautiful blooms, a little attention is necessary. In the Northern Hemisphere, cymbidium orchids typically grow "flower spikes" starting in February, bloom for three to eight weeks, then lose the last of the flower stem in August. Instead, keep the potting mixture slightly damp to the touch. If your orchids are outdoors, make sure they are not in direct sunlight, as this can cause burning on the plant. Dividing Orchids Dividing orchids is an effective way to propagate them. If the plant has not flowered for some reason, divide the plant during the winter months. The best time to divide a plant is when it's ready for repotting, and the process is similar, but with an added step. They can be grown in containers outside during the spring, summer, and fall and moved inside at the first threat of frost. Cymbidiums can be easily divided during repotting in the spring. During the growing season, feed with a weak orchid fertilizer bimonthly. They naturally grow in loamy humus, sending thin roots into the soil. Accumulated salts from tap water can cause damage, such as leaf-tip dieback, a condition in which the leaf tips turn black and die. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Common Reasons Why an Orchid Won't Bloom and How to Fix Them, How to Grow Corn Plant (Fragrant Dracaena), 20 Types of Orchids to Use as Houseplants. Aug 15, 2012 - Would you like to get two or more Cymbidium from one plant? Plus, their long, thin leaves also add an attractive touch to the plant. Water these plants frequently during the growing season (i.e., the spring, summer, and fall). Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. when to divide. The pseudobulbs are the round nods that extend from the surface of the soil up a few inches before the stems of the leaves begin. Once you have in your hands a specimen sized orchid, sooner or later, you will need to divide it. Cymbidium orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or spring corsages. Dividing Every 3 years is a good time to divide your cymbidium orchids. October/November is an ideal time. But as with all orchids, there is some risk of aphids, scale, and other insects. Cymbidiums are considerably more tolerant to cold weather than some other popular orchids. In order for cymbidium orchids to be divided successfully, each part needs to have 3 to 4 live pseudobulbs. It’s actually not that difficult. So I had decided to divide her, clean off any old psb, and give a new life to the orchid. Here I had a Miltonidium Bartley Schwartz. A plant is best divided as soon as it has finished flowering. Cymbidium orchids (Cymbidium spp.) Usually the best time to re-pot and divide orchids is after the flower starts to finish and it looks daggy. Step 3) Replant your orchid in a pot that's only about 1 or 2 inches larger than the previous pot. On the other side, cymbidiums can also withstand summer heat without wilting, as they are suited to the temperate regions of Asia where there is considerable variation in seasonal and day-to-night temperatures. During the growing season, cymbidium orchids appreciate dappled sunlight. It usually takes at least two or three seasons before it's time to re-pot into the next sized container. Ever wondered how to divide and then re-pot a cymbidium orchid? Cymbidium Orchids will eventually need dividing and repotting. This video shows how easy it is to break-up a cymbidium orchid that has outgrown its pot.It also shows how to re-pot a plant that has been divided. And during the summer, they will grow quickly, sending up new pseudobulbs topped with long leaves. They can be grown in containers outside during the spring, summer, and fall and moved inside at the first threat of frost. Cymbidium orchids are prized for their long-lasting sprays of flowers, used especially as cut flowers or spring corsages. The great temptation among home gardeners is to divide orchids but if you leave them as big plants and let them grow into the larger pot space you will get more dramatic, big bloomed plants. Most growers recommend using a combination of fir bark, perlite, peat moss, and other loose organic material for cymbidium orchids. Divide crowded clumps immediately after flowering finishes. Orchids make a welcoming and graceful addition to your home. A new seedling can take several years before it flowers. If you are growing your orchids indoors, a southeast- or east-facing window is ideal. American Orchid Society Website, Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home. This is one orchid that grows on trees or in the ground so the mix will differ from other orchids. Only go up 1 pot size and be sure that pot is clean as these orchids are susceptible to bacterial infection. Only the young ones flower. However, don't let the plant completely dry out. Cymbidium orchid. They include: Cymbidium Culture Sheet. A commercial paphiopedilum orchid mix will usually serve these plants well. Nado Lenkic Springfield Orchids (located in Perth, Western Australia) www.springfieldorchids.com.au www.facebook.com/springfieldorchids/ The larger varieties of cymbidiums need an extended period of cold to provoke a bloom, while the miniature varieties aren't quite as dependent on cold weather. If you’re like most people you are probably wondering if it’s the right time to divide your Orchid. A dark green plant is likely not receiving enough sunlight to provoke a good bloom. Good to Things to Know About Cymbidium Orchids: Cymbidiums bloom best when pot-bound so don’t rush to repot them unless they really need it. Dividing orchids is a common way to propagate the plants and is fairly straightforward. Caring For Orchids Cattleya Cymbidium Dendrobium Miltonia Odontoglossum / Oncidium Paphiopedilum Phalaenopsis Vanda Basic Repotting and Dividing Basic Repotting and Dividing Most orchids need to be repotted once every two years. Dividing & Repotting Your Cymbidium. The process consists of the following steps: 1. In summary, the whole process of dividing \u0026 re-potting is quite simple - regardless of the size of the plant.Bigger plants just take a little longer.Should you have any questions or comments after viewing the video, I'd love to hear from you. During the winter bloom, reduce watering. Ever wondered how to divide and then re-pot a cymbidium orchid? Be careful to avoid a high-nitrogen fertilizer, as this can cause rapid foliage growth at the expense of the orchid's blooms. 1. They do love to be crowded but eventually overcrowding will impact on flowering and make it harder to control any pest or disease problems. October is a good month to think about caring for your orchids as many orchids have finished flowering and are about to go into their major growth period. Plan on dividing your cymbidium in late spring after it has finished flowering. Under the proper light conditions, the leaves should appear apple green as opposed to dark green. How to repot Step 1) Soak the pot containing the orchid in water for several hours, then gently pull out the orchid. When repotting, ensure you give the youngest, greenest bulbs most space. Thus, they are perfectly suited to conditions that are easily replicated at home: a rich, loose, organic potting mixture. If you wait too long it will affect next year’s flowering. Older, congested plants can be split during March or April. 3. Divide and repot Cymbidiums every second to third year, in the spring after flowering has completed. Cymbidium, or boat orchid, is a genus of more than 50-evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Cymbidium, or boat orchid, is a genus of more than 50-evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Whichever pot you use, make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the pot. Outdoors, these orchids can tolerate most humidity levels except for very dry climates. The bloom is triggered by a combination of falling temperatures and reduced water. As with keikis, it produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent.It's mostly a technique for sympodial orchids, though monopodial orchids can be divided too. I had this orchid for about 4 years, but the past 2 she refused to bloom. As a result, you get more orchids. And during the summer, they will grow quickly, sending up new pseudobulbs topped with long leaves. Most inexperienced growers are afraid to split an overgrown plant. And indoors, they like a humidity level of around 40% to 60%. are much more cold-tolerant than many common species of orchids. They feature sprays of large blooms in the dead of winter on flower spikes that can last for around one to three months. Cymbidiums are semi-terrestrial orchids. Never leave a division of less than three. Use a slow release fertiliser once a year. To buy a potted orchid plant or a gorgeous orchid arrangement browse ORCHIDS.COM today. Dividing your orchids Cymbidiums will quickly outgrow the pots they've been supplied in. Cymbidium orchids are by far the most popular orchids to be grown in Australia and in cooler climates around the world. If your plant has 6 or more that have foliage coming out of them, you can move forward with dividing. For best results, start with a store-bought plant and wait until after it's done flowering in the spring to repot it (or put it in the ground). Renown for their ease of care, hardiness, beauty and exotic mystique, they make a perfect gift. And remember the purer the water, the healthier the plants. To flower well, the plants need a distinct temperature drop between day and night during mid- to late summer. Read our, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Wishing you all the best with your cymbidiums. 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