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Orchid Advice Please

andrewnewtonandrewnewton Posts: 155
in Plants
I have two orchids, which I believe may be cymbidiums ? Hopefully the photos will show the foliage has become very leggy and no sign of any flowering spikes.
Any advice on how to renovate them gratefully appreciated thanks

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    They certainly look like Cymbidiums.  They seem to have dropped out of favour over the decades as they aren't always the easiest Instant Impact people expect nowadays.
    I've been growing them for years and when they flower, they are quite spectacular as well as long lasting.
    Yours look very congested so I'd suggest your first job would be to get them out of the pots, decide which look a good bet ( size and structure ) and re pot in a decent orchid compost mix.  Smaller ones you can do the same with but pot on separately to grow to flowering size. 
    They usually come into flower in Spring and I've always found they benefit from a certain amount of "chill" over late summer and Autumn to get them to flower the following year. 
    Obviously depends on your location ( and the weather ! ) but I put mine outside in a shady spot once they have finished flowering. ensure they have enough water, give them a feed and then bring indoors before any frost.  

      
  • andrewnewtonandrewnewton Posts: 155
    @philippasmith2 Many thanks for your help. Just to clarify do I need to split the plants like a perennial or is it a case of repotting each of them in a larger pot
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Ours though don't all flower in the spring but more towards autumn.
    Splitting them if need be but putting them into a bigger pot may not help. It all depends on what happens when you up lift them. If they fall apart then yes you have more plants.
    Cyms need cooler times and it is important that they have rain water. I know that in garden/nurseries centres they use tap water via hoses but when you get these plants home they really do need rain water.
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    edited June 2022
    Cymbidums come from the mountains of SE Asia. This is monsoon country so they need lots of water in the summer and very little in the winter, which is the flowering period. Early in the season they need high nitrogen feeding, then later high potash (tomato). They do well outside in the summer and cool but frost-free in winter. As much sun as possible, but avoid prolonged summer baking, which may burn the leaves Good luck.
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    As others have said, they need a cool period about 10C is perfect over winter. so if you have a less heated room put them in there for a few months, that should help, but try not to forget them!
  • andrewnewtonandrewnewton Posts: 155
    Thanks to everyone for all their advice. I'll pick up some orchid compost this week and I've put them outside. I've knocked one out of its pot and it's totally rootbound, with the roots fully to the edge
    Is it just a question of trying to feed the compost as best I can without doing too much root damage ?
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