Cymbidium Back Bulbs: Update and Lessons Learned

[@vennycadelina6847]

I'm also a beginner at taking care of orchids, I started in April 2021. I watched a video on how to propagate those bulbs of cymbidium. I got 10 bulbs buried in a big pot covered completely with dirt, no medium. It also said to put sand on the top so it could get warmer inside and it will grow in 3 months. . I did not put sand in because I am not sure whether it works or not I watered it once a month- just enough. After 2 and half months had passed by, I investigated how it was doing and was so happy I saw little babies on each side of the bulbs. Some are bigger than others. So I buried one more time and waited to s grow bigger, when I saw one that was higher than the dirt about an inch, I repotted 6 of them maybe after 4 months. I buried the other 4 bulbs with tiny baby on them and waited again, they are all healthy and big now and I wish I can show you the pictures. Now I learned from your video that I can also propagate those bulbs the way you do. Maybe I will try next time. thanks.

[@apistosig4173]

My understanding and my practice is to never bury more than 30% of the bulb within the media. I have propagated BBs in all manner of soil types & media and find few do not produce new growth. As per normal Cyms - well drained pots and a little less water than actively growing seedlings. Careful application of fertilisers (I've used both slow release and soluble) and yes this is an exercise in patience but I have always found it worth while. Some of mine are kept sheltered while others fully exposed & I don't see a difference. Keep new growth dry by carefully watering the media, not the foliage. Also - while a decimated BB may look unsightly I would advise leaving it in place. The removal of dead and or decimated BBs may damage the plant which may then spend it's energy on the healing process at the expense of regeneration. These old bulbs can easily be removed at a later time.

[@miche7032]

So , that's how I lost a cymbidium I bought last January ... When I repotted it I put it too deep in the new pot ... The sprouted bulbs were too deep in the pot , so the whole plant rotted ... I also gave it too much water ... Thank you for this eye opener... Good luck with your surviving plants !

[@GoOutside321]

This is awesome, I didn’t even know you could grow orchids from the back bulbs, other videos tell you to throw them away

[@ileanavalerio3637]

Awesome video and thanks for the heads up!!! I recently got three back bulbs and hope something comes out of them. I know I have to wait a while fingers crossed! 🌸🌞🌸

[@rawlads]

Thanks so much for your video and tips. I’ve made the mistakes twice. I wish I had checked for videos first. I certainly won’t make the same mistake again. I’ve ordered five more, fortunately they haven’t arrived yet. Once again a huge thank you. Rob Tipton UK

[@kristybui35]

I lay the bulbs on top of moss and barks, mist them daily. 9 out 10 grew . There are no roots therefore you don't have to bury.

[@VHR-5150]

You can cut it off the bulb and try for another growth off of it. Cut real close to the bowl.👍🏼👍🏼✌🏼

[@chitracoulton7926]

We all learning from you , thanks for the lesson,

Hi Baotran! Thank you for this interesting video! Congrats on the bulbs which grew a new growth for you and so sorry that other one's didn't do so well! But the key is to learn from the mistakes, and I'm pretty sure next time it will be even better!

[@haroldjones9321]

Only water the Cybidium from the bottom. Water inside the plant is certain death. Extreme caution recommended. Do not bury the back bulbs any deeper than they are in the original mother pot. Use small stones to support if needed.

[@omietopi]

So sorry to hear that but at least you know why they didn't make it. I guess the media was too wet. This could be another raison. Good luck Baotran with the other bulbs and thanks for sharing !

[@liliansather683]

Oh so sorry Boatran's sometimes happens to us and we learning with you ,is sad I'm going immediately remove my bulbs in media and check it how are them and let you know what's going on my cimbidiums bulbs. Thanks you for share another lesson with me.good luck with your report the bulbs.Lidia

[@daneetajala9312]

What is needed to propogate cymbidium

[@lynnbrooks5503]

Hi Baotran. I don't think you have done anything wrong per se, but what I do think is that the media was too wet. Yes, they may have been a mite too deep but they probably wouldn't have rotted I'd they had been kept drier. Good luck with the next batch.

[@Orquimaniaco]

Nice video

[@jogyk802]

So great thank you

[@jogyk802]

Can you please copy hw to do repot back bulbs successfully - video

[@orchidmaniac234]

So sorry to hear that. But I guess every mistake serves as a good lesson to learn. I'm sure you'll do great with the other ones. Thanks for sharing.

[@lynnbrooks5503]

It's possible they have been kept too moist. Do you have drainage in the cups? When you try next time don't water them often, maybe once every 2-3 weeks and then only a sprinkle until they start to shoot. Also use a tiny sprinkle of dolomite lime in your mix, this stops the bark spoiling.

[@anndpat]

Thank you. I really learned a lot

[@purnimabhatt5355]

They love heavy fertilizer and good drainage and morning sun.

[@1171]

Thanks I ordered one when I received it I almost cried and deader roots 3 pseudo bulbs one leaf company I bought online eBay I told them I ordered a blooming stage plant and it showed you a plant with lots of leaves so I thought ok I bought it they didn’t sell me a viable plant I tried to get the dead roots off leaving two roots that might grow I don’t know the man says I will send you another then hours later they say package it up send it back I said no I didn’t tell you to send a rotting plant then I was frustrated so I said for get it I’m not packing up that dead plant. It makes me upset to by something like that if it had some roots an a few leaves I’d have said well maybe I’ll save it but mine looks like that one you showed an I’ve Got upset again so read the reviews on those people these are awful and I won’t buy from them again. Thank you they told me what they sent would live lol it can’t two little roots and selling it as blooming stage if it could live maybe five years sad isn’t it. Beware of those sellers

[@lemontea128]

Sharon Fain I know it’s been 8 months since you posted this. But next time open a case with eBay. Item not as described. Most of the time eBay will refund your money. And if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, they usually carry cymbidiums and other orchids. Healthy plants at amazing prices.

[@haroldjones9321]

I agree. Ordering online is very risky and expensive. You are likely to get much better plants at your local nursery or Big Box Store. Paying $12 for a 4 inch pot Monstera Tetrasperma so called "Minima Ginny" plant and $18 for shipping and then receiving it without adequate roots to keep it alive is really frustrating. I discovered that Aldi had the plant, 2 foot tall plant, in a gallon pot for $32.

[@kingkanoworldmedia4389]

These are common mistakes, which Orchids never forget, or forgive. Planting to deep, is same as too much water, not enough air circulation, because like it or not, there are parasitical type plants. Meaning, they hitch a ride on something else, like trees, tree bark, rocks, if dirty, but mostly trees and they get their food from the tree, and water from rain, so we need to mimic the fighting life these plants suffer. They are not like a rose, where we can buy costly food, costly soil, dig the hole here or there, and they will grow. They are forgiving, to a point and they die much slower. In other-words you get warning signs. Orchid, do not they look great until Ops, dead, dead gone

[@yvsd.rosanaturezarosasorqu3861]

Très joli ! Cymbidium. Likes171

[@adelaolivero9966]

Great tutorial. I have 2 questions: do you make holes in the cup's bottom? How often do you water them? Thank you

[@orchide4858]

Hi I just broke a fresh bulb when importing it it looks purplish so I did not know it was so fragile so I broke this fresh bulb just touching it Is it normal that a fresh née bulb is purple in colour not green like most other new bulbs?

[@judithsarcochilus1080]

Did your 'pots' have any drainage? I think Lynn has hit the nail on the head, you may have just kept them too wet. Good luck with your next attempt.

[@margom2060]

Cimbidiums are the easiest orchids....they will need to be outdoors in the fall cool down to initiate bloom for next season

[@margom2060]

Cimbidiums are a terrestrial orchid and like media more like soil...some profession growers us coconut coir.... Composted bark or broken down media from other orchid is ok...addition of pumice or perlite is important...mine sprouted on top of the compost heap....

[@trubux]

not all cymbidiums are terrestrial, there are also epiphytic/lithophytic species, like www.orchidspecies.com/cymaloeifolium.htm www.orchidspecies.com/cymchlorantum.htm www.orchidspecies.com/cymhookeriana.htm etc.

[@user-hl1ci2ct3n]

Thank u...

[@cherylpenn4509]

I think they were watered too often. Best to give very little water, very seldom

[@kristenbuckland2041]

That rotten one I think is too wet..the other pots look better.

[@kramerb3758]

Some already looks dead

[@MsLouisVee]

Do you have DRAINAGE HOLES??