Cymbidium with Yellow Leaves, Root Rot & Sunburn: Hold Off Repotting

Jennifer bought a 3-foot Cymbidium (5 bulbs, 12-inch pot) in bloom with one spike. Medium old, leaves/yellow bulbs with black burn marks at leaf-bulb junctions, bad root rot. Moss/bark mix never fully dry.

Immediate Strategy: Stabilize, Don't Repot Yet

• Cut water back; let finish flowering.
• More shade—likely sunburned from too-rapid light increase.
• Pseudobulbs look healthy/hard—good sign.
• Wait for new growth emergence before full repot.

Interim Measure

Carefully remove some old mix from top/sides, add fresh mix without disturbing roots/growth. This buys time until the natural repotting window (new growth).