Bare-Root Cymbidiums from California Show: Salvaging Shriveled Roots in New York

Question:

I'm in NY. Went to California, bought bare-root Cymbidiums from an LA flower show. Seller said they're good—lots of green leaves, had flowers, but roots dry and shriveled. No healthy roots, just bulbs with 30" leaves and some baby bulbs. $8 each ×5. Got 5 cut flower stalks for relatives. I grow Phalaenopsis well, never tried Cymbidiums. Help!

Answer:

Hello Helen,

Did you buy at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate during their early March show? They always have bare-root Cymbidium divisions then.

Try soaking roots in lukewarm water with a couple drops of liquid dish soap for 30 minutes—roots may look dead but could be barely alive. If they plump up, great. If not, pot in fine-grade orchid bark. Pot size depends on division: 2–3 bulbs → 5" pot; larger → gallon pot. They should be starting a growth cycle now (new bulbs/roots).

In NY: place outdoors if possible, full sun with midday semi-shade. Keep out until nights drop below 35°F. Humidity >40%, light air movement. Water when media barely moist; feed balanced orchid fertilizer.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, CA