Hi please help..I have these pseudobulbs..But are they dead? and how do .i get them to grow? really appreciate any help or advice ...My location is Blackpool,Lancashire UK..there are 3 in 3 individual pots ..again thanks for taking the time to help

















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Hi Nadine, you can tell if your bulbs are viable by just squeezing the bottom area of the bulb. If it is firm and they have a little bit of weight to them, they're just waiting for some soil, water and sun. If they are light, and squash or crumble easily, they're dead.

They look to me as if they may have dried out too much. Mine keep growing all year round, putting on new leaves and new bulbs in the summer, and setting flower spikes in winter. In cooler places, they do lose leaves and go dormant in winter but they should be growing now.

If you find them alive, just plant them with the base of the bulb in the soil. Then water sparingly until you see growth. I'd be inclined to put all 3 of them into one pot. Cyms like to be sort of cozy to grow well.

They do appear to have dried out, but Elaine is correct - if they are firm, then they should still be viable. I would also suggest removing the dead leaf husks from the outside of the bulbs. Make sure that they are in a good orchid media (not true soil, as most Cymbidiums are epiphytes). It may take up to 6 months to see grow from a backbulb (which is what you have - a leafless Cymbidium pseudobulb by itself), although many will start to grow after 3 months.

Thank you, I have them in a orchid bark mix from the nursery , but they do seem to of dried out

For reference, here are some of my backbulbs just starting to send up new growths after about 3 months:


One month's growth:


5 months' growth:

From my experience, the backbulbs won't change much now that they've dried out (i.e. they won't recover their normal, rounded shape). As long as they are still firm, you can still try to get them to grow. As Elaine said, water sparingly (but don't let the media really dry out) and give it time. Hopefully they will grow for you.

Australis said:They do appear to have dried out, but Elaine is correct - if they are firm, then they should still be viable. I would also suggest removing the dead leaf husks from the outside of the bulbs. Make sure that they are in a good orchid media (not true soil, as most Cymbidiums are epiphytes). It may take up to 6 months to see grow from a backbulb (which is what you have - a leafless Cymbidium pseudobulb by itself), although many will start to grow after 3 months.

Cymbidiums are terrestrials.

I've had some sprout within days and other take 5 years. As long as they don't rot, they may grow. I start them in bark but grow them in a mixture of soil, bark and perlite.

Photos tomorrow.

DaisyI said:Cymbidiums are terrestrials.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with this, Daisy. Some species are certainly terrestrial (such as Cym. insigne), but many are epiphytic. For example, the three Australian species (Cym. canaliculatum, Cym. madidum and Cym. suave) are epiphytic, although I understand Cym. madidum can be ground-dwelling as well, given the right conditions. Other well-known species such as Cym. lowianum and Cym. tracyanum are also epiphytic. Perhaps the best description for the Cymbidium genus as a whole is semi-epiphytic, as even the terrestrial species require a well-draining mix.

Australis, I should know better than to question an expert. I do see that some are epiphytic and some are terrestrial and some can go either way. I have never heard of an epiphytic Cymbidium and from the description of the epi Cymbidiums, I don't think I have ever seen one either.

So what are we talking about? The terrestrials we are most familiar with? Cymbidiums in general? I assumed Nadine's was a terrestrial. Maybe I am wrong?

Daisy, please feel free to keep questioning! I am by no means infallible and there will be both gaps and errors in my knowledge. So go ahead and question/challenge my comments where appropriate.

The vast majority of Cymbidiums available are hybrids of both epiphytic and terrestrial species (and hence are semi-epiphytic or semi-terrestrial). Many involve at least one or more of species that people are most familiar with, such as Splendid Cymbidium (Cymbidium insigne), Low's Cymbidium (Cymbidium lowianum) or Tracy's Cymbidium (Cymbidium tracyanum). Some species are a lot more fussy about their conditions, but the common ones (such as those three) are usually pretty forgiving/hardy. I grow both Cym. lowianum and Cym. insigne in the same media - a well-draining orchid mix which is supposed to be suitable for both terrestrials and epiphytes. This may yet change, as I have plans to experiment with other media in future.

Nadine's Cymbidium is very likely a hybrid of some kind. I'd treat it like any other Cymbidium hybrid; give it a good-quality, well-draining orchid mix and plenty of light (though not too much heat, as many Cymbidiums are cool-growing).

All these posts were so very helpful to me. Thanks to all.

Man, you guys are certainly optimistic!

Sometimes it pays to be, Bill!

Well you know more about Cymbidiums then I could ever hope to. That's for sure!

Thanks, Bill - that is high praise indeed.

I've had a number of rather sad-looking pseudobulbs actually produce a new growth, although because the backbulb is already quite diminished they are slow-growing. Others that have a large, healthy backbulb really take off and can put out multiple new growths in their second year. As long as the backbulb is firm and solid (not squishy or flat), then there is a chance for it.

I live in San Francisco. My mom who lived to be 99, had two gorgeous cymbidiums that were grown in her center patio, a rather shady area. When she died two years ago, I really wanted to keep these in her memory. I did not know what I was doing, and as they had been in the same pots for years and years, and I am sure her caregiver did not fertilize them. I repotted them into 8 different pots. ( I don't know if I used the correct size pot or medium.) Okay, now my question. What are these dried out looking bulbs, are they the back bulbs or pseudo bulbs? What is the difference? I was glad to see your advice here to squeeze them to see if they are dead, but they all are hard. I am so excited because one of them has blooming spikes. The weather has been cold, down to 45 at night, but maybe that is okay to leave them out? Sorry for this long post, reading yours has been the most help I have been able to get from the internet. I am excited to join any discussion about cymbidiums, because these particular plants mean a lot to me. Carol

A backbulb is a pseudobulb that is now leafless.
As long as they are firm and alive there are dormant 'vegetative eyes' which can sprout at any time and produce a new growth.

Your pot and medium look fine as long as the drainage is good and you don't over water. They are heavy feeders, and not picky about what kind of fertilizer. A balanced fert. is good until fall, but a bloom food will help in the fall. They like to be crowded, so don't divide until they're pushing the sides of the pot. Most Cyms. are cool growers and need the colder nights to initiate blooms. When you do divide, you can try starting new plants from those back bulbs, though I haven't got the hang of that myself.