Cymbidiums in rockwool.

[uncasteeb]

Have been out today to get some more LECA & i noticed some noid cymbidiums(out of flower) going very cheap.1 plant has about 15 PB,s & it was $10 so in the basket it went as well as 3 other cheaper cymbidiums($5).
I thought i would unpot 1 to see how the roots are & to put into s/h.
Well i was very surprised to find that they are all in rockwool .
Roots are in good shape & plentiful but all around the outside of the pot.
After about a 45 minute fight i managed to remove most of the rockwool & i.ll leave the others for another day.
Rockwool & cymbidiums ?

[Dana]

I don't have any experience with cymbidiums but I just wanted to sympathize with the rockwool fight.
It's the most stubborn media to get off roots.

[MikeWA]

Rockwool was the standard for growing pot plants....err hydroponic herbs for many a year. Plants would grow the same in it as any LECA problem with a hydroponic type system or daily watering. I can see Cymbidiums doing well in it.

[RSJ]

So in theory, you wouldn't necessarily have to get it all off to move a plant into LECA right? Non-organic is non-organic. Just take the big chunkies that are easy off and plop it in the LECA?

RSJ

[uncasteeb]

So in theory, you wouldn't necessarily have to get it all off to move a plant into LECA right? Non-organic is non-organic. Just take the big chunkies that are easy off and plop it in the LECA?

RSJ

Well the easy stuff is @ the bottom of the root ball but the stuff in the top 1/3 of the pot is a pig to move.I suppose i could leave it being non-organic but i think this layer may stop the air circulating around the LECA.
If it stops/slows the evaporation it could also make it so there will not be a gradient of wetness in the LECA(the top 1" or so dries out relatively quickly).
I,ll remove as much as possible.

[MikeWA]

This is a cymbidium we are talking about? They love water and I have yet to see a Cymbidium root rot. My brother has them as a hedge in San Diego, CA. Yes, growing in dirt. Not potting soil but dirt. Cyms can grow in fresh horse manure so I would not be as concerened about it as I would another orchid.

[JB_Orchidguy]

Well glad to see that others can grow Cymbids easily. I had a 3 pbulb plant, and for some reason the newest bulb turned brown and died/rotted off. Then the oldest bulb rotted off. Now all that is left is the middle bulb no roots and the bottom of the bulb is shaved off to get all the rot off. It is on a LOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG slow road to recovery. I has 2 eyes that awakened and are growing. Still no roots yet, but the new growths are still very small yet. Don't ask me what I did I had it outside in the sun and it seemed to be doing good. When I unpoted it the roots looked good and made it tot he bottom of the big pot I had it in, but the rots had taken most of the area where they attached to the plant. I;m just thankfull its recovering. I duno the point of this, but I just felt like rambling. It is about 4 in the morning and I'm at work. Have fun everyone!!