can i trim cym leaves?

[DDS2007]

my cym leaves are growing sideways and occupying a lot of space. i was wonderung if it was ok to trim them or would that stress my cym?

thanks

[kmarch]

I would not trim healthy leaves. As you probably know most of the plants energy-producing activity (photosynthesis) takes place in the leaves. Cutting off healthy leaf tissue means reducing the plant's ability to feed itself.

[Anton]

Having been there done that last year, due in main to a bad scale infestation through my whole stock, it was the only way to rid the plants of those little buggers.

I must say there was no adverse problems with doing it, I still had the best spiking season ever, and all those plants have now grown a full head of leaves this year and most are spiking now.

In theory it may not be good for them, but in practice, I haven't found any detrimental effects to my stock....19 plants. Cyms are hardy plants.

My father always used to cut off the ends of the leaves when they showed signs of blackening or dying with no ill effects.

Only do it as a last resort.

You can see what happened to mine on my Web site under Cyms and also the crop of flowers after the event.

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...-web-site.html

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Sounds like you need to do a little training as your plants grow. I recently got a Cym with a new growth headed out horizontally. I took one of those heavy duty rubber bands that come on asperagas, and put it over the new growth and another growth, and in no time the new growth was headed upward. Later the rubber band fell off as it degraded. On other plants I use long twist tie material to pull together the bulbs. All plants will shift their cells with a steady pressure applied over time.

If you are going to cut, use a sterlized tool, and most alcohol is not good enough for the job. Heat your tool, or soak in saturated trisodium PHOSPHATE or 10% bleach.

[Vivienne]

Cynthia - thanks for the rubber band idea. I too have one new growth on one of my cyms that is heading straight out the side of the pot.

[DDS2007]

thank u all for your replies ,

i think i will try cynthia's idea with the rubber band !

thank u

[kmarch]

Cynthia,

Very clever that rubberband idea. Constant pressure to direct the new growth but no brusing wires or ties. Very clever indeed. Thanks!

[Vivienne]

it's working for me. Thanks again!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Necessity is the mother of invention. I had the blooming plant sitting in my kitchen window while working with some asperagas, and noted the new growth so badly started. It was very cold and windy outside with a long walk to the greenhouse for my twist-ties. So, all of you would probably have thought of the same thing.