Vegetative growth is independent of the reproductive stage. 
Both may occur simultaneously and frequently do when conditions are 
favorable. When moisture, light, and temperature are favorable for vege- 
tative growth, it will take place. Be not concerned about vegetative growth 
at odd times; be concerned if it does not occur. 
PRUNING 
From a variable time, the new lead from a cymbidium has no roots of 
its own but depends entirely upon the bulbs behind it. If the root system of 
the plant is good, there is no shrivelling of these bulbs because, when new 
growth starts, root action recommences concurrently, or just before. This 
means the energy is resupplied as fast as it is withdrawn, the process being 
continuous. That is why your new lead, from an established plant with roots, 
is better than your new lead from a back-bulb with no roots. If, however, 
the plant has a poor or no root system, shrivelling soon commences and the 
new lead, feeling its food supply giving out and its existence in danger, makes 
its own system of roots earlier than it otherwise would. 
If, in addition to having no roots, the bulbs are fully leaved (some- 
times the case when divisions of plants are bought), shrivelling may be very 
bad because the leaves transpire water vapor through the stomata. In this 
case, to conserve the water content of the bulb, it may be advisable to prune 
the leaves to prevent this. 
Well, then, when the new lead is making its own root system, less and 
less sustenance is being drawn from the bulbs until finally it stands upon its 
own feet entirely. When this occurs, since the lew lead and the old bulbs are 
continuously connected by the rhizome, the old bulbs with roots use their 
food themselves to restore their energy, and also the new lead may contribute 
and repay what it borrowed in its infant stages. This energy is restored to 
insure the plant against some possible future damage or future starvation, 
when it can carry on in the case of the latter or start new life in the case 
of the former. 
You will have noted that it is rare to find live active roots on bulbs older 
than three years. Yet these bulbs are plump and alive. Their life and condi- 
tion are maintained at the expense of the younger bulbs which have roots. 
In other words, bulbs more than three years old are a drain on the plant and 
may hold back its vigorous growth in quantity, quality and its florescence. 
These bulbs will never flower, and their only purpose is to safeguard the 
plant against prolonged starvation, and this should never occur in cultivation. 
In any case, the bulbs younger than three years will do this for a con- 
siderable time. 
So cut old bulbs away; prune the plant and keep it juvenile. You prune 
your shrubs, roses, etc., to obtain vigorous new growth and more and better 
flowers. Do the same with your cymbidiums. Do not allow your young 
bulbs to support the older bulbs until they are so hard pressed that they 
have only a bare existence, progressively poorer in new growth and in flower. 
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION 
In actual fact, these older bulbs have another function besides insurance 
against starvation. If the plant suffers actual damage, those bulbs behind the 
site of damage can use their stored reserves of energy to start new vegetative 
ee 
