Cymbidiums in hot weather?

[vivekw]

Hi,

I got introduced to orchids recently when I visited Sikkim in eastern Himalayas. Being a complete newbie, I bought a lot of cymbium backbulbs.
After coming to Bangalore, I was advised by many that cymbidiums would need low night temperatures and would not flower in Bangalore weather (minimum temperature in Winter: 13C and maximum in summer 35C, dry in winter).
Another disappointing thought was that many web site inform that it would take 3 to 4 years for these backbulbs to grow to flowering size plants.

Anyone has any experience growing them in warmer temperatures?

Regards,
Vivekw

[sandra]

Hi vivekw. Similar experience in that I learned if you don't give orchids what they need, they won't perform. I did that last year with Cattleyas, bringing them on my patio where I grow, and when autumn came and the high light they need, dissipated (during winter months), they suffered, big time. Cymbidiums are plants that need much cooler weather than Florida allows for outdoor growing and that's what has stopped me from having them, in a heartbeat, otherwise....they're gorgeous. If these were in a greenhouse, you'd be able to control the conditions for them but I think the temps are going to be a problem for them. Quite a few friends of mine living in California, grow them without any problems so aside from the weather being great there for cyms., low humidity is also a plus for them.

[Hummer344]

As mentioned above, cyms don't like warm weather year around. In order to set spikes they need some nice cool night time temps in the late summer and early fall. Its unfortunate that the seller didn't inform you of the need for these conditions.

[solay]

There's no harm in trying. It looks like you have a low temp of 55 F and the high of 95 F so maybe there is enough difference in the range to initiate bloom. I know there is a cool winter season there too. Right? maybe you can find a way to lower the temperature artificially. The problem really may be the humidity and the bulbs may rot. You are correct that it does take about 3-4 years for the bulb to become blooming size. Good Luck!

[palito]

they wont bloom if summer nights are too hot. Bangalore seems to be too hot year round to induce blooming.

Try to find warmth tolerant crosses that can bloom in your weather.

[Anton]

vivekw, we have come out of the hottest summer in a predicted 1,000 years here in Adelaide, South Australia. We had overnight lows of 35 to 38C !!!!!!

At present I have about 6 out of 20 odd cyms in spike and maybe more, as some of the new growths may be spikes, just need a few more days to be sure.

So, yes, you can grow them in hot conditions.

After our 3 1/3 weeks of 38C+ temperatures, we had a sudden temperature drop to 9 to 15C over night with occasional rain which is what I think spurred them along.

Check my reply to this thread,(Question about Cyms) it may help as well.

[vivekw]

Thanks everyone for the tips.

I am going to try the tips Anton gave in his earlier post.

But looks like it would be atleast two years from now when I could try it. And with a low probability of bloom :-( However, I would not like the idea of throwing these away (I bought 8 of them) :-(

Some news article in local paper said Rhynchostylis retusa is a variety native to western ghats of India. I am going to try growing that now if I find any seller in Bangalore. Anyone having any tips or experience with this?

Thanks,
Vivek

[Kassey77]

Try watering them with 20C water at sunset around spike initiation time. That should provide a reasonable temperature drop. They need constant air movement if it is very humid, otherwise they'll suffer from heat stress and rot. They'd love a fan. Keep the leaves of your new growths dry, fertilise and with any luck you might have some flowers in 3 years! Otherwise keep them as pot plants and one day they might reward you

[PhalPal]

Does anyone know if Cyms need lower night temps even in summer? I know lower temps initiate spikes in the fall, but it never occurred to me that they may grow so easily here because we always have cool nights, even after a 95 degree day.

I can't find the answer in any books and I'm just curious. Anyone know??

[Kassey77]

Hi Phalpal,
I have always been told that they need cool temperatures around Xmas (your end of June ) as that is when the Spike is initiated in species that flower June/July/August here and Dec-Feb in the northern hemisphere. I'm sure there is some variation in dates depending on what month they flower.
But they do love cool nights of about 12C (~54F) every night if possible, it's meant to be good for their roots from what I've heard.
Kassey

[PhalPal]

Thanks Kassey - that is what I was curious about. No matter how hot we get during the day in summer it is very cool and pleasant at night. That must be the key factor why Cyms do so well here in California, not only a chill in fall but cooler nights all year round.

[digitalgate]

just water with ice water . I do that.