My first Cymbidium

[armando81603]

I recieved a huge cybidium as a gift. It did not come with any info. I know there are some specifics to growing cymbidiums, does any one have any advice/tips??

thanks so much!

Armando

[gerneveyn]

The tag from mine advises watering twice a week while flowers are developing and then once a week when flowers are fully open. And to give plenty of light: morning and afternoon direct light is O.K. with very bright indirect light during midday hours. Here's the AOS culture sheet: http://www.aos.org/aos/uploadedfiles...ecymbidium.pdf

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Outdoors will be great in your area. During warm weather you can water once every other day, once a week during the coldest weather. Rain is good for your plant.

[armando81603]

thanks for the advice.

[Philw135]

I am growing my first Cymbidium. There were two stocks, one full of bloom and the second with buds when I bought it. The first stem is showing blackness from the base up tothe last bloom that has not dropped. There are 5 more blooms on the first stem.
Questions?
Is the darkness normal as the plant ages?
When all bloom have gone from this stem, at what level do I prune back?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Cymbidium spikes can be removed completely after blooming. For the rest, we need pictures.

[ceciliaL]

I have recently recevied a Cymbidium orchid in full bloom. Is it true that they can't take very hot weather? I have a greenhouse that has fans and automatic vents but still it gets in the upper 90's in the summer. What can I do with the orchid when temp. get to hot in the greenhouse for a Cymbidium?
any advice?

Thanks,

CeciliaL

[Woods]

I also recently received a very large cymbidium. Within 10 days the flowers turned black and fell off. The stalks also turned black. Another member has said that it must have been at the end of the flowering cycle. I took advice from this site and have cut back the stalks. Fingers crossed that new ones grow.

[kmarch]

Dear Cecilia,

Generally it is a myth that Cymbidiums can't tolerate hot weather. They can. Here in Melbourne Australia, Cymbidiums are probably the #1 orchid. We grow them outside all year. Our summers can get fierce hot, typically around 30-35C (85-95F) and as high as 40C+ (105F). They do need protection form the sun here. Mine never get direct sunlight. They also need to be watered quite a bit during out hot dry summers, as much as 2-3 times per week in summer. Many of us put plastic plates/saucers under them to help. That's probably not necessary for places that have cooler or very humid summers.

Now, they do need a cool spell in the autumn in order to bloom, so that may be the source of the misconception that they can't tolerate heat.

-Kevin

[ceciliaL]

Thank for clearing up the myth about Cymbidiums. I feel much better. This is just beautiful and I would hate to loose it.