Will I be wasting my time???

[kazjak]

I REAAAALLLLLY want to buy a Cymbidium. If it stays outside all summer and then gets put in a South 3x5 window for the winter will I be able to grow a healthy blooming plant? At this point all I have is a really nice fake one decorating the fireplace!

[robb]

well, i don't know what Ohio summer/winter is like, from what i hear it's hot and wet, and cold and wet

i believe the proposed winter location would be just fine for a cymbidium. you may want to watch for sunburns due to the glass effect, but otherwise it should be ok... i'm sure our resident cymbidium expert fred would be happy to enlighten us further...

i kept my cymbidiums in a 1x5' south-facing privacy window (refracted, not tinted) all summer and they put on new growth and seemed to tolerate it. next summer i'll be venturing them to the north-side patio to increase the light exposure. over-winter i think they require far less light, more of a dormant stage for them.

[mayres]

I've gone through one winter with this method and will soon be going for number 2. Your main challenge will be aclimating it each spring to sunshine again without burning it. Go for it! mike

[PhalPal]

Cyms need a drop in night temperatures to flower well. If you can provide this artificially and keep the humidity at bay you may have a good shot.

[kmarch]

kazjak, You may remember form some of my previous posts that I used to live in Michigan. Folks there successfully grew quite a number of Cymbids. They're trick for gettign them to bloom was that they'd put them outside in spring, lots of water all summer long, then leave them outside until the night time temps start getting around 40F. Some of my orchid friends would even leave them out until they had had one or 2 light frosts. When the nighttime temps start dipping below 40F bring them in but still keep them as cool as possible. There were always plenty of Cymbids in our February and March shows.

Go buy a few cheap ones ot give it a try first. And let us knw how it goes.

[kazjak]

Thanks everyone... I'll give it a try!

[PhalPal]

I don't worry about my cyms until it gets below 30 or above 100F, both of which are unusual but not unprecedented.

[kmarch]

Here in Malbourne Australia is often gets above 100F in summer. My Cymbids never skip a beat as long as I keep them watered.

[PhalPal]

Good to know Kevin. It was 108 here on Sunday, great big new record for us, and I just watered them well in the morning. I have never had cyms before with this kind of heat several days in a row at 100+. All my new growths haven't minded at all. I'm learning something new this summer.