New and first Cym!

[myorchid]

Ok, I took the Cymbidium plunge! I just got my first Cym Chen's Ruby 'Golden Tiger' it is a warm tolerant miniature.

It looks pretty good, has two new growths starting and two pseudobulbs with two back bulbs.

Repotted it and boy what a lot of roots it has. It was in a two inch pot and I had to put it in a 6 inch pot for the root growth.

Take a look and give me any advice as I have never grown these before.

[mayres]

Looks good April!
I only have 8 cyms myself and am not an expert - but my first bit of advice is put it outside and SLOWLY get it aclimated to receive at least a half day of sunshine (unless you have a greenhouse) - leave it outside until fall when temperatures are dropping to below freezing. If they don't get enough sun they will only grow leaves. THAT I can tell you from personal experience.

[myorchid]

Thanks Mike. I have it sitting where it gets east/west exposure. Do I still have to put it outside? I am worried about that cause of our rain. I don't want it to get rot.

[Ron]

Thanks Mike. I have it sitting where it gets east/west exposure. Do I still have to put it outside? I am worried about that cause of our rain. I don't want it to get rot.

Hi, I do not know the location of Poulsbo WA.
I grow hundreds of cymbidiums and they must be the easyist orchid to grow if given the right condidions.
Where I live it ranges roughly from 10C to 40C+, Mine are all grown outside under 30% shade cloth.
My mix is plane 7 to 10 mm Pinius radiata treated bark.
Nothing else.
When I repot from 2 inch pots I go to 4 inch pots then 6 inch then what ever the growth demands. when overpotting they can sometime get root rot if drainage is not very good.
One thing I can say is if the potting mix is not too gluggy or compact they will take a lot of rain and love it.

I find cymbidiums love to fill the pot full of roots before they make much top growth but one the pot is full they will grow like weeds if conditions suit them.
I only use a slow release fertiliser on my plants 15n-6p-20k
hope my penny worth may help
Cheerio
Ron in Australia.

[kmarch]

I'm afraid I disagree with Mayres in general on Cymbid culture, but especially with this particular cross. To begin with, with standard Cymbidiums, they too need to be protected form the full burning sunlight. None of my Cymbids receive direct sun, only bright indirect light. Mayres' recommendations for temperatures are unnecessarily cold. They don't need to get below freezing. Perhaps you meant "frost"? It need only get down into the 40-50F range, not below freezing.

But put all of that aside for the moment because things are a bit different with your Cymbid myorchid. One of the parents of your cymbidium is Cymbidium Golden Elf. Golden Elf is a famous miniature cymbid known for not needing to be cold in order to flower. It contains several of the Asian cymbid species as parents, like ensifolium. You could probably grow it successfully alson with all your other orchids depending on the conditions oyu have them in.

[myorchid]

Thanks Kevin and Ron! Oh, the pot I put it in it 4 1/2 inches.

I have it with my Phals and Paphs on a half wall that under a skylight, and inbetween an east and west window. I was hoping to keep it there.

What do you think?

Thanks!

[mayres]

I did not mean to suggest in any way that you SHOULD leave any cymbidiums or other plants out UNTIL freezing (and by that I certainly DID mean frost - NOT continued freezing weather- yowser) - just that you COULD - and I was talking standard type plants as well. Also - would never suggest mid day sun - that too an oversight not to stipulate - early morning and/or late afternoon. I have noted at least with my plants that a season of not enough sun did indeed equate to nonflowering plants - the leaves stayed nice and dark green and the plants looked healthy throughout.
April - I prefaced my remarks by stating I'm not an expert on cyms and am learning like you are - so take the experts advice, just sharing a little of what I have learned for my plants and my area so far.

[myorchid]

Mike, that is what I like about this site, lots of people and lots of information. Experience is great!

I will try my Cym in the house where it is and maybe try a little early morning outdoors when possible.

Thanks for all the advice!

[HawaiiMiki]

kmarch is correct in that Cym. Chen's Ruby is not considered to be a "standard" from the standpoint that it does not require a cool/cold vernalization period in order to flower. While one of the immediate parents is a species (Cym. iridioides x Cym. Golden Elf) that is considered to be cool to intermediate growing, we grow this plant in Hawaii under 30% to 50% shade cloth outside all year and it flowers regularly.

Yes, it needs to have lots of light in order to flower. No, the conditions that standard Cyms. are grown under will not hurt the plant (although it may slow down the growth a bit), nor will it prevent the plant from flowering.

[solay]

Hi April. I have Golden Elf 'Sundust' which I believe is also a warm grower. I don't treat it different from the other standard Cyms. It needs plenty of light. I find that direct sun is OK as long as it's morning or evening sun. The leaves will get yellow but the plant will not die. Only time it won't bloom is when it gets too much shade. I also find that Cyms. are not bothered by the rain at all (I use bark alone or shredded bark). The only time I protect them from rain is when they are in spike and the buds are full already. The water may cause rot of the blooms or petals. I leave them out year round until temps. drop below 30 degrees.
If you are afraid of the rain causing rot, you can keep it under a covered area outside. Cyms. grows better outside from my experience. They also need a lot of air circulation due to scales.
Anyhow, I think you will do fine. Try it indoors and if it doesn't work you can always move it out. I only bring them in when in bloom. Good luck. The plant look good.

[Brooke]

I guess I will share my experience with my lone warm growing cymbidium purchased from Carter & Holmes two years ago. This is Cym. Sweetheart 'Sensation'



This sits on the bench in the middle of my high light Dens and temps never go below 60 degrees. It is planted in CHC mix (small chunks of coir, sponge rock, diatomite) and is watered in the summer every 4-5 days, less in the winter. In high light, the leaves will turn light green.

Good luck with growing and blooming your cym.

Brooke

[solay]

Brroke, I have that one too but didn't even know it was a warm growing one. I got mine from Safeway of all places. Again, I treat it the same as the rest. No special treatment.

[Brooke]

LOL Soley - typo on my name or do you know me? Brroke is probably a better name than Brooke.

I would guess that "warmth tolerant" probably means it will grow and do just fine with the other cyms that need a cool down to bloom. I just don't have any of the cool growing ones because I don't want to have to worry about outside temps when I pay to keep a g/h at 60 degrees. Thus the new name of - Brroke :>) is so appropriate.

Brooke

[solay]

Now you spelled solay with a e. LOL!!! Sorry Brooke. I must of been thinking of me. I'm the one who's broke after the last purchase I made.
Do you mind telling me how big your GH is and what kind of heater you use? I'm trying to buy one for mine and haven't decided on electrical or propane. I'm trying to figure out the cost difference in the long run. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Brooke]

Solay it was too early in the morning and I was laughing too hard yesterday to catch my typo. Yup, both of us are broke!

Feel free to PM me for g/h info so we don't highjack the thread.

Brooke