Cymbidium Golden Elf 'Sundust' HELP!

[InspirChid1712]

Cym. Golden Elf 'Sundust' are the only two plants I have that don't do ANYTHING! I take good care of all of my orchids, but I can't get my Cymbidiums to bloom. They just develop small, pathetic new growths all year long, and then just start new growths when the old ones mature. I leave them outside until the nights are cool in the fall, give them excellent light and fertilizer, water regularly... and I can't get them to bloom to save my life. I just use them as grassy decorative plants anymore, I've nearlly given up! Why is this supposedly easy hybrid giving me such problems, while every other orchid in my collection flourishes?!?!?! What tricks work for eveybody? PLEASE HELP!!!!

[DebsC]

I can't imagine what the problem could be. I grow 2 of these plants, one in pure horse poop and one potted in a mixture of coconut husks and charcoal. The one in horse poop is twice as big!

Here is a link that might help. Good luck!

Dragon Agro Products - Cymbidiums, Chinese Cymbidiums.

[Becca]

I too would like to know the answer InspirChild's question! I have two of these as well, but I have not had them a full year yet. To my understanding, cymbidiums need the cooler temperatures to initiate spikes, or at least that is what I have been told. For how long do they need these cool temperatures? Soon it will be to cold outside and I will have to bring them inside for the winter and then they will not get much of a temperature drop inside. I am starting to wonder if I will be able to get mine to flower or not. I thought the Cymbidium Golden Elf 'Sundust' was also a summer bloomer....so I guess I missed out on flowers this year. Can anyone helps us?

[Gin]

Hi , these do not need cool Temps. I grow mine with the Catts. indoors all year . The Golden Elf has 4 spikes this year . They want to be very pot bound don't do them a favor by re potting only when the pot if plastic is ready to split , I had to re pot mine it did not bloom last year because of the re potting . Gin

[InspirChid1712]

I am growing mine in clay pots, and I think that might just be the problem! The only time that one of them bloomed was a few years back when it was in a plastic pot, but even then, it only has one spike with 3 or 4 flowers. When is a good time to repot these so I don't disturb their growth pattern?

[DebsC]

Mine is in a tall, narrow tin pot and hasn't been repotted in several years. Here in Arkansas, it has just finished blooming. It lives outside until the night temps drop to around 45 F degrees. Then it goes in the greenhouse where low temps average 55F.

It is a dependable and reliable bloomer and I don't pay much attention to the temps it gets other than keeping it frost free.

[Ray]

I will reaffirm much of what has been said:

• While Cym. Golden Elf is touted as a "warmth tolerant" cymbidium, I find it to prefer warmer growing conditions.
• I grow them fairly bright - sort of "cattleya conditions".
• They like deep roots, so tall pots are preferred to squat ones.
• They have very thick roots, so need a very coarse medium.
• They are also quite thirsty and hungry, so the coarse medium implies it needs to be watered a lot.

I grow mine in semi-hydroponics and they love it. My specimen in in a pot 18" in diameter and 24" tall, and has bloomed three times since April. The biggest show had 12 spikes.

[Stefan]

this could depend on your fertilizer. I have been told that if a cym recieves to much nitrogen all the potential spikes turn into new growths.
stefan

[Becca]

What is considered to high?

[Stefan]

it all depends on how the cym is fertilised. if its a balanced liqiud fertilizer all year, or high nitrogen first, for the growing season, then little or none. The balanced fertilzers usually have quite a high nitrogen level if used over a year.