Best Medium to Begin a Cymbidium

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Roberta

There are some mini-Cyms... Santa Barbara Orchid Estate did some breeding in that area. Then, many of the pendulous Cyms stay relatively small... too big for a windowsill, but don't turn into gut-busters. However... there are other considerations. First, these are high-light plants. If they don't get enough light for enough hours, they will grow but not bloom. And for indoor growing, important to focus on the so-called "warmth-tolerant" Cyms - essentially all Cyms tolerate heat, but the "warmth-tolerant" ones don't require a fall cool-down to bloom. I know that you are planning on a move north (Michigan?) .. Cyms are gong to be a challenge there, though several members of the Board who live in places that get cold in winter grow them successfully. There are so many orchids, though... best to select typs that you have a good chance of providing the conditions for without a lot of difficulty, nobody can grow EVERYTHING!

orchids.
Yeah, but it's fun to dream!
Sorry for the hijack. Back to the OP's topic.

[Dede4925]

Thanks for the information. Really appreciate it.

QUOTE=Roberta;979842]Once you have your plant... if you can get a mature plant at your grocery or big-box store, it is likely to be in spike or in bloom. So you won't have to deal with repotting it for several more months, time to assess what might work best for you in your conditions. I grow them totally outside because my climate is perfect for them. I use small bark with some perlite, a mix that is well-drained but stay damp. Your situation is likely different. When looking at where you might be growing it, note that if acclimated, they can tolerate low temperatures down to 29-30 deg. F, high temperatures to well over 100 deg F with a bit of shading from the noonday sun. Outside of that range, you may need to consider other approaches. (I suspect the low end is where you might need to intervene, at the high end they can tolerate pretty much anything consistent with human life)[/QUOTE]

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

I am ignorant of much of anything to do with cymbidiums except the flower form and color range. Are there small plants I can bloom on a windowsill or some equivalent indoor location that will stay relatively small?

Traditional ('Standard') Cymbidium grow large, often 2.1/2 to 4 foot plants, growing in pots that are 10-12" deep.

As Roberta commented, there are some true minis, and the pendulous types tend to stay compact.

However, current breeding in Hawaii is for plants that top out at about 24", including a 6-8" deep pot. Much of that breeding is based on Cym. Golden Elf, though now 2-5 generations back. Most of these plants are also 'warmth tolerant', so they do not need as much cooling off to set buds.