Cymbidium question

[gabiborza]

Hi everyone! I've bought yesterday a cymbidium from a local store. It is out of bloom and very very cheap (3$!!). I'm wondering what kind of hybrid it is, because I hope for a normal, low temp grower, rather than a miniature warm temp grower. It stands about 2 feet tall. Also, i've placed it on a southeastern windowsill, recieving about 3 hours of full sun (10-13 am). Is it ok to leave it there? Ive read that cyms do accept a few hours of full morning sun.

Thanks in advance,
Gabi Borza.

[Cym Ladye]

Gabi,

Even if this were in bloom, without a tag, identifying it with its true name would be virtually impossible given so many hybrid mericlones out in the market today. Whether or not it is a "warm grower" or a "cool grower", only time will tell. It appears healthy and will probably not need to be repotted this year, although I always repot any new orchid which comes into my collection in my own mix.

If you no longer have a danger of freeze where you live, it needs to go outside. Cymbidiums ARE NOT HOUSE PLANTS during their growing period, spring to fall, because they do not get enough direct light. Place it in an area outside which gets morning sun and afternoon shade or 50% sun all day. Check out First Rays orchids website for more detailed care.

Good Luck,

CL

[camille1585]

Cyms are outdoor plants, and the only reason we bring them in is to keep them from freezing during the winter! As soon as there is no more risk of nighttime frost, it can go outside, and stay there until first frost. Another reason for them to be outside, especially if your is a cool grower, is that they need a strong day/night temperature differential in order to bloom. You can't get that sort of difference indoors!

Cym Ladye, at our latitude in Europe (we're practically level with Canada) Cyms can take full sun almost all day day long throughout the summer, and mine needed that to bloom. No need for shade cloth. They just need to be gradually adjusted to it over the course of a few weeks.

[gabiborza]

Thanks for your answers! I've read a lot about cyms, since I got this one, and I know that from spring to fall it does better outside. But I live in an apartment, and for at least another month I'll havr to keep it here. My parents have a house with a yard so I'll take it there by the end of june, as I'll be staying there for my vacation. But at the beginning of october I'll bring it back to the apartment, and will keep it on my balcony (it has many opening windows which I can leave opened to mimic the outside temps). I hope this will do, as I can't leave it at my parents, because in the winter it will probably freeze (I have no place that I could put it, to have both sufficient light and temperatures over 50 degrees).

[RJSquirrel]

hi ya gabiborza , and I had to move my cym outside Really didnt want to, but it was just deterioratin Moving it outside in a mottled, part light part shaded area I think I may have saved it. But I don't know as your bulbs look much better than mine do now ...

the moss is just there to cover up the ugly yellow bulbs and brown stuff, but its outside now and I hope no one steals it