Cymbidium Spike???

[WhiteRabbit]

For green blooming Cyms, shade the plant once buds appear - or you may end up with very pale blooms.

My Cyms get little fertilizer in winter, but I am still fertilizing normally now (in spike or not).

I've not had problems with rain on spikes (even very cold rain), but I do try to shelter plants once buds start getting big.

[ClevelandGrower]

Hello everyone! My Green flower Cym is coming along VERY well now that it's indoors facing a bright south window here in the fridged state of Ohio! I know that too much light in the bud stage will cause the flower to pale in color.. If this is true, when and how to I filter the light to keep the natural rich green color I've been working so hard to get?? I see that I should shade it when buds appear, but would turning the plant so the spike is facing away from the window work? I'm afraid if I remove it from the window, the buds will fall as a result of light change so early in the spike stage?

Please give me some advice as THIS has been my crowning accomplishment of my orchid collection!

[james mickelso]

Here in southern California we put our cyms outside in full sun. I haven't heard of flowers becoming pale because of too much sunlight. In Ohio at this time of year I don't think full sun is too much light.

[ClevelandGrower]

Thanks for the info... Do you have green ones growing for you? No issues with color eay?

[Cym Ladye]

To get the most intense green colors, shade the spike, not necessarily the plant. If you allow direct sunlight on the flowers, greens will fade to light or to yellowish and many other colors will sun stain on the back of the sepals. Bright yellows, reds, stripes and oranges seem to benefit from direct sun in the early formation of the buds but they should be sheltered once the blooms begin to open.

Do not turn the plant around as the flowers will go askew in looking for the light. Inside the house, unless the plant is in direct sun in a south facing window the light is subdued enough to give you a lovely green.

Cym Ladye

[james mickelso]

Hmmm. Never seemed to have any color fading. Have grown and flowered them both indoors (gh) and out. never noticed any difference. But others grow them more than I do so try both ways and bring back your experience. Also color is always deeper indoors that out due to the difference in color temperature and intensity. Color film works much better in subdued light than in sunlight. It would be interesting to compare. I don't have enough cyms blooming at one time this year or I would experiment and bring it to the board.

[ClevelandGrower]

Hey All.... Here is a pic of my baby taken this afternoon... I am curious to know, why are the buds secreting a clear syrup like substance? They have been doing this since the flower spike was only a few inches tall... Anyone know?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by ClevelandGrower

Hey All.... Here is a pic of my baby taken this afternoon... I am curious to know, why are the buds secreting a clear syrup like substance? They have been doing this since the flower spike was only a few inches tall... Anyone know?

Nice!

Probably just sap (happy sap!) - watch for ants and aphids

[ClevelandGrower]

Thanks! Is it normal to sap like this? There are always teardrops on the stem.. I'm sure it's natural, but don't see many plans secreting like that... Also, if it does get aphids, what is the best treatment to remove them?

Also, I should wait till the first flower opens before moving it to a display location, or wait till all the flowers open?

[Phal-lover]

Aphids are easily removed with soapy water. You can also pick them off with tweezers and crush them, but that takes a loong time.