Cambria, when she die.

[Russski]

Hi, I have a question about Cambria (hybrid orchid). On the Polish forums there is an opinion that is a plant for one short time. It can bloom up to three years and then dies. This is due to unfavorable conditions on the windowsill (low humidity and temperature). Do you think this is true?
Do you have any Cambria surviving longer?
I'm very curious about your opinion.
Sorry for my english, greetings.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hi, I do not have any Cambria orchids, but in general, and in my opinion, any orchid will die fast or much faster if not provided conditions it needs for healthy growing. The fact they are stating on the forum that it dies fast due to unfavorable conditions just shows that these growers provide such a conditions. If they would grow the orchid in the temperatures that is suitable for the orchid and provided extra humidity, it would grow for a very long time and would not die. There are ways how to provide extra humidity and heat. So, no, it is not true :-) Give it a good care and it can grow and bloom for years and years to come. And if you can not provide conditions it needs, just buy different orchid that can grow on your windowsill :-)

[WhiteRabbit]

"Cambria" is sometimes used as catch-all name for Oncidium / Odontoglossum / Cochlioda intergeneic hybrids, but originally applied to Vuylstekeara Cambria Plush. These are generally cooler, moister growers. But I think home temperatures shouldn't be too warm, especially if they can be a bit cooler at night. Forced air heat can be very drying, but if kept away from the dry air flow, and watered appropriately, they should be ok.

[Russski]

Thank you, my 3 Cambrias have only two years but beautifully grow and bloom. I read that after 2-3 years cambria uses all the nutrients in their "pseudo tubers"? and pseudo tubers and flowers are much smaller and thinner than the previous one. Told this a breeder who has 40 years of experience with orchids.
But perhaps not everyone knows everything .
I hope he was wrong and you're right, in the end they are so beautiful

[camille1585]

My opinion... If you provide correct light, enough water and fertilizer, then the new bulbs will grow large and plump, no matter what the age of the plant. Though my 2 Oncidium types did make smaller bulbs when they got way too tight in their pots. I repotted them, and then they were growing normally again

Though when the plant gets to be quite old and large though, there may be problems. Big plant= big pot, and a big pot doesn't always dry very quickly or evenly depending on the conditions. In that case roots tend to die off in the stale medium. Also, on older plants the oldest bulbs die off some number of years. In both those cases the usual course of action is to divide the plant, which rejuvenates it and it'll grow very happily again.