Another cymbidium purchase... - Orchid Board

bil · #1 01-09-2016, 01:00 PM

Hey ho, it's my own fault. I went into the store to buy some bags of fine bark, and I paused too long by the orchid stand.
In a flash the salesman was there, "hello Bil, how are you, we have some very nice orchids in today. This cymbidium is particularly nice don't you think.."

He's good. I have been in that store just 4 times over the last 6 months, and he knows my name.

I suppose I shouldn't stand there and salivate like that.

It is a nice one, with 4 excellent spikes and large flowers. The pot was literally bulging with tension, so by the time I had cut thru half of it, it split with a 'crack' and came off. The roots were a solid plug of tissue.

Still, at least it is now in a bigger pot with room to breathe.

AndreaK · #2 01-09-2016, 01:22 PM

Beautiful! I wish stores near me would carry anything other than Phals.. Nothing against them, I just would love a little species diversity!

estación seca · #3 01-09-2016, 01:54 PM

Pavlov would probably say you and the salesman have trained each other to salivate.

Cym Ladye · #4 01-09-2016, 02:08 PM

What is the name of your Cymbidium?

bil · #5 01-10-2016, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

What is the name of your Cymbidium?

Not sure. I'm leaning to Gladys. What do you think?

I want you to imagine what it is like down here in the depths of Spain. There are no other enthusiasts. There are no clubs. The garden centres are the buy-to-die type. Orchids are popular here, but as flowers to give on mother's day or at the birth of a child.

I have NO-ONE to discuss orchids with, to discuss what might work, or what might not.

As for labels on the orchids? Nope. Although, I have noticed a sea change. The orchids here were all Phals and some white den nobiles. For the first year or so, that was all I ever saw. Then I started chatting to the two best garden centres re orchids, and den phals appeared, then Milts and Odontoglossa. Even a couple of Cymbs.
Finally in Jerez, which is sadly a 150 km round trip, a new garden centre opened up, and this one where I got the Cymb and the Paph, the paph actually had a name!

Things might be looking up!

Cym Ladye · #6 01-11-2016, 10:10 PM

I was not referring to what you want to call your plant personally but what might be written on a label in the plant. If there is no label, you are welcome to name it 'Gladys', but keep in mind that will not determine its sex. It could also be a 'George'.

If you have not already visited the Cymbidium section of this OB, you might visit. Aside from a few "cross genus mixes", the subjects are all pertinent to growing Cymbidiums.

bil · #7 01-12-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

I was not referring to what you want to call your plant personally but what might be written on a label in the plant. If there is no label, you are welcome to name it 'Gladys', but keep in mind that will not determine its sex. It could also be a 'George'.

If you have not already visited the Cymbidium section of this OB, you might visit. Aside from a few "cross genus mixes", the subjects are all pertinent to growing Cymbidiums.

What was written on the pot was 35 euros.

Seriously, nothing more. What I was trying to explain in my tongue in cheek way, was that there are no clubs here and no enthusiasts that might care what an orchid was. As I say, they are sold here as Buy-to-die. There is no one that I know who is in the least bit interested in trying to grow the properly, and the consequence is that while there are one or two lines that actually possess a name, the vast majority do not.

Cym Ladye · #8 01-12-2016, 01:20 PM

Can you buy on line and can you import? That may be an option. Meanwhile learn what you can about the genus and if it is in fact, a good one for you to grow in your cultural climate. You may find your temps and humidity are more conducive to growing other genera.

bil · #9 01-12-2016, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Can you buy on line and can you import? That may be an option. Meanwhile learn what you can about the genus and if it is in fact, a good one for you to grow in your cultural climate. You may find your temps and humidity are more conducive to growing other genera.

Thanks, but the other consideration is, "Where do I put them when it's cold?"
At the moment I have 6, and that is a bit of pressure on floor space in the greenhouse. However, if I can raise the funds to put an unheated plastic sheet one in the garden, then the ferns etc needn't be resident in the greenhouse over winter, which would free up a bit of floor space.