Cymbidium with black spots on leaf tips

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Xylocarp

Roberta - Awesome. Thanks so much! I will definitely repot in perlite/bark after it's finished flowering.

mexicowpants - Good to know, I think it might be a little too humid in my house. Once flowers are done I'll move it outside for some fresh air....

It is not so much the humidity but the lack of air movement which Cyms have to have. That is one reason why they are outside plants during their growing period.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

It is not so much the humidity but the lack of air movement which Cyms have to have. That is one reason why they are outside plants during their growing period.

To bloom, Cyms typically need a lot of light (3500-5000 ft candles where 10,000 is full noonday sun) throughout the growing period, and a sharp temperature drop at night, especially in the fall, to set spikes. Both of those are pretty hard to achieve indoors. Air movement is certainly part of the equation for any healthy orchid, but getting indoor conditions to get a Cym to flower is particularly difficult, especially in the home. (Commercial growers in the Netherlands do it in massive greenhouses, but they work hard and spend a lot of money to accomplish that) If you happen to be fortunate enough to live in coastal southern California USA, or in the area of Sydney, Australia, just put them outside and the ideal conditions just happen for free, complements of Mother Nature.

[rbarata]

My first cymbs were inside for a few years...they never bloomed...in fact some of them were dying.
The moment I put them outside they started to grow to turn into really big plants...now all of them have bloomed already.

About the black spots...mine are much worse and I never cared about it...they are growing and blooming so I think this is part of the consequences of being out.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

My first cymbs were inside for a few years...they never bloomed...in fact some of them were dying.
The moment I put them outside they started to grow to turn into really big plants...now all of them have bloomed already.

About the black spots...mine are much worse and I never cared about it...they are growing and blooming so I think this is part of the consequences of being out.

I think you're right... which do you want, pretty leaves, or flowers???

[rbarata]

I think you're right... which do you want, pretty leaves, or flowers???

Well, both...but I now know it's impossible. Plus, due to their size, they're not plants to have inside... unless you have a really big house.