Cymbidium madidum

[smweaver]

I can take no credit whatsoever for either the plant or the flowers, as this just arrived within the last week. And these are, admittedly, not the greatest photos (in my modest defense, however, I would like to submit that the abundance of small blooms on long spikes does not make for an easy subject to photograph). It arrived with the spikes staked; however, since the spikes are pendant in nature, I removed the stakes.

The plant is something of a beast, and the rather understated (sounds nicer than "drab") blooms are not all that eye-catching (especially compared to the large and brilliant blooms of standard cymbidium hybrids). So I can see why this species might not be to everyone's taste. But I do very much like the apricot scent of the waxy blooms. I read that the scent is light, but to me it's immediately noticeable within about ten feet of the plant. And with eight spikes forming, it's on its way to creating a respectable display.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Very good photos I say

And that plant is a BEAST

[neophyte]

Wow!!

[Roberta]

As those spikes open, even with small flowers, a good show - and think of the floriferousness that it imparts to its progeny. And an even better show coming when it grows some more, in a bigger pot - it will soon graduate from "beast" to "gut-buster". (A grilled pseudobulb will feed a small village )

[smweaver]

That's kind of what I'm afraid of--that it's not quite done growing to its full potential yet. Still, there are worse problems a hobbyist could have.

Thank you both for your comments!

[Roberta]

It definitely needs to go up to a 2 gallon (8 inch) pot as soon as it stops blooming. When it outgrows that, you can decide whether to divide or go up 3 gallon/10 inch pot. I have quit using 3 gallon pots... I just am not strong enough to lift them or deal with dividing when they get that large. But this is a vigorous species, for sure. And it's a beautiful plant. Enjoy!

[smweaver]

Thank you, Roberta. It's actually already in an 8-inch pot. I should have probably held the plant up to give a better sense of scale. But you're definitely correct: it's time to move it into a larger pot. I can feel the cord-like roots pressing outward against the sides of the current pot. It gives me a bit of headache to think about the work that would be involved in dividing it. So I'll probably take the lazy approach and simply slip it into something larger and fill in the space with new potting material.

To give proper credit to the commercial grower (who I know, from past comments, you're friends with) for doing such a wonderful job getting it to this size and condition, it came from Cal-Orchid. I sent them an email to see if they might have a madidum and a Kuranda, and before I knew it, both had arrived. James and Lauris always have excellent products, and I can't think of anything I've received from them in the past that hasn't been of top-shelf quality. She did "warn me" that I would be delighted when I opened the box, and I called her back to confirm that her comment wasn't an overstatement.

[Roberta]

Cal Orchid always has excellent plants, but this one is awesome. I'm also very impressed that they were able to protect the spikes so well in the shipping. Outstanding!

[smweaver]

So, five months later, here's what my little bonsai of a cymbidium has done. It's grown eleven new growths and I think you could make an argument that it now qualifies as a shrub. I don't think that I've ever owned a cymbidium (or any other orchid) that's been quite this vigorous of a grower.

[Roberta]

The fun will come when you have to move it inside for the winter.