Humidity, Irrigation and Air Movement Requirements in Cymbidium

[Cach26]

hello everyone!!

I have experience growing Phrags and Paph, but I hardly know about cymbidium and its crops

How much air do they need in the roots?

Constant Air like in Catleyas?

Or constant humidity like in Anguloas and Stanhopeas?


I also want to know how much water they need?

Enough water like Lycaste and Pharg?

Or do they prefer cycles of humidity and drought between irrigation such as Phals and Catleyas?

[Roberta]

Cymbidiums are really semi-terrestrial. I grow them in small bark in plastic pots, and keep them rather damp. (Don't over-pot... they like to be a bit root-bound, they bloom best when they are almost breaking the pot) They do not like to dry out. Where I live, humidity is pretty moderate most of the time (40% to 60% most days, occasionally very dry, also occasionally rain). I water about every 2 days in summer and maybe 3 days in winter. They need very bright light.

If weather is tropical in your location, the challenge will be blooming - most Cyms need a period in the fall when nights are cool and days are warm to bloom (and like a cool winter) There are some, however, that have been bred with more tropical species, that tend to bloom in the late summer or early fall and so don't require that fall cool-down. If you obtain your Cyms locally, you will get hybrids (or species) that are suited to your climate (which is likely really different than mine) They are very temperature-tolerant, anywhere between -1 and 40 deg C.