Cymbidium indoors

[Den-phal52]

Does anyone have experience growing cyms indoors? If so, which ones are best suited? I live in Miami.

[Roberta]

No experience...they're really outdoor plants, needing high light to bloom. There are Cyms that don't need a cool-down to bloom, and those are what you should seek, the so-called "warmth tolerant" Cyms, (They tend to have tropical species in their background, often blooming in late summer or early fall) Don't worry about heat... outdoors protect from noonday sun, but they have no problem with heat.

[Den-phal52]

Thank you...I have a shadehouse with fan. I'll try a warm grower.

[Roberta]

Any Cym (except for higher elevation Chinese species) has no problem with heat - I got my first orchid, a Cym, from a co-worker who lived far enough inland to get triple-digit F temps quite often in the summer. She grew them under a deciduous tree, natural shading in summer and more sun in winter. To see flowers, that's where you need to focus on plants that are bred for the environment.(Not needing a fall cool-down) There are some south-Florida breeders who grow these, likely you will find them at shows.

[jtrmd]

I have a Cym. Sarah Jean indoors under lights this year. It is doing great. But is warmth tolerant like Cym. Golden Elf and Cym. Little Black Sambo. You will just have to look at the plants genetics and be able to provide enough light.

[estación seca]

If you like species, Cym. aloifolium does well in high heat.

[Roberta]

In general, most of the Cyms that don't need a a cool down are the smaller-flowerered pendant types. But also those that have Cym ensifolium in their background like Golden Elf and its progeny. If you can get your hands on Cym Chen's Ruby you get fairly large flowers, upright growth habit, and fragrant. (It's Golden Elf offspring, blooms in the late summer/early fall.) Don't worry too much about the heat, a shadehouse will protect from the burning direct sun. (90's F not a problem... where ES lives, above 110 F for weeks at a time more of an issue) "Warmth tolerance" is really "hot muggy nights" tolerant - hybrids that bloom without a fall cooldown and relatively cool summer nights. The others, you can grow leaves just fine in the Florida heat, but you want flowers... Do check around at local shows. New Horizons Orchids (now located in Colombia) has worked with a Florida wholesale nursery (Oglesby Plants, don't know if they still do), also don't know who they sell to. So the challenge is to find retailers who get their Cyms from such wholesalers and breeders, who have been hybridizing for the Florida market (and similar climates) for the last 10 years or more.