The Beach is in flower !

[Becky15349]

Just lovely!!! Someday I will be able to grow Cymbidiums, but they are too big for me right now!

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Des

It needs a cold period to initiate flowering can you do this where you live ?

Every day is a cool period where I live, during the day its 90-100F and at night its 55-60. during the winter its much colder so I dont think that was the problem. Maybe I gave it too much cold.

[Des]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Every day is a cool period where I live, during the day its 90-100F and at night its 55-60. during the winter its much colder so I dont think that was the problem. Maybe I gave it too much cold.

Yes cyms can be tricky at times ,I moved a number of my plants from the north facing side of my house to the colder south side and some of them flowered early and others did not flower at all ,but instead produced new growths. I am told this is because I moved them at a critical stage, as the plant was about to initiate flower spikes. The result is now I have plants that should have flowered in 180 mm pots which will now be flowering for the first time in a 250 mm pot!. I am hoping that they will make up for it by multi spiking .

[JennS]

Des, how exactly do you position the buds? I didn't know you could do such a thing...please fill me in. Thanks!

[Des]

JennS you will notice that orchid flowers as they come out of the sheath are tightly packed together, but will separate as they swell to face the correct way so that its pollinator can do its work. this is called resuplination (hope my spelling is correct) However if anything interferes with this the flower will end up facing the wrong way . Even the gentle touche of a leaf can cause this . While the flower is opening there is a one or two day window where the flower stalk still remains flexible and you can help the flower to present properly by gentle twisting of the bud. Be careful though, this must be done while the plant is warm and make sure your fingers are warm too .You can easily twist the flower off , this is almost an art form on its own so be prepared for some dissapointment

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Des

Yes cyms can be tricky at times ,I moved a number of my plants from the north facing side of my house to the colder south side and some of them flowered early and others did not flower at all ,but instead produced new growths. I am told this is because I moved them at a critical stage, as the plant was about to initiate flower spikes. The result is now I have plants that should have flowered in 180 mm pots which will now be flowering for the first time in a 250 mm pot!. I am hoping that they will make up for it by multi spiking .

I hope mine produces multiple spikes, its growing in a Five gallon container, about 300 mm and will soon need to be put in a 7 gallon, about 350 mm. A freind grows giant specimens that sit in 15-20 gallon pots, about 430-530 mm, these things are huge!!! She cant move them around much but when they flower she can almost hide behind them. I hope I can grow them that well.