cymbidium help for a newbie - Orchid Board

imgliniel · #1 06-09-2010, 01:33 AM

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone can give some general cymbidium advise to me as this is my first one. I first saw them in a bouquet and knew they were orchids but ha no idea which one.Since then i have been trying t find them. Well, I finally did! But I guess it was the end of the flowering season because I got this one from a nursery it had been moved to the back (there were a bunch actually, but this one had a few wilting flowers left so I took it because I knew what color it was, lol).It doesn't look so great, but I think it is just neglect because they tossed them all back there. A few yellow leaves, a few bent leaves, stuff like that. So I am looking for and good care info, as well a any rescue/rehab tips.

I live in southern california, and in the house I only have windows facing southeast and Northwest. Most of the house windows would be considered low to moderate light intensity (great for my phal, but I recently found out just being in the southest window is not enough for my dendrobium, which I am now moving from one window to another at different times of day to get the most light my indoor environment can provide). so based on what I have read about these, that is not gong to be anywhere near enough for a cymbidium. I can take it outside to get lots of sun, but it does get up to 100 in the summer, so I do not want to overheat it or sunburn it.

It sounds like it needs more water, no drying in between waterings for the cymbidium. Any good watering tips? I am not surre but I have a feeling this one needs repotting, any good ways to tell?

The last queston is I did not see in my orchid encyclopedia anything about whether or not these are deciduous and/or need a winter rest. Does any one know? Or does it depend on the specific species?

(sorry this is so long, I like to give complete information when asking for help, and I really want to get this orchid back to good health because I feel sorry for it and I have wanted one of these for a long time)

WhiteRabbit · #2 06-09-2010, 02:25 AM

Ah welcome to the wonderful world of cyms! They need a good deal of light to bloom - so outside is best. Being in So Cal you can probably leave them outside year -round. I'm in the SF Bay Area and leave mine outside year round, unless there is a freak cold spell with over nite temps below freezing. They can actually take SHORT periods of temps just below freezing. Plants with buds or blooms should be sheltered from frost or freeze. Most cyms actually require a period of cool night temps to induce blooming - another good reason to grow them outdoors.
They do like their water, and shouldn't be allowed to dry completely. How often to water depends on the temps and humidity they get. In winter it depends how much rain mine get how often I water them - in summer can be 2 -4 xs a week depending on the temps and (lack of) humidity.
They also can tolerate periods of high heat, tho try to shade them in the afternoon when it's very hot. It does get over 100 here on occasion.
They are not deciduous tho older foliage will die with time. They should remain evenly moist year-round, so media should retain some moisture while still draining well. I use a combination of medium and fine fir bark for orchids, with perlite and styro pnuts. I think generally plastic pots are preferred as the media dries slower than in clay pots. And just a warning for when you plan to repot - cyms have masses of long fat roots, and repotting can take some time. Just an FYI so you are prepared lol. Never hurts to repot a new plant - at least to give it fresh media.

imgliniel · #3 06-11-2010, 12:51 AM

Hi White Rabbit thanks for the advice. I just bought a bunch of phalaenopsis and doritaenopsis that were on serious sale because it is the end of the season, and they have some things that concern me. There are a few leaf spots and some yellow leaves on the cymbidium too, so this weekend I am having a repotting party, lol (all the new ones are in straight sphagnum moss, and I hate that stuff) I am going to treat all the new ones wih a broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal, and I will post pictures,so I will put up pictures of the cim and what is concerning about it. It is going to be upper 80's to low 90's here all next week, and the nights will be in the 50's. So I think it ill be fine outside, lol.

But in the winter we normally have abou 50-60 during the day and in the 30's and 40's at night. We do frost but do not ussually get below freezing (except on rare occasisions). So this can be an outside plant year round in the temps I have described? Also, would it be good to place it near a tree on the east side, so it get full morning sun until noon, then the tree would shade it through the afternoon and hotest time of the day?

WhiteRabbit · #4 06-11-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imgliniel

Hi White Rabbit thanks for the advice. I just bought a bunch of phalaenopsis and doritaenopsis that were on serious sale because it is the end of the season, and they have some things that concern me. There are a few leaf spots and some yellow leaves on the cymbidium too, so this weekend I am having a repotting party, lol (all the new ones are in straight sphagnum moss, and I hate that stuff) I am going to treat all the new ones wih a broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal, and I will post pictures,so I will put up pictures of the cim and what is concerning about it. It is going to be upper 80's to low 90's here all next week, and the nights will be in the 50's. So I think it ill be fine outside, lol.

But in the winter we normally have abou 50-60 during the day and in the 30's and 40's at night. We do frost but do not ussually get below freezing (except on rare occasisions). So this can be an outside plant year round in the temps I have described? Also, would it be good to place it near a tree on the east side, so it get full morning sun until noon, then the tree would shade it through the afternoon and hotest time of the day?

Your temps sound about the same as here , and mine stay outside. When there's a chance of freezing temps I move the cyms onto the sheltered porch against the house to be safe, tho it may not be necessary. If there's freak cold, like lows in the 20s (doesn't happen often, but every few years) upper 20s, they go into garage. Lower than that they sit in the entry hall at night lol. East side of a tree sounds good. If it's been inside or in a lot of shade, you may want to gradually increase the light it is getting, so it doesnt burn.

Jerry Delaney · #5 06-11-2010, 02:05 AM

Wabbit has given you some good advice. I would like to add a few points. I also live in southern California and here, we average 30-40 days each year of 100+ temps. You should take some care in selecting the Cymbidiums you want to grow. There are varieties that are much more warmth tolerant than others. Most will grow here, but getting those that don't like the heat to bloom is somewhat less than breaking even on a lottery ticket. A reputable dealer will help you in selecting. I tend to grow mostly pendulous types many of which have parents that are fairly warmth tolerant as many come from areas like Southeast Asia, Australia, etc. Like Wabbit,I grow mine outside year round under ~60% shade cloth and have misters that come on 8 times/day for ~15 seconds. I'm kind of old school and don't learn very fast (if at all) any more, so I still cut off all fertilizer sometime toward the end of July. Many will say that one should switch to a high phosphate fertilizer at that time and if it makes you feel better it most likely won't hurt anything. I have never been able to tell the difference using the so called "blossom boosters" but many swear by them. I would not worry too much about outside temps until it gets down into the 20's. Most Cymbidium buds can tolerate temps somewhere around 28 degrees. Good luck with your growing.

orchids3 · #6 06-11-2010, 11:26 PM

Gosh I cant believe you would worry about temp tolerance in S calif. . Once lived in Corona. It got to 112 some days but the nights got into the 60's. Now I live in NE Florida. It often doesnt get below 80 anytime in July and August any time of the day or night. Here I must be very aware of temperature tolerance when I buy plants. In Corona - it was never a consideration.