When should I expect buds/spikes on my Cym - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 10-19-2010, 01:42 PM

I'm afraid my Cym is a NoID but it was flowering in December last year. Just wondering, assuming it will flower in December again when I would expect to see buds?

Also, it's outside now and temps are dropping into the high 30's. Would you usually see buds before moving it in (it will be going into a greenhouse kept at 40min) and how cold dare I let it go?

Will moving it into the slightly warmer greenhouse hinder flowering. Do these things need to go colder to trigger blooming?

So many questions which would be easier if it's wasn't a NoID

Here's last years pics incase that helps.

UKCat · #2 10-19-2010, 02:30 PM

The growers may have forced the flowers for the December market, so you may not see any spikes until late November, it may not even get any spikes until December. (Did it have a black and yellow King of Orchids plastic ID label on it?)
10c is 50f and that is the average night temps a lot of the books and growers recommend.
So if you are getting night temps of 40f in your G/H and the plant can take this I would not worry, a few of mine have gone down to 5c several night in a row when I have not been there to get them in with not ill effect.

I don't tend to move them until the spike is fully formed as you can get bud blast with warmer temps but once the buds have started to open I will move them to a warmer area so that they can be enjoyed, they don't last as long in the warmer conditions though.

RosieC · #3 10-19-2010, 04:13 PM

Thanks UKCat,

I've put it in the greenhouse this evening which I've started heating gently at night to between 5C and 10C.

It makes me feel better to know that spikes are not really expected yet.

I've given it a good check over when I moved it as, to be honest, it's tended to get forgotten in it's garden spot. It's had some good new growth over the summer, there are some old looking leaves, but some nice new healthy looking growths.

I think I'll leave it in the greenhouse until any spikes it might decide to give me

are starting to open. I had it in the living room while flowering last year and it seems to cope with that for a short while before I put it out in the spring (I didn't have a greenhouse last year).

Thanks again for the advice

Bobfharris · #4 10-21-2010, 02:28 PM

Actually I'd be looking now for spikes. Especially this year as most of us growers are experiencing an exceptionally early year, at least in CA and Hawaii. Generally buds appear about 3 months in advance of the spike opening. So look carefully...Mine are opening already and some are just beginning to spike. Go figure on nature.

orchids3 · #5 10-22-2010, 12:12 AM

Have experienced aborting of flower spikes when moving cym in. Put them in the coolest part of the Greenhouse - the floor - and put a fan where it gives the plant good air movement. Good luck.
Have lots of spikes now that should be in flower around Christmas - but my growing temps are so much differant than yours would be in England.

WhiteRabbit · #6 10-22-2010, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobfharris

Actually I'd be looking now for spikes. Especially this year as most of us growers are experiencing an exceptionally early year, at least in CA and Hawaii. Generally buds appear about 3 months in advance of the spike opening. So look carefully...Mine are opening already and some are just beginning to spike. Go figure on nature.

yes, here in Calif, summer was unusually cool for the most part - spotted some cym spikes last month already

but, some cyms bloom later than others ...

UKCat · #7 10-22-2010, 04:20 AM

Here in the UK the Weather was as usual all over the place we had hot then torrential rain cold then back up to the warm, it has only just gone back down again to temps of -2.6 (night before last)
I am getting reports from other Cym growers that spikes that they would normally see now are not there yet or only just starting.
I have only 3 plants with spikes (1 now in flower) 1 is a noid and the other is Devon Lord 'Viceroy' which has it's first flower just about open and that is a December flowering plant normally.
So as I said, definitely all over the place

RosieC · #8 10-22-2010, 04:24 AM

Well it's seeming happy at least on my greenhouse floor. As you say UKCat, the temps have been all over the place. My greenhouse is only lightly heated and only with these really cold nights that we have been getting. So the difference for it moving in has not been more than a couple of degrees at night.

We shall see how it does, and I'll keep