cymbidium dayanum var album

[braveall]

Originally Posted by flexdc

Wow, this is no small feat considering that you are in Singapore. I thought Cymbidiums don't do well there. This must be a tropical Cymbidium?

Hi flexdc,

Thanks for the compliment!

You're right, its indigenous to the tropics. My first contact with cymbidiums was in Australia several years ago when I was a student. Those were temperate cymbidiums which are huge and have equally huge blooms. I was very disappointed when I learnt that they would not survive, let alone bloom in Singapore.

Back in Singapore, I learnt more about cymbidiums and discovered cymbidium ensifolium that thrives and survives in the tropics. It was great news for me and since then, I had collected several ensifolium cultivars and have recently purchased this dayanum and finlaysonianum(hopefully). The nursery owner couldn't tell me definitively if it was finlaysonianum as it wasn't in bloom and the leaves of it and aloifolium and bicolor look so similar that I couldn't tell them apart.

Eugene

[RosieC]

Gorgeous plant, great growing

[flexdc]

Eugene
Great find for you. This might be one Cymbidium we can't grow here. We are supposed to be in Cymbidium paradise, but I only have nominal success in growing them. I think I fuss over them too much.
Anyways yours is a lovely plant. Congratulations to you!
Andrew

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by braveall

Hi Jim,

Thanks!
The plant was overgrown with roots when I bought it, and I'd just repotted it into a bigger pot filled with light expanded clay aggregates (LECA aka hydroton???)

For cymbidiums the media have to be free draining, allowing the roots to dry out between waterings. To keep the roots well aerated and dry, you could consider having them in a basket than pot and using rocky substrates that don't retain water.

Eugene

Thanks for the information Eugene. I'll try what you recommended on a Cymb. I just got as a door prize at my local orchid society meeting. I'd always been told "lots of water and fertilizer" but I think I have been overdoing it.

While not huge, this one will probably need to be repotted come spring as the pot is starting to bulge. I might split it and plant half in straight LECA to see how it performs.

Thanks again.

Oh, and welcome to the OrchidBoard.

Cheers.
Jim

[Cym Ladye]

Cym dayanum is a warm growing species doing best when hanging high in a pot in a bright, warm greenhouse, using a well draining mix. However, I discourage the use of a rock media. Most rock used is lava rock and unless you know exactly the type of lava rock and its absorption qualities, you can easily get one that absorbs the salts from your water and fertilizer and in a year or two, will become toxic to the roots of your plants. Using a rock media will also allow the plant to dry out too quickly and too much.

Cym dayanum is an excellent plant for specimen growing, having over 25+ spikes in a 5" pot. The album form is relatively new to the U.S., having been unknown up to about 20 years ago. It is still not common but most serious hobbyists have it, possibly more in Northern California than anywhere.

Cym Ladye

[flexdc]

Hey Cym Ladye, I have some problem cyms, will take a photo and let you diagnose.
Andrew

[BettyE]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

How exciting!

Yup! It is very exciting! BettyE