New to cymbidium

[Rothrock42]

A couple of months ago, I got Cymbidium tracyanum, my first cymbidium. I've had other orchids for a couple of years and done fairly well with them, but I don't quite have the rapport with them that I've found with the other genera. Some advice please....

The plant is fairly established (I think), gallon pot, two large leafless backbulbs and three with leaves. I've noticed two new growths on either side of one of the leafy bulbs. At first I thought it might be bloom spikes, but now I think they look more like new bulbs. Do cymbidiums have basal or interaxial bloom spikes?

If they are new bulbs, should it be growing new bulbs now? I live in Portland, Oregon and the night time temperatures are getting down to low 40s. I'm on the 20th floor of a high-rise and keep it on my balcony with a western exposure where it has some protection from the elements -- glass under the railing to protect from wind, reflected and residual heat from the large windows, cement as a heat sink, and the balcony above to prevent too much moisture as the temps sink.

Soon though, the nigh time temps will go into the low 30s and I think I will need to bring it in. Since I'm in an apartment there really isn't anywhere I can put it that is cool. Does it really need a months long cold snap or should several weeks of 40s and 30s do it?

[estación seca]

When I have questions about species orchids I start at the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia, which has this entry:
IOSPE PHOTOS
I then look up the climate in the area the plant originates. I haven't done that; I leave this exercise to the reader.

I have some warm-growing Cymbidium hybrids. I have no experience with cool-growing species, nor typical hybrids of cool-growing species. But if I lived in your situation in Portland, I would not worry about leaving it outside in those temperatures (low 30s F / 1-5C.) I would bring it in when frost threatens (32 F / 0C.)

You might have flower spikes.

[Rothrock42]

Thank you ES. I'm such a picture person I had forgotten that the words at IOSPE tell you were it blooms from. Most of the pictures there are just of the flower and not of the whole plant. But if i USE MY WORDS I can learn that the bloom spikes are basal! Yay! So I imagine that is what I've got going on.

Anybody else have experience with the cold cymbidiums? If it has set its spikes for the year is it fine to then warm it up? Or does it need extended time that I won't be able to give it? In any event I plan to leave it out on the balcony until frost.

[rbarata]

From my experience maybe it's still too early for spikes but there's always some variation. I suspect one of mine is spiking now, completely out of what is normal. All the others don't have any signals of spiking yet.

Temps of 30s F / 1-5C are perfectly acceptable (and desired) as long as they don't get frost.

[Rothrock42]

Thanks rbarata. The vendor (Santa Barbara) told me that unlike many other cyms, where you have to wait and wonder when the spikes will show up over time, the tracyanum will pop up fairly early and all at once.

Also I'm guessing that Abrantes is a little warmer than Portland. Looking at the recent weather for both it looks like maybe 10F/5C warmer at night?

[rbarata]

Yes, it's warmer now but in 2 months it will be much more cooler.
See my signature and you'll understand what I mean (after the page loads click where it sys "Detalhes Diários").

[Cym Ladye]

First of all, welcome to Orchid Board.

I live in Northern Ca, on the SF Peninsula and grow all my Cyms outside on benches under lath or oak trees. They stay out all year but the ones in spike/bloom are under shelter. We seldom get below freezing here, but Cyms can take down to 28F for several hours with no damage to the leaves.That low is a bit too low for any buds/blooms however

As to spikes showing in October, ABSOLUTELY! All my tracyanums have spikes up about 5". Same with most of my earlier blooming Standards.

Leave your plants outside as long as possible, especially if they are not in bloom. As to growths, one misconception is that Cyms do not grow when in boom - WRONG. They grow all year, we just see a faster growth in late summer and early fall.

Good luck.....

[Dollythehun]

Cym lady, show us a picture of a begining bloom spike please. I just have a regular noid cym and a mini. I don't know either if I'm seeing new growth or bloom spikes.

[Rothrock42]

Thanks for the advice Cym Layde. I'm worried that if I leave them out until the low 30s and then bring them into my apartment (during the winter I keep it about 68-70F/59-62F) that it will be too much of a rapid change and it might blast?

[Orchid Whisperer]

My experience is that without some cold exposure they are unlikely to bloom. Keep outdoors at least until nights dip to low 30s F. You may be able to extend that a little by tarping under clear plastic secured to an outside wall or patio door.