Blooming Cymbidiums in late Summer

[toleart]

Does anyone have any information regarding blooming Cymbidiums in laste Summer rather than the current early Spring? All of my Cymbidiums are in bloom right now, I would love to supply my daughters' favorite flower for her August, 2009 wedding. I know I'm starting early, but if I can shift the bloom cycle, or purchase additional Cymbidiums that are Summer bloomers, it would make both of us thrilled. Thanks so much for your help. I will post pictures later today of some of my current blooms. I'm so glad I found this board!

[smweaver]

Try either Cal Orchid or Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, both of which are in California. They should be able to point you in the right direction regarding what Cymbidium hybrids might be in bloom during the time of year you're interested in. You could also try growing Cymbidium ensifolium, which is both heat tolerant and blooms in the late summer. It's a highly fragrant species; however, it probably wouldn't be a great choice for wedding flowers since the flowers themselves are small (even tiny compared with the massive spikes of flamboyant flowers that standard cymbidium hybrids produce) and don't last long as cut flowers (frankly, they don't last all that long on the plant either--but they are wonderfully fragrant and quite beautiful never the less). Hatfield Orchids (also in California) might also be a decent place to inquire about late summer blooming cymbidiums. Good luck with your search!

Steve

[toleart]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I've been growing these few for awhile and as you an see, they are all Spring bloomers.
I'm familiar with the growers you mentions from living in Simi Valley, CA but completley forgot they do indeed display and sell plants in bloom all year! I'm in Augusta, GA area so all the Clymbidiums are now outside in a protected area until the new hoop house is built.

[smweaver]

Very nice display of plants. And I'm impressed that you can grow and flower standard cymbidium hybrids in Georgia. I'm in Indiana, and long ago determined through trial and much error that the only cymbidium hybrids that seem to do consistently well for me are the ones that have a lot of madidum in their background. I've tried several of the standard types that have a lot of lowianum and/or tracyanum in their backgrounds. But all of them slowly declined over a number of years--and they only flowered the first year I got them. The madidum hybrids, however, seem to like the heat and humidity during our summers, while still doing nicely with the cool-to-intermediate temperatures that I can give them during the winter. If you're interested in some madidum hybrids, I would highly recommend Loren Bachtman at Case de las Orquideas (http://www.orquideas.com/). He's got a lot of nifty plants and is a good guy to talk to. Again, congratulations on your nice group of cymbidiums. They're all quite beautiful.

Steve

[stonedragonfarms]

Great looking cymbids! I agree with Steve...give Loren @ Casa de los Orquideas a try; the Gold Elf hybrids usually are blooming near the end of august, while the flowers have good form and great scent, they too do not last very long as cut flowers, and are usually only on the plant for 2 weeks or so... you might try looking for Cym. tracyanum or it's progeny, as most will begin spiking mid July...
Just my 2 cents,
Adam

[Royal]

My C. ensifolium blooms every fall and only in fall. Steve is correct though, it's on the smaller side and not really what I think of as a wedding flower. (I wouldn't have minded it at my wedding. It smells sooo good.)

I thought I read something on this board about CA growers covering their Cymbidiums with tarps to decrease the day length in order to induce flowering.

[orchids3]

Anyone know how to control when a cymbidium blooms?
I know Phals can be controlled by the pot plan growers but I dont believe we know how to control Cymbidiums. The mechanism is just too complicated or does someone know?
I like Hatfield Orchids Hatfield Orchids and Casa de las Orquideas Online myself.