First Cymb of the year

[Roberta]

"Easy" and "hard" are completely qualitative. Need to look at what the folks saying it is "hard" did wrong... I think that it is adaptable to a wider range of conditions than most Cyms. It grows pretty weedily at my house, but then most Cyms do. But since it is a relatively warmer grower, I think it should do well in places where it's hard to get that fall chill that a lot of Cyms need for blooming. (It still tolerates low temperatures like the Cym hybrids, it just doesn't require them)

[rbarata]

"Easy" and "hard" are completely qualitative. Need to look at what the folks saying it is "hard" did wrong...

Note that it doesn't necessarily means that one did something wrong...sometimes the only wrong is to try to grow a certain plant with having the possibilitiy to provide the required conditions (or getting a plant without knowing what it needs).
In this case, I think Carol is doing the right thing: investigating before buying it!

[Roberta]

"Wrong" is a bad choice of words on my part, and I apologize. "Hard" is an orchid for which one doesn't have the conditions, at least without going to a lot of trouble and expense. Cym. dayanum just is one that grows under such a wide range of conditions, that I wonder what conditions that people have that would make them find it difficult. It does need light, though less than standard-size Cyms. It grows well under a wider set of temperature conditions than those larger Cyms. So while there are certainly plenty of people who might still not be able to meet its conditions, this one will work for lots of people who will have difficulty with other Cyms.

[rbarata]

I think where Carol lives, temps might be too low for it to be outside in winter.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I think where Carol lives, temps might be too low for it to be outside in winter.

Oh, absolutely. The challenge in that area for Cym growing in general, is to get that fall chill before the really low temperatures set in, requiring that everything be brought inside - where temperatures are warmer, and not a lot of day-night differential. It's a fine line, since weather can change abruptly, getting down to serious frost instead of the gentle cool-down that happens in my area. So the ideal Cym is one that can be brought inside before it gets cold and still have it bloom. (That's the so-called warmth-tolerant Cym among hybrids... really a Cym that doesn't need the cool-down) So in those areas where there is no question about bringing everything in for the winter, the "hard" ones are those that need a chill without risk of freezing them. An "easy" one is one that doesn't need that fine timing.

That's my quarrel with the term "warmth-tolerant" Cymbidium... except for a few of the higher-elevation Asian species, pretty much any Cymbidium is fine with temperatures above 100 deg F/40 deg C as long as it gets a little shade during middle of the day in summer so that leaf temperatures don't get to the burning point. But some are better than others at blooming when they don't get the warm days/cool nights that are common where I live in the fall.

[rbarata]

The problem then is size...a large plant indoors.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

The problem then is size...a large plant indoors.

Also. While Cym dayanum can get big in circumference (lots of growths) the height stays modest. It, along with Cym. pumilum (floribundum) is used to bring size of hybrids down. Actually, the latter is especially powerful in doing that... I have a primary hybrid, Cym. Pee Wee (pumilum x maddidum) which is a very modest-sized plant that produces lots of growths and lots of flowers (characteristic of pumilum). Cym maddidum is a beast... the pseudobulbs could probably feed a small village. But this hybrid totally favors the size of the pumilum parent.

[Dollythehun]

I should have started a new thread or Roberta, could you move this?

I read that it isn't a large cymb. I also read perfect drainage and a little less light than a regular cymb. It was the 85% humidity that I can't supply. Roberta is correct about our cool downs. I believe this is due to climate change. There's little differential between day and night. I left mine out until freezing last fall and still got little bloom. This fall they are going to the greenhouse to spend the fall. When they set buds, they can come in.

On the other hand, I divided McGyver again. The lady I gave the division to lives on Lake Michigan, her division bloomed. Mine didn't.

[Roberta]

85% humidity? Don't think so... at least don't tell MY plant, my normal mid-day humidity is maybe 50% in summer, if warm perhaps lower. When the desert winds blow, it's single digits, sometimes for a week.

Not sure how to break out part of a thread to make a new one... WaterWitchin???

[rbarata]

And another one...