My Cymbidium is spiking, now what?
 

My Cym which I bought three and a half years ago, is finally spiking. Turns out I wasn’t giving it enough light. Sun part of the day wasn’t enough, it needed it all day! So now there is a single spike growing, already a few inches high. Could be better, considering that the plant probably has 20+ growths. The cym is still outdoors for now, enjoying the sun, but at what point should I bring it in? Lately the night temps are in the low 50s. And what temperature does it need indoors to ensure the spike doesn’t blast? Basically, I just need to know what to do with the plant from this point onwards. And finally, how long does it take (on average) to bloom from the moment the spike appears?

Camille Unless it is one of the warm tolerant varieties, I'd keep it outside until the first blooms are almost open, otherwise you may get bud drop.. IMHO
Bob

Yay Camille! I leave mine outside year round, so they occassionally get over night temps of freezing or just lower. If they have spikes I make sure they are on the porch to protect from frost and freezing.
To be safe, you maybe want to bring in before frost, are as buds start to open as Bob advised.

I have found however that the cym buds are very attractive to aphids so watch out for them and other critters that may chew the buds.

Congratulations! can't wait to see pix!

Thanks!
I'll tell my mom to leave it out as long as possible. (it's too big to come to the Netherlands with me!) First frost is usually around mid-late october, so I hope there will be buds on it by then. I know that many phal and onc spikes take 3 months to grow, but what about the cyms?
It's about time that it blooms, after years of just sitting there. I wonder if my death threats had anything to do with it. In desperation I plunked it in full south sun all day for the entire summer and told it "bloom or fry!" (and my mom is behind me saying "don't get rid of it, it's a nice foliage plant for the living room!" :rofl:)

haha = yes at least cyms don't look to bad even when not blooming
Cam - my cyms usually take a couple (2) months to bloom after I first see the spike

Wow, no wonder my cymbidiums are not spiking, I guess they will never bloom living in an apartment. I guess I should just give them to some one with a house...

Any chance you could put your cym(s) near or on a windowsill and crack the window a bit at night?
It's the roots that need the cool down, not the leaves......
Just a thought.
Oh, I have a house! LOL

Al

Well, St. Louis gets pretty "cool" in other than summer times, the problems is just that I don't have enough light. Might just keep them as foliage plants for now like Camille's mother...LOL

I do the same. Have yet to bloom one on my own.
Al

So you guys advised me to keep the Cym outside until buds form. The problem, temps are dipping below freezing at night and the plant has been brought in. The spikes are growing quite slowly, one is 15cm tall, the other recently appeared.

So now what should I do with it? It's been placed in the coolest part of the apartment behind a sunny window, but it's still about 18°C (65°F) there. Are the spikes going to blast there?

The other option is putting it on the landing behind the big window, where it's only about 10-12°C. But that spot is right in front of the elevator so neighbors might snap spikes by accident, or the entire plant might vanish overnight.