Best Medium to Begin a Cymbidium

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

I am ignorant of much of anything to do with cymbidiums except the flower form and color range. Are there small plants I can bloom on a windowsill or some equivalent indoor location that will stay relatively small?

There are some mini-Cyms... Santa Barbara Orchid Estate did some breeding in that area. Then, many of the pendulous Cyms stay relatively small... too big for a windowsill, but don't turn into gut-busters. However... there are other considerations. First, these are high-light plants. If they don't get enough light for enough hours, they will grow but not bloom. And for indoor growing, important to focus on the so-called "warmth-tolerant" Cyms - essentially all Cyms tolerate heat, but the "warmth-tolerant" ones don't require a fall cool-down to bloom. I know that you are planning on a move north (Michigan?) .. Cyms are gong to be a challenge there, though several members of the Board who live in places that get cold in winter grow them successfully. There are so many orchids, though... best to select typs that you have a good chance of providing the conditions for without a lot of difficulty, nobody can grow EVERYTHING!

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Roberta

There are some mini-Cyms... Santa Barbara Orchid Estate did some breeding in that area. Then, many of the pendulous Cyms stay relatively small... too big for a windowsill, but don't turn into gut-busters. However... there are other considerations. First, these are high-light plants. If they don't get enough light for enough hours, they will grow but not bloom. And for indoor growing, important to focus on the so-called "warmth-tolerant" Cyms - essentially all Cyms tolerate heat, but the "warmth-tolerant" ones don't require a fall cool-down to bloom. I know that you are planning on a move north (Michigan?) .. Cyms are gong to be a challenge there, though several members of the Board who live in places that get cold in winter grow them successfully. There are so many orchids, though... best to select typs that you have a good chance of providing the conditions for without a lot of difficulty, nobody can grow EVERYTHING!

orchids.
Yeah, but it's fun to dream!
Sorry for the hijack. Back to the OP's topic.