Cym."little black sambo" Winter watering

[martinvermillion]

I live in the state of West Virginia. North East cold long Winter. Hot wet Summers. I has done very well outside. The trouble is the long Winter! I used lights last time around and will probably do the same again.I have since lowered the humidity and cut the water way back.- Thank everyone

[mjf45322]

Hi,
I live in Dayton, Ohio USA. I grow in a greenhouse where the temps can get as hot as 100 F in the winter on a sunny day and as cool as 55F at night. I have a evap. cooler that kicks on around 90F to help lower the temp.
I have a automatic watering system that kicks on twice a week in the winter. I also have a fogger that keeps the greenhouse at a 65% humidity in the winter.
I have my Little Black Sambo up at the highest point in my greenhouse where it gets the most light so I am sure it is the hottest there as well. I have fans that constantly blow keeping any cold or hot pockets from developing. So far my catts, vandas & other Cym. like it. I get a little
rot on my cym. new growths so I have to constantly keep a look out for it and spray with physan.
Hope this gives you an idea of my conditions.
Any suggestions on how I can grown my Little Black Sambo better.
Thanks,
Mike

[orchidsamore]

This Cym lis a hybrid of two parents that both like to grow dry.

We pot them in baskets as they do not like the moisture of pots.

[Cym Ladye]

Mike,

The primary reason for new Cym. growths rotting in winter relates to water: the media remains too wet or humidity is too high. Plants are not growing rapidly during the lower light and lower temperatures of winter and therefore not absorbing high amounts of water from the air or the media. Evaporation of moisture from the leaves is also less, even if air movement is adequate.

Try lowering the humidity to 50%, especially on the coldest days and also try cutting back the water schedule during the coldest periods. Check also to be sure your plant is not under a condensation drip, as this can also cause a problem with rot.

Both Cym. canaliculatum and Cym. madidum are epiphytes, growing in or on certain trees in their native habitats. In my experience, Cym. madidum is far more tolerant of higher amounts of water and a higher humidity than Cym. canaliculatum. This is why the Cym. madidum hybrids, without the addition of Cym. canaliculatum, tend to do so well in Florida and the South Eastern states where these conditions occur naturally.



CL

[orchids3]

CymLadye is pretty much right on but in Florida - we do have to watch how much water the cannaliculatum hybrids get. My plants are kept from freezing with water mist the few night when we reach freezing. The result was that I almost lost my Little Black Sambo. It was in the greenhouse last winter and came back well - I avoided watering it almost completely and depended on humidity to keep it alive. Watering was resumed when the first signs of growth came in the spring.

[martinvermillion]

Thanks everyone! I have taken care of the plant more light less or almost no water.I sure learned a ton of information about this plant.- Thanks again

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by orchids3

CymLadye is pretty much right on but in Florida - we do have to watch how much water the cannaliculatum hybrids get. My plants are kept from freezing with water mist the few night when we reach freezing. The result was that I almost lost my Little Black Sambo..

Orchids3,

I have found that it does not matter where in the U.S. Cym. canaliculatum and its hybrids are grown, if they are not put on a bright light, dry or drier water schedule, low humidity, high air circulation, winter routine, they will not do well nor perform to their optimum potential.

I know that many here in California use a water spray system to prevent freeze damage with success, but it is not something I would not want to try for the Cym. canaliculatum "family", as I think you found out.

Cheers,

CL