Cymbidium Orchid Care

Cymbidium

A book might well be devoted solely to cymbidiums and cymbidium orchid care. There is a lot to learn about this beautiful species.

The genus cymbidium is a hardy one reaching an ever greater and well-deserved popularity. Plants are sympodial, terrestrial, semiterrestrial, and epiphytic. They are grown outdoors under lath in the tropics and thrive particularly on the West Coast of North America, where Southern California hopes to become the Cymbidium center of the world.

The plants have great solid pseudobulbs and very long grass-like leaves. From the depths of this graceful foliage (waist high), the flowers climb along tall, sturdy stems, usually erect, but drooping in some species.

This handsome spray orchid has lent itself so well to hybridizing that it has attained a perfection in flower, of size and shape that rivals the Cattleya, and in range of color it is surpassed by no other orchid.

Cymbidium orchid care take patience and practice. Species of cymbidium have proved strangely difficult to grow under artificial conditions, probably owing to the difficulty of giving them proper aeration.

For that reason as well as for their superior beauty and size, the hybrids are far better known than the species. They must be grown in a cool house or outdoors.

This cymbidium orchid care tip is very important. Only experience will give the grower an understanding of the kind of aeration that is best for his particular collection in his particular circumstances.

It is surprising how quickly, with conscientious observation, the grower comes to recognize the needs of her plants.

Remember this cymbidium orchid care tip, because cymbidiums are native to the Himalayas, they require controlled sun and cool conditions with abundant air for optimal growing conditions.

Now, when it comes to cymbidium orchid care, every grower has his favourite mix of compost and these splendid plants do gratifyingly well in all mixes. They are terrestrials and so do well in straight soil, although they seem to do best on a rich, well-drained medium.

Old, clean Osmunda, collected when un-potting cattleyas and other species, is excellent for this purpose. A formula highly recommended by a successful grower is three parts of leaf mold (oak and sycamore), one part disintegrated granite, one-half part fibrous peat, and one-half part turf and sand.

One grower's wife has been heard to complain that her husband tears up the front lawn to get potting material for his cymbidiums.

When it comes to cymbidium orchid care, the use of fertilizer is a controversial matter, but it is probably good for these heavy feeders. Addition of leaf mold is always recommended.

Cymbidiums need moisture at the roots at all times and correspondingly good drainage. Since these plants grow enormous bulbs, a large pot is necessary.

The time for repotting is late spring when new growths are just beginning. Backbulbs may be removed without disturbing the plant and they will start new plants from the dormant eyes.

When potted the backbulbs should be centered in the pot since there is no way of predicting the direction in which the eye will break. They should be potted firmly, although not so tightly as Cattleyas, and they may be held fast with a stake.

A few cymbidium orchid care tips to help you.