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Cymbidium - what now?
The Bird Lady
Posts: 225
Following my success with Phalaenopsis, I fell in love with and purchased a gorgeous Cymbidium. Great whilst it was in flower but now what do I do with it?
I know it doesn't need a transparent pot but will the Orchid compost that I use for my Moth Orchid be OK for this and should I repot it? It is still in the pot that it came in but although it looks healthy and green, there doesn't appear to be anything new happening. I've had it a while now so I'm getting impatient!
Last edited: 04 June 2017 10:52:35
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I hate to say but to me that doesn't look like a cymbidium.
If it were then you need to let it drop to 10C over winter to stimulate new flowers next year
Well it was purchased as a Cymbidium and looks exactly like the one I saw in a video made by Sarah Raven, it also flowered as a Cymbidium so I'm pretty certain that's what it is.
Just found this interesting link, I'll follow the instructions and put the pot outside for a while, as well as crossing my fingers for some success!
Depending on the area you are living, if the temperatures are rising, you could start getting it used to being grown outside protected near a wall and away from bright sunshine. Maybe harden off by putting outdoors on dry sunny days and bringing it back in. When temperatures outside go no lower than 15c at night, you could just leave it out but away from direct sun. Hopefully, this will help develope buds. At this time of year, make sure you are feeding it with some high potash feed.
Last edited: 04 June 2017 11:55:53
I just cut off spent flower stems and then feed my orchids with these pink sticks you can buy in good garden centres and even some supermarkets. Once every 7 to 10 days I dunk their pots in cool water and leave them for a few minutes and then I let them drain. If the leaves are dusty I rinse them with the shower head. Then they go back to life on a north facing window sill where they get plenty of light but no direct sun - and no radiator below to dry them out.
Last edited: 04 June 2017 12:30:30
Forgot to add the link -
http://www.wessexorchidsociety.org.uk/culture/cymbidium.html
Sorry I'm going to repeat my self but this http://www.backbulb.com/images/BB20130316b.jpg
Is a cymbiduim psudobulb. it is encased within the leaf bases, the one you have there looks, more like a miltonia If you treat it like a cymbidium it will die. Have a google round on cymbidium bulbs, or better stil take the plant to a nursery that can identify it, if you have a picture of the flower that would also help.
Sorry it won't let me edit the above post, pause the video you mentioned at 1.15 and you can see the cymbiciums bulbs, again they are encased in leaves and have multiple leaves appearing to come from the top of the bulb, unlike your orchid there that has one from the top and a smooth skinned bulb unencased by leaves, The only reason I care on this one is that to get a cymbidium to flower it requries chilling, which will simply kill most other common orchids that yours could be.
Thanks for your reply - in view of what you've said, I'll treat it as a Miltonia until I can get confirmation of what is actually is.
Skandi - Following your advice, I have now studied both types and yes I can now see the difference. Bearing this in mind, I have now put the plant indoors in a well lit position. One thing I would say is that the plant itself seems quite 'wobbly' in the soil - I wonder if I should repot it. It is still in the pot it came in earlier this year.