How to Grow Cymbidium Orchids

Continued from Part 1 of How to Grow Cymbidium Orchids Keep your plants moist, but a little drier than usual, and try to maintain humidity of at least 30- 50%. Bloom spikes, when they first emerge often look like new growths, but soon the sheath will split to reveal many tiny buds! During this period, it is best not to move your plants so that the spike will develop cleanly and flowers will be evenly arrayed. Sudden changes in the growing environment, can also result in bud drop, as will excessively dry warm temperatures during the day. Make sure your plants are kept moist while they are in bud. Once approximately one third of the blooms are open you can move your plants elsewhere to enjoy the display. As the spike is developing, also be sure to stake it so that the blooms are held above the foliage. Cymbidium flowers will generally last more than a month without fading especially at cooler temperatures(60-70)
Cymbidium Ivy Fung 'Sultan' produces full red-brown blooms on a compact plant (relative to a standard cymbidium). It grows outdoors in Washington D.C. for most of the year and produces its gorgeous blooms in late winter/early spring indoors.	Repotting: Cymbidiums orchids do best when they are pot bound. Unless the mix is broken down (after 2-3 years), leave them in the same pots until the pseudobulbs are crowded. When you repot grow them in a small pot as possible with no more than an inch or two of space around the room. At this time shake loose and discard old dried bulbs. Leafless pseudobulbs that are still green can be separated, potted up in sphagnum moss, and with sufficient humidity will often produce new growths. However, these will take several years to reach blooming size. We recommend that you leave any green bulbs still attached to the plants as these are used for water storage by the plants. Once you have more than seven to nine old growths, you can divide your plants. However if you allow your plants grown to specimen and have the space for it you will be rewarded with multiple flower spikes every year. When repotting, use a standard cymbidiums mix, or make your own with coarse fir bark, perlite, and even a little peat moss thrown in-good drainage is a must.
Where to buy cymbidiums: These days, many grocery stores and big-box retailers carry cymbidiums in the winter months. This is often a reasonable way to acquire plants. However, most of these will be larger plants in 8" pots and of limited variety. Specialty orchid growers are probably the best choice for finding more compact and warmth tolerant varieties with a greater range of colors. Only buy cymbidiums orchids from growers who live in your region -- they will carry varieties that will thrive under your conditions. If you live in North Carolina do not be tempted to buy cymbidiums from a grower in California! Many of the smaller warmth tolerant orchids tend to have flowers that are less full and that look more like some of the miniature species. These are just as charming in their own right, but every year new hybrids are released that a lot closer to their giant cooler growing counterparts. See our list of recommended warmth-tolerant cymbidiums below.		This pendant cymbidium has beautiful sprays that cascade over the rim of the pot. Pendant cymbidiums often have cymbidium devonianum (a species) in their background which can confer some warmth tolerance.

Part 2 HOW TO GROW CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS Think you need a greenhouse or have to live in California to grow cymbidiums? Think again! Today's hybrids are more amenable to growing on a windowsill and in warmer climates. We'll show you how.

Part 2
HOW TO GROW
CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS

Think you need a greenhouse or have to live in California to grow cymbidiums? Think again! Today's hybrids are more amenable to growing on a windowsill and in warmer climates. We'll show you how.