Cymbidium Orchids - 10 Things You Must Know for Growing Healthy Cymbidiums

Cymbidiums are said to be the unique ones in the bunch when talking about orchid care. This type of orchid is one that can grow freely outside the walls of greenhouses and similar structures. In fact, because it thrives so well outdoors, it has been a favorite garden plant. It is not "picky" in its soil, temperature and humidity needs.

To enable you to grow them successfully, here are 10 essential rules that you need to keep in mind:

Temperature

Cymbidiums are one of the toughest kinds of orchids when considering temperature. They have been found growing in temperatures ranging from as low as 18°F to as high as 110°F, for a limited amount of time. These kinds of orchids are usually cultivated outdoors because they can withstand virtually any temperature change.

During unforgiving winters these orchids should be transferred indoors if you want to have them live through the season. Although they might survive the extreme cold for a combined total of two weeks, it could still kill them if left outside unattended.

If you want to be sure that your cymbidium orchids will flower and grow then leave them alone in a place where the temperature is between 68°F to 104°F. Although there are some parts Florida that these plants will not bloom because it seems that the night air is a little hotter than they would want it to be. Other than that, cymbidiums are the perfect plants for places with varying temperature.

Light

Since cymbidiums are mostly the outdoor kind of orchids, they require plenty of light. During summer they can be given direct sunlight and still survive. Remember though, anything that is too much can harm any plant, as is the case with these orchids.

The ideal setting for cymbidiums is under the shadow of a larger tree where the sunlight is filtered by the leaves and the shade. If you cannot find a place like this, anything that can provide adequate shade for them during the extreme summer is fine. During winter, these plants need sunlight more than ever so whenever you can, find a place for them where they can sulk in the light for long periods of time.

Soil

Although cymbidiums can grow in almost any type of soil, this type of orchids seems to flourish best in leafmold. Mix equal parts of leafmold and leafsoil together with a little bit of gravel and you have the perfect soil mixture for cymbidiums.

Drainage

An important part and often one of the things that growers forget when cultivating these orchids is the drainage. In their natural habitats, cymbidiums are found to flourish in places where there is proper and adequate drainage, so you must construct this when they are cultivated.

A recommended way to do this is by planting them in elevated beds, six to twelve inches above the ground. This will ensure that the excess water will automatically be drained off the soil. Some orchid growers even place a bedrock at the base of their orchids then fill it with a potting medium to act as a drainage system.

Bedrock

Aside from allowing for adequate drainage, making a bedrock beneath the soil will also aid your cymbidiums with moisture management. Bury them under the ground with less than one half of the rock peaking through. This will make sure that during the summer their root systems remain cool and in winter will keep them warm enough by removing excess water.

Fertilizer

When it comes to plant food and these kinds of orchids, the jury is still out. Most orchid growers who use plant food say that feeding cymbidiums do amazing things for them. Now the only thing that you must be careful not to do is to let the fertilizer touch its pseudobulbs. This is critical because once this happens they will most likely burn and rot.

You can get either liquid fertilizers or ground manure. Just keep in mind not to overdo it. Two times each year for ground manure and every three months for liquid fertilizer will suffice to provide the nutrients they require.

Water

Cymbidiums compared to other types of orchids need less water. Since the majority prefers to cultivate them outdoors, you can simply water them once or twice a month even on the hot days. And during the cold season, you can even forget about watering them because the natural rainfall takes care of that for you.

Pots

During winter, where very low temperatures are unavoidable, you may want to move your cymbidiums into pots. Or if you have decided to cultivate them inside, the task of selecting a pot for these species of orchids is equally important.

The perfect pots for cymbidiums are those that can provide adequate drainage. Keep them away from shallow pots and fern pans. These containers can easily heat up and can dehydrate the roots. Deep clay pots with a layer of stones at the bottom are more suitable for they are cooler and provide adequate drainage.

Medium

Picking a medium for cymbidiums is quite effortless As previously explained they basically flourish in practically any type of soil. But two favorites are osmunda and leafmold. But if you prefer another soil mixture, it will be okay. The only medium known not to support cymbidiums is gravel. As long as you avoid that, you are fine.

Repotting

Lastly and maybe one of the most vital steps to growing healthy cymbidiums is repotting. Because cymbidium orchids have very fragile root systems they do not respond well to repotting. They are said to experience shock easily. When repotting, ensure that the roots stay intact or else you would not see them blossom for a year or two. Some growers even wait two to three years before attempting such a task.

No matter where you choose to cultivate them, inside or outdoors, cymbidiums are very giving orchids when it comes to flowers. So make sure to keep these basics in mind. And if you are looking for the least needy plants of all the types of orchids, then cymbidiums are the answer for you.

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