CYMBIDIUM CULTURE

Cymbidiums are prized for their long sprays of flowers. There are two main types: standards and miniatures. Where summer nights are hot (above 70 F), only miniatures can be recommended because they are more tolerant to heat and flower in a position to thaw.

Temperature: During the summer, the standard cymbidiums are usually grown outside semishade, where daytime temperatures should be 75 to 85 F (or more), but the night temperatures in late summer until the autumn, we need 50-60 F to initiate flower spikes. Optimum winter temperatures are 45 to 55 F at night and from 65 to 75 F during the day. When plants are in bud, the temperature should be as constant as possible, between 55 and 75 F. Miniatures can withstand temperatures of five to 10 degrees higher than the standards and still flower.

Spotlight: From fresh and bright areas in Asia, they need high light, but cold temperatures. The maximum amount of light possible, in the short or burning, should be given to plants. In cool areas (such as coastal California), sunlight is tolerated. The leaves should be a golden green in color, not dark green.

Humidity: Keep in 40-60% with good air circulation to prevent fungi to identify flowers.

Water: These plants are terrestrial and semi need to stay moist. They produce all their vegetative growth during the spring and summer and need the most water during this period. Water heavily during the growing season, keeping the soil moist in hardware. Reduce consumption of water when full pseudobulbs growing end of the summer. Keep in barely moist during the winter.

Fertilizer: During the growing season (spring to late summer) high nitrogen fertilizer (30-10-10) is used. In the fall, use high phosphorus, blossom-booster Flux (10-30-20), to help promote flowering spikes. Full Feed every week to two weeks during the growing season, once a month in winter.

Potting
This is done in the spring after flowering, usually every two years or when the soil medium decomposes. Use a water retention soil mixture; medium fir bark amended with peat and perlite is a mixture. Choose a pot that will allow at least 2-3 years of growth before crowding the pot.