Cymbidium Orchids - 10 Essentials For Growing Stunning Cymbidiums

Cymbidiums are said to be the unique ones in the bunch when it comes to orchid care. This kind of orchid is one that can flourish freely outside the walls of greenhouses and similar structures. In fact, because it grows so well outdoors, it has been a favorite garden plant. It is not "choosy" in its soil, temperature and moisture needs.

To help you be able to grow them successfully, here are 10 important rules that you have to follow:

Temperature

Cymbidiums are one of the sturdiest types of orchids when considering temperature. They have been observed thriving in temperatures ranging from as low as 18°F to as high as 110°F, for a limited period of time. These kinds of orchids are best cultivated outdoors because they can tolerate virtually any temperature change.

During unforgiving winters these orchids should be relocated inside if you would like to have them live through the season. Although they might survive the harsh cold for a combined total of two weeks, it could still mean death to them if left outside unattended.

If you wish to make sure that your cymbidium orchids will blossom and flourish then leave them alone in a place where the temperature is around 68°F to 104°F. Although there are some parts Florida that these orchids will not bloom because it seems that the night air is a little hotter than they would like it to be. Other than that, cymbidiums are the perfect flowers for areas with varying temperature.

Light

Since cymbidiums are usually the outdoor kind of orchids, they require plenty of sunlight. During summer they can be given direct sunlight and still survive. Keep in mind though, anything that is too much can harm any plant, as is the case with orchids of this species.

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

Soil

Although cymbidiums can grow in almost any kind of soil, this type of orchids appears to thrive 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

A significant part and many times one of the things that growers do not remember when cultivating these orchids is the drainage. In their normal habitats, cymbidiums are found to grow in places where there is proper and adequate drainage, so you must recreate this when they are cultivated.

A suggested 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 naturally be drained off the soil. Some orchid growers even place a bedrock at the base of their orchids then fill it with compost to act as a drainage system.

Bedrock

Aside from allowing for the proper drainage, placing a bedrock below the soil will also help your cymbidiums with moisture management. Bury them under the ground with less than one half of the bedrock showing. This will make sure that during the summer their root systems remain cool and in winter will keep them warm enough by draining the extra water.

Fertilizer

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

You can use 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 be enough to provide the nutrients they require.

Water

Cymbidiums compared to other kinds of orchids need less water. Since the majority prefers to grow 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

When winter comes, where extremely low temperatures are unavoidable, you may want to relocate your cymbidiums into pots. Or if you have chosen to grow them inside, the job of choosing a pot for these species of orchids is also 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 quickly heat up and can dry out the roots. Deep clay pots with a layer of pebbles at the bottom are preferable for they are cooler and give adequate drainage.

Medium

Picking a medium for cymbidiums is fairly easy. As previously explained they basically thrive in practically any kind of soil. But two favorites are osmunda and leafmold. But if you want to use another soil mixture, it will be okay. The only compost known not to support cymbidiums is gravel. As long as you stay away from that, you are fine.

Repotting

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

No matter where you decide to cultivate them, inside or outdoors, cymbidiums are very generous orchids when it comes to flowers. So be sure to keep these essentials in mind. And if you are searching for the least picky plants of all the kinds of orchids, then cymbidiums are the answer for you.