Several long lasting showy flowers with a distinctive 3-lobed lip are borne on erect or arching flower spikes from the bases of the pseudobulbs These are brown, mushy, shrivelled or hollow in appearance. Divisions will take about two to three years to flower again. Let the compost dry out a little before the next watering. £5.99. These ancient flowers have been treasured in numerous societies, for nearly two thousand years. Keep the temperatures below 30°C (86°F) in summer to prevent damage to the plants. Select divisions with three healthy pseudobulbs, discarding older or shrivelled material. If the plant is kept outdoors in summer, shade it from midday sun. Jackie Carroll has been a freelance writer since 1995. To flower well, the plants need a distinct temperature drop between day and night during mid- to late summer. Cymbidiums are usually grown in conservatories or cool greenhouses. RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team. The pieces should contain no fewer than 5 pseudobulbs otherwise flowering will be impaired. However, gradually acclimatise the plants to outdoor conditions in order to prevent leaf scorch from cold temperatures or direct sun. Work at the rootball with your fingers, untangling the roots and removing all the old compost. Cymbidium back-bulbs are the old, leafless, dormant-looking bulb-like structures located behind the main bulb-like swelling at the base of the plant’s leaves. Cymbidiums grow well in warm, coastal climates that are similar to their native habitat in China and Asia. Once the existing container is full of roots, and the pseudobulbs (food storage organs) are packed together, it’s a good idea to pot them on into a larger container and give them a fresh zest for life. For more information, see the propagation section under orchids: indoor cultivation. £5.40 postage. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. It is time to repot your cymbidium as soon as it has become too large for its pot or when it has been in the same compost for 2 years. The die-back begins as black leaf tips, and the blackening gradually moves down the leaves. Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. Shorten the remaining healthy roots, that should be white and firm, back to around 15-20cm (6-8in). The blossoms lend a delicate, tropical appeal to the garden and make elegant cut flowers that last about a week in the vase. I am an orchid enthusiast and judge for the Cymbidium Society of America (CSA) who specializes in growing exhibition and award quality cymbidiums outdoors in southern California. The following guest post on orchids propagation is an interview with Richard Lindberg, orchid care expert, orchidist, and author of the Blog.BackBulb.com, which covers everything you need to know to grow your orchid collection with inexpensive (or even FREE) orchid backbulbs. Cymbidium Pontac Flame orchid Large plant . Only 1 left. Avoid using a larger pot unnecessarily, as the compost will stay wet for too long, causing the roots to rot. Loose compost will cause the plant to be unstable and damage the new root tips, stopping them from growing. Cymbidium orchids have finer roots than most orchids it’s size. When repotting, the roots should be teased apart to remove old potting mix and then dead roots are to be removed. The best potting media for Cymbidiums has to be slightly more acidic than basic, retains water more than a typical Phalaenopsis’ medium, and will still provide excellent drainage. Cymbidiums are grown for their long spikes of up to 30 flowers that bloom in a wide range of colors. Cymbidium Orchid care : How to Remove old bloom spikes, trim Orchid leaves & new Cymbidium growth. Repotting your orchid needn't be a daunting task and can help ensure it grows healthily and flowers well. Cymbidium orchids are large evergreen plants; they have “strappey”, grass-like leaves shooting from pseudo-bulbs at the base of the plant. Hold the plant at the correct level in the pot and fill in the spaces around the roots with fresh compost, gently firming in as you go and ensuring the compost is pressed down firmly around the perimeter of the pot, so that finally, when the plant is lifted by its stem or leaves, the pot and compost is lifted with it and does not fall off. Blackening Leaves Cymbidium foliage reacts to poor environmental conditions by dying back. New introductions tend to be easier to grow, but for the keen grower, here are some species to try: Cymbidium erythrostylum: Compact with white flowers and red lip. Empty the saucer under the pot after the excess water drains through so that the roots aren’t left sitting in water. If they are light, and squash or crumble easily, they're dead. the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Remove the plant from its pot and if it has made a large clump of pseudobulbs, divide them by sawing through the centre of the clump and the rootball with an old breadknife. Back to Top Cymbidium orchids (Cymbidium spp.) Stop feeding altogether, or feed only occasionally in winter, using half-strength general liquid fertiliser. Forgot your password? We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. How to Water an Orchid With Distilled Water, University of California Cooperative Extension: Cymbidiums, University of California Cooperative Extension: Repotting Cymbidiums. Cut off the affected part of the leaves and sterilize the pruners between cuts by holding them in an open flame. Cymbidium "Novia" Cascade, 2 new growths. That means they do need a well-drained and well-aired potting medium. Provide winter growing temperatures between 10-14°C (50-57°F). Wait until the flowers have opened before moving the plant into a warmer environment for display purposes. If required a plant may then be divided into two or more plants by twisting and tearing the bulbs apart. Outdoor plants may only need occasional watering if the weather is wet. Moisten the potting mix and place the cymbidium bulbs on the surface of the orchid mix or potting medium, burying each about one-third of its depth. To prevent bud-drop, keep the temperature below 15°C (59°F) during flower spike development. or Best Offer. Our orchids are very hardy and can grow without daily watering, same as a cactus. You can grow them outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 through 12. C. tigrinum: Compact with hanging clusters of olive-green to yellow flowers with purple-marked lips. Keep the temperatures below 30°C (86°F) in summer to prevent damage to the plants. Cymbidium have highly decorative flower spikes and are one of the least demanding indoor orchids. Plus, their long, thin … Clean off white, crusty accumulations of salt from the surface of the medium or the sides of the pot near the soil line. She holds a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from the University of North Carolina. Provide winter growing temperatures between 10-14°C (50-57°F). Flowers generally last for six to eight weeks. Caring for your Cymbidium Orchid. Many orchid lovers are most charmed by its fragrance and form rather than its petite size. In spring and summer, this may mean watering the plant two or three times a week. Thank you! Finally, give the plant a thorough watering ensuring all the rootball is moistened. Once a month, flush the medium with room temperature water to remove excess salts salts. Other common names boat orchid 'Ice Cascade' . They look … Feed every few weeks with an orchid feed through the growing season. £5.95 postage . When repotting, carefully examine the roots so you can remove eventual dead or rotten roots. New hybrids are produced every year, but most of these are sold unnamed. Snip off any diseased or dead roots with sterilised scissors or secateurs. They can be useful in enabling you to see if the compost is still moist below the surface however, and so avoid overwatering. They are clump-forming and have fleshy roots. £32.95. Reduce watering to weekly or fortnightly in winter. It is best not to divide a Cymbidium as dividing causes the plant considerable stress because, when dividing, the potting soil must be disturbed and this generally damages the roots. Remember Me. Cymbidium orchids are spectacular plants that flower in late winter and early spring. Choose a pot that has enough room for two years' growth (about an extra 10cm/4in in diameter). Apply half-strength general liquid fertiliser every third watering in spring and switch to a high potassium specialist orchid fertiliser in summer. It’s best to also wait for 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) inches of new shoot growth to develop so that the plant is fully in growth mode. Or you can split the plant, to create two or three new ones. Aside from being attractive houseplants or additions to the garden, they’re often used in cut flower arrangements or in corsages. Cut off any dead roots and remove as much of the old compost as you can without disturbing the root ball too much. Many gardeners use these back-bulbs to increase their stock. When repotting, ensure you give the youngest, greenest bulbs … Below are some useful tips to remember; Divide plants at re-potting if they have become over-large, or if some of the pseudobulbs (swellings at the base) have died and turned brown. Once the blooms have faded, cut down the flowered stem to the base. Flowering month. For best results, each Cymbidium pot should be as large as possible otherwise the flowering will be retarded for 1 to 2 years. For this reason, they prefer to be potted in a medium that simulates soil. January (44) February (44) March (45) April (45) May (45) June (45) July (45) August (45) September (45) October (45) November (45) December (45) Flower colour. RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected Water from above, making sure that excess water can drain away. The soil around a cymbidium should be moist at all times. Member Area. Only specialist orchid nurseries offer named species and hybrids. Buy Cymbidium Orchids and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! Cymbidium orchids are very much the most popular choice by many people around the world but involve the same level of commitment that all orchids demand. Clear pots are not necessary for cymbidiums as their roots do not seek out the light. If you found this Cymbidium Orchids Repotting Guide useful, please click the "Like" button below, and leave us a comment in the box. Only the young ones flower. 1  They feature sprays of large blooms in the dead of winter on flower spikes that can last for around one to three months. Most people fail in maintaining them because of the misconception that they are easy to care for, forgetting the fact is that they remain very delicate. This situation is hard to find, but the plants grow and bloom well enough with dappled or filtered morning sun and afternoon shade. Family Orchidaceae . Plants can be kept outdoors from mid- to late summer (often June to September). Plants placed outdoors or in the greenhouse may need more frequent watering in hot weather. Outdoors, cymbidiums prefer a location with sunlight early in the morning and late in the afternoon and shade from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hi Nadine, you can tell if your bulbs are viable by just squeezing the bottom area of the bulb. Ensure good light levels all year round, especially in winter. Cymbidium orchids are by far the most popular orchids to be grown in Australia and in cooler climates around the world. The die-back begins as black leaf tips, and the blackening gradually moves down the leaves. In pots, use free-draining orchid potting soil based on small to medium-size chunks, bark or coarse peat moss. Flower spike initiation takes place in mid- to late summer, when plants require good light and a distinct drop between day and night temperatures. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Always use a proprietary orchid compost when repotting. Placing the plants outside helps to provide such conditions. times, RHS Registered Charity no. Cymbidium can suffer the same problems as other orchids, including mealybug, red spider mite, aphids, and slug and snail damage (if kept outdoors). Password. 020 3176 5800 Her home-and-garden and nature articles have appeared in "Birds & Blooms" and "Alamance Today." Colourful collections / bicolours (2) Green (2) Orange (7) Pink (5) Purple (10) Red (9) White (25) Yellow (3) Special features. Drain the plant thoroughly and do not allow it to sit in water. Read more advice on How to Care For Your Orchids - in particular our Cymbidium Orchids Care Guide and our Cymbidium Orchids … Cymbidiums are best repotted in spring just after flowering. Cymbidium prefers cooler growing conditions than some other tender indoor orchids. Different varieties flower between September and April. You’ll know that you’ve found the right spot when the foliage is yellow-green instead of dark green with no blackened tips. Cymbidium Orchid. To get your back-bulbs to root, wash and dry them and set them in leaf mold mixed with sand and a little potting soil. Cymbidium should be divided following flowering, as disturbing the plant while blooming will kill the blooms and the plant will have less energy to form new roots. how to divide cymbidium orchids. Cymbidium Orchids will eventually need dividing and repotting.