Pike's Pick for December 13, 2008
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6-Inch* Cymbidium Orchids
Cymbidium spp.
On sale this Saturday and Sunday (December 13th and 14th) for 20% off
at your local
Pike Nurseries. *Please note: only the 6-inch
size is on sale.
Species Native Range: Temperate elevations of Asia
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10-11 (houseplant)
Mature Size: Varies
Exposure: Bright light but not direct sun
Soil: Loose bark, "peaty" (acidic), orchid mix
Ease of Culture: Moderate
As a child, I can always remember being presented with a corsage of Cymbidium orchids to be worn on Easter Sunday. So
attractive were the flowers that I decided in later years to grow the plant.
Grow Cymbidium orchids indoors or in a greenhouse for the winter months moving them back outdoors in spring. Place them
in a location where they will receive bright (about 50%) but not direct intense sunlight. Water freely during the growing
months and fertilize every 3-4 weeks.
Cymbidiums should be growing in a loose medium comprised of bark, peat moss, crushed granite, etc. They prefer to be
somewhat pot-bound and should only be repotted when the roots are very crowded. Repot after blooming.
Flower bud formation is initiated by cooler temperatures usually requiring night temps to be in the low to mid 50s with
daytime temperatures 20-25 degrees warmer. This may require that the plant be moved indoors and out during this critical
period in the late summer and fall. Although the foliage can withstand temperatures as low as the upper 20s, delicate flower
buds can be damaged.
Blooming usually occurs sometime between February and May. A single flower stalk can produce several dozen blooms that
may last for several weeks.
To get more information on growing Cymbidium orchids, click
here.
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