The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

While there are many orchids appropriate for home growing, one of the most popular is the Cymbidium. And for good reason! Its blooms are magnificent and long-lasting. If a few rules are followed, the plant is dependable and can be brought into bloom year after year. Its flowers can last three months or more.

Cymbidiums are a genus of about 70 species within the orchid family. This means they are part of the Orchidaceae family of plants, and fall into a sub-family called Epidendroideae. The plant was first described in 1799 by the European botanist Olof Swartz. The name is derived from a Greek work "kumbos," which means "hole" or "cavity," referring to the form of the base of the lip of the flower. Cymbidiums became very popular in Europe in the Victorian Era because they bloom in winter when few other flowers bloom, and also because they survive well in temperate climates.

Cymbidiums originate from the wild subtropical mountains of Asia: China, Northern India, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Borneo. They also appear in Northern Australia where they grow in the cool climates of higher elevations with daytime temperatures from 70 degrees to 100 degrees F. and nighttime temperatures as low as 40 degrees F. The ideal range of temperatures for these plants is from 50 degrees F. minimum to about 85 degrees F maximum. Cymbidiums will tolerate temperatures as low as 34 degrees F. without permanent damage, but are not likely to flower if kept at low temperatures for more than a few days.

Cymbidiums are sympodial - meaning that the leaves grow laterally. The plants can reach heights of about 3 feet tall. The leaves are generated from the base of a pseudobulb (a bulbous formation that stores water and nutrients). Flowers are produced on stems that emerge from the side of each pseudobulb produced. Flowers that emerge from the sides of the pseudobulbs may have a diameter of about two or three inches. The stems produced may have fifteen or more flowers. Flowers occur in a wide range of lovely colors including white, green, yellow-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, red, and mahogany (and there may be markings of other color shades at the same time). The flowers last about ten weeks and have a waxy texture about them.

These orchids do very well when planted in a gritty soil/bark mixture that provides some porosity for the roots, which like moisture but hate being wet. They do equally well in sphagnum moss or fir bark. Plants should never become completely dry, especially during summer months, when the plants may require watering every two or three days if temperatures are above 80 degrees F.

Light is an important consideration when growing Cymbidiums. These plants like high-intensity light, though they prefer mid-day shade. Coming from cool, bright areas of Asia, they need high light and cool temperatures to do well. It is reasonable to keep the plants in the garden from May through October in partly sunny locations where they receive mid-day shade and overnight breezes. During winter months, keep the plants in a greenhouse or southern-facing window, and make sure the plants have adequate humidity (keep the pots on a tray of wet stones). A good rule of thumb is that the leaves should be a medium green color, not dark green.

Temperature is probably the most critical factors in growing Cymbidiums, as flowering is dependent on the temperatures to which the plant is exposed. During the summer, if grown outside, daytime temperatures should be in the 75 to 85 degree range (they can take more). At night, in late summer and autumn (August through October) temperatures need to be in the 50 to 65 degree range to initiate flowers. At Rock Cottage, we leave the plants outside until the third week of October. Optimum temperatures in winter are in the 45 to 60 degree range at night and 65 to 75 degrees during the day. When plants are in bud, temperatures need to be fairly constant, in the 55 to 75 degree range.

Cymbidiums benefit from fertilizing in the growing season. Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer once a month in summer. In late summer, use a high-phosphorus fertilizer such as 10-30-20 to help form bloom spikes. Fertilize at full strength every two weeks. In winter, fertilize once a month. Water-soluble fertilizers work best. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers after July because they stimulate leaf production but reduce flowers.

We believe Cymbidiums are an excellent addition to every garden. The next time you see one at a local nursery or florist - don't resist the temptation!

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.

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