Cymbidium has bloomed. Cymbidium: how to care for a delicate plant. Description of Cymbidium orchid species

Cymbidium is an excellent representative of orchids. Very often found in flower shops to create unforgettable bouquets. Recently, more and more new Cymbidium hybrids have appeared, which are intended for home grown. As for care, it is not as simple as it seems at first glance, but if you find an approach to the flower, it will delight you with its flowering and active growth. Cymbidium is widespread in subtropical forests.

General information about the flower

Cymbidium, like most orchids, is an epiphyte. Its habitat is the crowns and trunks of trees tropical forests. In rare cases, you can find representatives of Cymbidium that grow on the ground, on rocky soil. The type of growth is sympoidal - the development of the plant occurs not due to the trunk, which the cymbidium simply does not have, but due to the formation of new rosettes of leaves, from which a peduncle appears in the future. Over time, pseudobulbs appear in the center, which are essentially the growing points of the orchid. The peduncle can be either straight or curved, pointing downwards - there are spectacular flowers on the peduncle itself. Cymbidium blooms for several months. Cut flower stalks will delight you with their beauty for quite a long time.

In order for cymbidium at home to delight you with its charming flowers all the time, it is necessary to create acceptable conditions for the plant to develop and flower.

Lighting

As for light, cymbidium is very demanding of it. Most orchids require constant light throughout the year. Therefore, when buying a flower, you should take this into account. IN winter period even more light is required than in summer. It is also worth understanding that the plant will not last long in the strong scorching sun. Hybrids are certainly not as demanding, but this does not mean that proper lighting should be ignored.

Watering and air humidity

Cymbidium - amateur high humidity, especially during the period of its active growth. Moisture will not be able to harm the plant, since this is its natural habitat. Watering should be plentiful. When the cymbidium enters a period of rest, watering can be replaced by regular spraying and humidification of the air.

Temperature

Most cymbidiums and its hybrids prefer cool conditions. It is very important that there are differences temperature regime during the day. It is necessary to ensure a temperature difference between day and night within 8-10 degrees. Thanks to such changes, the cymbidium begins to bloom.

Due to the difficulty in maintaining low temperatures, many gardeners for a very long time refused to grow this type of orchid at home. However, over time, new cymbidium hybrids were developed that became less demanding to care for. But you still need to adhere to the correct temperature regime so that the orchid can bloom. During the dormant period, before or after flowering, the temperature should not exceed 10-13 degrees Celsius.

The soil

If you are not very knowledgeable about the composition of the soil, then it is best to purchase ready-made soil for the plant in specialized stores. When purchasing, be sure to clarify for which plant the purchase is intended, since the acidity and content of nutrients in each soil complex is different.

Suitable substrate for cymbidium:

  1. Pine bark mixture
  2. Dried fern roots
  3. Live sphagnum moss

If you decide to use ordinary soil, the roots of the flower will begin to rot. This occurs due to insufficient aeration of the cymbidium root system. The more air gets to the roots, the less likely the roots will become waterlogged. With good aeration, the risk of the occurrence and development of pathogenic fungi is reduced to almost zero. A sufficient supply of oxygen provides proper nutrition to the plant, thanks to the nitrogen contained in the air.

Feeding and fertilizer

Cymbidium is a flower that loves high-quality feeding. Feed the plant at least once or twice during the growing season. Feeding is required at the beginning of the period, and then at the end. Fertilizer for orchids can also be purchased in specialized stores. If this is not possible, then you need universal fertilizer dilute in a concentration less than half the recommended dose.

Watering with fertilizers should only be done on moist soil. Nitrogen fertilizers should be as little as possible, especially before the winter period, flowering and dormancy. In winter, it is generally better not to fertilize cymbidium.

If the plant is sick, then under no circumstances should you fertilize, as this will only aggravate the situation and may lead to the death of the flower.

Transplanting a cymbidium orchid

If you create the necessary conditions for the growth and full development of cymbidium: choose the right soil, provide high-quality temperature conditions, watering, then very soon the orchid will begin to grow rapidly. Therefore, over time, it will need to be replanted so that the rooting of new pseudobulbs continues. New flower pot should be two or even three times wider than before. The depth of the pot is not so important for cymbidium.

When transplanting, you must adhere to the following steps, the observance of which is mandatory:

  1. The plant is removed from the pot with careful movements so as not to damage anything.
  2. The old bark must be removed.
  3. Empty, damaged, rotten roots are removed - only healthy ones remain.
  4. If there are wounds on the roots, you need to treat them with activated carbon, brilliant green or ground cinnamon.
  5. After the procedures have been completed, the flower is placed in new soil.
  6. Do not bury pseudobulbs below their previous level. If this is ignored, the green part of the plant will begin to rot.

Cymbidium propagation

Propagation of cymbidium is mainly carried out by dividing the bush. It is recommended to do this when replanting a plant. The process is carried out with careful movements so as not to damage the mother bush. It is advisable to separate at least three young pseudobulbs. This is explained by the fact that two sprouts already have root shoots that will be able to nourish the plant until the third has its own root system. Over time, new young shoots will appear on the mother plant.

Cymbidium can reproduce in other ways, but this requires specially created conditions. It is almost impossible to reproduce such conditions at home. Therefore, if you are offered to purchase cymbidium orchid seeds, then this is counterfeit.

If you love to watch beautiful flowering, then you should give preference to modern cymbidium hybrids, of which, by the way, there are a lot. Spectacular flowers can last on the plant for up to several months.

Types of hybrids:

  • Standard hybrid. The height of the plant reaches up to 150 cm. The diameter of the flower with abundant flowering is 7.5-15 cm. Standard hybrids require mandatory cool maintenance.
  • Miniature hybrid. The height of the plant reaches from 30 to 60 cm. The diameter of the flower during flowering is 2.5-7.5 cm. No special conditions are required for cultivation; they can develop well at room temperature.

The color of this flower can surprise everyone, as it is very diverse. In nature, you cannot find only the blue spectrum.

Popular types of cymbidium

No matter how popular this flower is at present, it cannot be purchased at any flower shop. Hybrids are always presented on display windows, but not natural look Cymbidium.

Cymbidium Eberneum– represented by the yellowish-white color of the flowers. The peduncle is erect, which appears in winter. Requires cool conditions for its development. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and are decorated yellow spots on the lips. The diameter of the flower is up to 7.5 cm. There are no more than two flowers on the peduncle.

Cymbidium Tracy– this flower is not wide, has reddish-brown stripes on the petals. The flowers are fragrant, there is a cream lip with red spots small sizes. Flowering usually occurs in early autumn.

Cymbidium aloelia– requires moderate room temperature. The leaves are hard, belt-shaped. Flower stalks are cascading, no more than 50 cm in length. The flowers have variegated lips that are loosely arranged. The flowers themselves are brownish in color, with a light border. Flowering occurs from spring to autumn. Prefers to grow on a snag or piece of bark.

Cymbidium dwarf- a rather rare species, although very impressive. The peduncle is small in size - 12 cm. Flowers are 10 cm in diameter. The color is red-brown, the edges are yellow, the lip is cream. Flowering occurs in winter.

If the air in the room is dry, then cymbidium can become infected with spider mites. When infested with mites, the leaves become dull in color. It is imperative to spray the plant and wipe the leaves with real beer.

Thrips - can be transmitted from other infected plants. In this condition, the flower finishes blooming faster. To eliminate thrips, it is worth spraying the plant with any insecticide after shaking the cymbidium slightly.

Rotting of the root system is observed if the cymbidium is in a cool room, the watering is excessive or the substrate for the flower is chosen incorrectly. In this case, the plant is taken out of the soil, dried, rotten rhizomes are cut off, and then dipped in activated carbon or cinnamon. Next, they are dried and placed in a fresh substrate. Watering is carried out only after the first roots appear. Before this, it is recommended to replace watering with spraying the leaves.

If the tips of the leaves turn brown or yellow, then there is a problem with the roots. It is necessary to carefully examine the entire root system. If there are dark streaks on the leaves (but not on the tips), then this indicates viral infection. In such a situation, the plant cannot be saved.

Cymbidium – spectacular flower, which, with proper care, will actively grow and delight you with its beauty for many years.

Video - proper care of cymbidium

Flower cymbidium (lat. Cymbidium) belongs to the genus of evergreen epiphytes of the Orchid family, which is widespread in the subtropics of Asia and Northern Australia; its representatives are found even at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level. Cymbidium flowers were introduced into culture more than two thousand years ago in China. Confucius considered them the kings of fragrances. In modern China, as well as in Japan, natural forms of various colors of petals and leaves are cultivated, especially in trend today small species, the most fragrant of the cymbidiums. And in Europe and Australia, large-flowered hybrids are valued as cut crops. There are more than a hundred species of cymbidiums in modern indoor floriculture. Cymbidiums were first described by the Swedish botanist Peter Olof Swartz in 1799.

Cymbidium orchid - growing features

The cymbidium bulb, or rather the pseudobulb (the thickened near-earth part of the stem in which epiphytes store moisture) is ovoid in shape, the leaves are xiphoid or linear, blunt-pointed or pointed, leathery and keeled. The cymbidium peduncle can reach a height of one and a half meters. The inflorescence is a hanging loose raceme, sometimes bearing few and sometimes many flowers. The flowers themselves, depending on the variety and type different sizes– from small to large. The color range is very rich: cream, yellow, yellow-green, pink, brown, red colors and their shades. Typically, the petals and sepals of cymbidium are the same color and shape - crescent-shaped or lanceolate. The sessile three-lobed lip is most often variegated and brightly colored. The flowering period of cymbidium lasts from one and a half to three months, and the life expectancy at home is from 3 to 7 years.

Among cymbidiums there are many epiphytes, and this is what determines some of the features of growing this type of orchid.

Caring for cymbidium at home

How to care for cymbidium.

Growing cymbidium requires special knowledge from the grower. It is best to keep cymbidium on the windowsill large window, in bright sun, shading it at midday from direct rays, especially during flowering, with a light curtain. In general, this orchid requires a lot of light. Cymbidium usually blooms in the winter months, when daylight hours are short, so you will have to provide additional lighting for the orchid. As for air temperature, cymbidiums tolerate cool air more easily than heat and stuffiness. This is especially important in winter - being close to heating devices will not give the cymbidium the opportunity to amaze you with its flowering. Your orchid will need high air humidity, within 50-60%, so summer time you will have to spray it at least three times a day. It helps to solve the problem of air humidity by placing a pot with a plant on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay.

Watering and fertilizing cymbidium.

During the period of active growth, you need to water the cymbidium abundantly, but it is important that the water after watering does not stagnate in the roots, otherwise the roots of the cymbidium may rot and black spots will appear on the leaves. If the plant does not have enough moisture, the pseudobulbs may shrink, and the flowers and buds may fall off. As winter approaches, watering is reduced and the substrate is moistened only once every two weeks if the temperature is normal, but if the room is too warm, you will have to water more often. Cymbidium fertilizing is combined with every third watering, and is applied in the form of solutions to an already moistened substrate. It is best to use special fertilizers for orchids (Kemira Lux, Ideal, Rainbow) for this in half the concentration indicated on the package. In mid-summer, the nitrogen component should be reduced and the potassium component increased. During the flowering period, the orchid does not need feeding.

Cymbidium transplant.

Caring for cymbidium also involves transplanting the plant into a larger pot as the roots fill the old one. This need happens once every two to three years. This is done after the orchid has already bloomed and the young shoots have grown to at least 5 cm in height. How to transplant cymbidium? First, let's choose a substrate for cymbidium. Soil for cymbidium can be purchased specially for orchids, or you can make it yourself. To do this, you need to take pine bark as a basis and add to it finely chopped sphagnum moss and fern roots, a little rotted horse humus and charcoal. Mix all the ingredients, pour into a pot, which should already have a drainage layer of expanded clay or clay shards, a 2-3 cm layer of substrate and move the cymbidium with an earthen lump into the pot, then add enough substrate so that the cymbidium pseudobulbs are above the ground level. If the orchid's roots were not damaged during replanting, water the plant along the edge of the pot, but if you had to clear the root system of rotten areas, it is better to postpone watering for a couple of days. The cymbidium in the new pot is placed in partial shade, where it will recover for some time from the stress caused by the transplant.

How to make cymbidium bloom.

Different varieties and types of cymbidium bloom at different times, and their flowering duration is also different. But any of the specimens of this genus will bloom poorly or will not set buds at all at temperatures above 22 ºC. Since cymbidiums from mountainous areas were mainly used to create modern hybrids, it can be assumed that the conditions for flowering they will need are approximately the same as in their habitats, namely: bright light and a difference between day and night temperatures of 4-5 degrees. Those orchids that bloom in spring and summer do not need to specially arrange temperature “swings” - at this time of year such temperature changes are quite natural in nature, and if your orchid is in the garden or on the balcony, it will easily withstand night cold temperatures of up to 5 ºC, but it will bloom on time and abundantly. But in winter, when in the room where cymbidium grows, it works around the clock heating system, you’ll have to come up with something... You can, for example, put cymbidium on a balcony or loggia at night if they are insulated. Most abundant flowering The largest flowers appear in cymbidium orchids in the third year of growth.

Cymbidium propagation

Cymbidium reproduces vegetatively - by dividing the bush. This procedure is performed when replanting a plant. When you remove the orchid from the pot, you will see that under the substrate it has a whole tangle of tangled roots, and in the lower part they are dry and gray. You need to cut off this with a sharp sterile knife. bottom part coma with dry roots and carefully cut the plant into fragments, each of which will contain a succulent pseudobulb and several roots. The cuttings need to be treated with charcoal, and the cuttings should be planted in different pots with a substrate and provided with constant high humidity by watering and spraying until they have new leaves or shoots - a signal that the plant has taken root.

Pests and diseases of cymbidium

Cymbidium does not bloom.

If your cymbidium is turning beautifully green, but is clearly not going to bloom, give it a shake-up: reduce watering and arrange a difference between day and night temperatures of 4-5 degrees. Night temperature 10-13 ºC is optimal for forcing cymbidium to flower.

Cymbidium is drying out.

If only the ends of the leaves dry, it means that the air humidity in the room is not high enough. You will have to spray the plant more often (remember: at least three times a day) and place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles. Sometimes the tips of the leaves dry out from too frequent or abundant moisture - the soil should dry out between waterings.

Cymbidium turns yellow.

Sometimes this is a sign that the roots are rotting. Try to remove upper layer substrate and examine the roots. If rot is detected, if it is not too late, the plant will have to be replanted, clearing the root system of rotten areas. And try to determine the cause of the decay, otherwise the situation may repeat itself.

From pests spider mites, aphids and scale insects are dangerous for orchids, and diseases– brown and gray rot, mosaic and sooty fungus. Mosaic is a viral disease that cannot be treated, so the plant will have to be destroyed, but you can fight rot: remove the affected parts of the plant, reduce watering and move it to a warmer room.

Types and varieties of cymbidium

We invite you to get acquainted with the most attractive types of cymbidium in our opinion.

Cymbidium eburneum

Or “ivory” is distinguished by large petals of a very beautiful creamy shade. The aroma of the flower resembles the smell of lilac. The orchid blooms in spring and prefers moderate temperatures.

Cymbidium aloifolium

miniature orchid, reaching a height of only 30 cm, with beautiful flowers pale yellow with burgundy and cream shades. Flower diameter 4.5 cm.

Cymbidium lancifolium

- an orchid with flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, in which the sepals and petals are light green with a central dark red vein, and the lip is white and green with red-brown stripes on the side lobes and with red specks and spots on the middle one. Blooms from April to October.

Day's Cymbidium (Cymbidium dayanum)

has a multi-flowered inflorescence with flowers 5 cm in diameter. Sepals and petals are colored Ivory with a dark red central vein, the anterior lobe of the white lip is strongly curled, the callus is cream or white. The orchid is native to the Philippines and Sumatra. This species blooms from August to December. The most famous varieties are “Twelve” and “Tavoy”.

Cymbidium tracyanum

is a multi-flowered orchid with fifteen-centimeter diameter, very fragrant flowers of a yellow-green hue with dotted red-brown lines along the veins. Wavy and sometimes fringed lip cream color with red stripes and spots along the front lobe. The brush reaches 120 cm in length and has up to 20 flowers. Blooms from September to January.

Cymbidium lowianum

- an epiphyte, the flowers of which reach 20 cm in diameter. Their sepals and petals are also greenish-yellow, and the three-lobed lip is dark crimson with a yellow outline along the edge of the middle lobe. The inflorescence is multi-flowered. The orchid reaches almost a meter in height, the leaves are linear, 75 cm long. The plant’s homeland is Burma. Flowering occurs from February to June. The most popular variety is “Lilliput”.

Cymbidium eburneum

originally from the Himalayas. This is a large plant with arched racemes and linear leaves. Fragrant flowers reach a diameter of 7.5 cm, they are cream-colored, the lip is wavy along the edge, at the base with a yellowish ridge surrounded by red specks.

Cymbidium ensifolium

is a terrestrial orchid that grows in rocky areas. Its petals are light yellow with burgundy veins, and there are burgundy specks at the base of the petals. The lip is greenish or pale yellow, the middle lobe is speckled with dark red, the lateral lobes have brown stripes. The inflorescence consists of 3-9 very fragrant flowers 3-5 cm in diameter, the peduncle is erect from 15 to 65 cm in height. Blooms from January to April. Hybrids c are grown in culture. sword-leaved "Golden Elf", "Peter Pan", "Lovely Melody".

Cymbidium insigne

It is distinguished by white or pale pink petals with red spots. The lobes of the lip are also spotted with purple; the wavy edge of the anterior lobe is curved backwards. The inflorescence with 9-15 flowers, 7-8 cm in diameter, is loose, vertical, up to 80 cm high. Homeland - Thailand, China, Vietnam. Blooms from February to May. Epiphyte.

Cymbidium pumilum

usually has petals red-brown shade with yellowish edges. The lip is white with dark red spots, its middle blade is blunt-pointed and curved. The almost erect inflorescence reaches a length of 12 cm, and the diameter of the flower is 10 cm on average. The plant's homeland is Japan and China; this orchid blooms from December to March. A very rare species.

Cymbidium giganteum

has in an inflorescence up to 15 fragrant flowers 10-12 cm in diameter with yellow-green petals covered with red stripes, and with a cream-colored lip, also spotted and striped. The inflorescence, hanging from a powerful peduncle, reaches a length of 60 cm. It grows in nature in the Himalayas. It blooms from November to April, and the flower does not fade for 3-4 weeks. Popular variety'Red Chile' is a compact plant with bright red flowers.

Orchid cymbidium (Cymbidium) - beautiful plant, which does not require special knowledge of care and special conditions content. Unlike other species of the orchid family, cymbidium thrives in a wide variety of climate zones and blooms on ordinary home windowsills if the owners of this plant care for it properly.

Origin and appearance of the cymbidium orchid

Back in 1800, a botanist from Sweden discovered the new kind orchids - cymbidium. In nature, this surprisingly unpretentious plant can be found in Thailand, Burma, and Australia. I can’t even believe that such a wonderful flower grows on rocks, sand and just trees. There are more than fifty varieties of orchids, some grow in the tropics, and others that are not afraid of the harsh climate of the Himalayan mountains.

Cymbidium is a genus of evergreen epiphytic plants of the Orchidaceae family. Appearance is now familiar to everyone, you will not confuse this flower with any other. The color scheme of the petals can be very diverse - from pure white to various shades lilac. Pseudobulbs are located tightly to each other, at their base there are peduncles. The number of buds varies from 1 to 5–7. There are specimens with more than 10 flowers on their peduncles. Their diameter reaches 12–13 cm.

Is it difficult to keep at home?

Kinds

There are a great many varieties of cymbidium orchids, but their maintenance and care are the same. What types are most common among amateur gardeners and are well studied by specialists?

  1. An orchid growing in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The oblong elongated leaves are rich green, the flowers are not very large, maximum size rarely exceeds 8 cm. The color of the petals is light pink, with small scarlet spots. The flowering period lasts from February to May.
  2. Giant Cymbidium. Was found in India. It got its name because of its rather long leaves, the size of which exceeds half a meter, and a large inflorescence bearing from 10 to 15 flowers. The color of the petals is greenish-yellow, with purple-red stripes. Blooms from November to April. Does not require special care, very unpretentious.
  3. This type of orchid is common in Burma. The leaves of the plant reach 60 cm, and the flowers are very large, about 15 cm in diameter. The color of the petals is light yellow with small red spots. Blooms from September to January. Requires high humidity and frequent spraying.
  4. . This name speaks for itself. A small orchid that can win the heart of a gardener. Gracefully hanging clusters of small, about 2 cm, flowers create the impression of airiness and transparency. Few orchid lovers will be able to pass by this magnificence. It also grows in a wide range of temperatures: from moderately cold to warm. It begins to bloom in August.
  5. Lanceolate Cymbidium. Grows in Asia. This species has small flowers of light green color with a red stripe in the center, reaching a diameter of 5 cm. This orchid has wide and long leaves, glossy, rich green.

Amazing varieties of cymbidium - photo gallery

The wonderful cymbidium is an unpretentious orchid with beautiful peduncles. The magnificent flowers of the giant cymbidium reach a diameter of 15 cm. Delicate clusters of small flowers of the miniature cymbidium. The original flowers of the Tracy cymbidium cannot be confused with any other species. Lanceolate cymbidium - an inhabitant of rocky terrain

What you need to know when choosing cymbidium

When going to a flower shop, you need to know how to choose a healthy plant, which in the future will only delight you with its beauty. Of course, you need to pay attention to the beauty of flowers. But that's not important. The main thing is to distinguish a healthy specimen from a sick one, and also take into account several aspects:


Seasonal conditions: temperature, humidity, lighting - table

The conditions for seasonal maintenance of cymbidium are different and largely depend on temperature and air humidity. Low winter temperatures are very important for this type of orchid. Therefore, it is quite difficult to keep them in rooms with central heating. In private houses it is easier to find a place with suitable conditions.

Season Temperature Humidity Lighting
Spring Preferred
temperature
during the day 20–26ºС, at night from
13 to 15ºС.
Normal humidity
- 60% and above. IN
hottest days
must be carried out
daily 3 times
spraying leaves.
You should also
take care of
additional
air humidification -
tray with wet
filler,
indoor fountain
and etc.
Bright diffused light, but
not direct rays of the sun.
Eastern or Western
window, with shading in
midday hours.
Summer
Autumn Most Cymbidiums
prefer cool
room 16–20ºС.
Night temperature is 10–12ºС.
Should be put
away from batteries
central
heating. Raise
air humidity
all available
methods.
From October to March
more light is required.
So put
plant on the south window.
During the winter months
be sure to turn it on
additional
backlight
Winter

Planting and transplanting

It is advisable to replant the cymbidium orchid every 3 years. Transplantation is done after flowering has ended. If the plant is healthy, bloomed well, and is properly cared for, then each green bulb produces 1–2 babies per season. The main point of reproduction is precisely good care. If it is there, then there will be no difficulties with division.

What soil to choose

The ideal soil for Cymbidium orchids is tree bark. coniferous species. Why conifers? Because this type of orchid loves acidic soil, which is what the crushed bark provides. coniferous trees.

If you decide to make the substrate yourself, then the ratio of the component parts is as follows:

  • 3 parts pine bark,
  • 2 parts sphagnum moss,
  • 1 part sand
  • 1 part perlite
  • 1 part charcoal.

There is no urgent need to make this planting mixture yourself. Now in any flower shops sell ready-made soils for orchids. Feel free to use them.

The pot should not be large in volume, otherwise the plant will “fatten”, growing a large leaf mass, but not bloom. The size of the planting pot should be slightly larger than the orchid's root system.

When is it time to replant?

How do you know if it’s time to transplant an orchid into a new pot or if it’s not time yet? Everything is very simple. Look at the center of the plant pot. If the greenery around the edges is very thick, and the roots fill the container so much that it is impossible to insert a pencil, then the time has come to replant the flower.

Step-by-step transplant

Secrets of care

The health of the orchid depends on proper care.

How to water correctly

This process has its own characteristics. They practice 2 types of watering - soldering and immersion.


How to find out about the need to water an orchid? Since this flower is usually planted in transparent pots, it is easy to determine the moment when the plant needs watering. As soon as the condensation on the inner walls of the pot disappears, the roots lose their greenish color, become light and silvery, this is a signal that it is time to water the plant.

It is very important to properly water the cymbidium orchid, since the health of the plant depends on this and whether it will please its owners with flowering. In summer and winter time The frequency of humidification is different. In winter, as a rule, there is little light and plant development slows down. Accordingly, watering is carried out less frequently.

When watering, it is very important to ensure that water does not get into the axils of the leaves covering the pseudobulb. If even a drop of moisture gets there, you need to remove it with a paper napkin, which will absorb the liquid, or simply tilt the plant and the water will drain.

Seasonal watering table

Top dressing

Feeding an orchid is simple. Special fertilizers are sold in flower shops. It is preferable to use Ideal, Rainbow, Kemira Lux. These are proven and high-quality fertilizers. Fertilizer application should be combined with every 3rd watering. This applies to the spring period. In June and July, you need to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizers. Examine an orchid and you will definitely see what the plant is missing. For example, if you notice yellowing leaves, then perhaps there is not enough potassium in the soil. If a plant grows slowly and appears to be in a stunted state, it most likely lacks nitrogen. When a leaf is weakly colored and loses its elasticity, this indicates a lack of magnesium.

The solution to these problems will be the use of fertilizers with high content element missing from the plant.

When the first flower stalks appear on the cymbidium, stop feeding until flowering stops completely.

Bloom

The duration of flowering varies among different varieties of cymbidium. But all varieties and types of this orchid have one thing in common - they will never bloom if the air temperature exceeds +22ºC.

How to make cymbidium bloom?

In order for cymbidium to bloom, you need to create it suitable conditions, as close as possible to the mountainous areas that were its original habitat. What are these conditions?

  1. First of all, the difference between day and night temperatures is at least 4–5ºC. It is the difference that stimulates the formation of buds. If an orchid grows in a garden or greenhouse and its flowering occurs in spring and summer, then there is no need to specially adjust the temperature regime. But in winter, heating is turned on in houses and temperature fluctuations here are more difficult to achieve. If you have an insulated loggia, then you can place the plant there at night. Cymbidium orchid tolerates temperatures down to 5–6ºC without any problems. And in this case you will definitely achieve flowering.
  2. You also need bright light, but with shading from the direct rays of the sun.

The largest flowers appear on the plant in the 3rd year of life. At this time, up to 25–30 flowers can bloom on the cymbidium peduncle! And this spectacle can be enjoyed for more than 2 months.

As soon as the orchid stops blooming, know that the plant is preparing for a period of rest. To provide him comfortable conditions during rest, it is necessary to do pruning. If this is not done, then after some time the cymbidium will gather its strength and bloom again. But this greatly weakens the flower, it can get sick and even die.

What to do with the peduncle after flowering?

Yellowing leaves indicate improper care

A beginning florist has many questions, the answers to which do not always come on time. And the owner of a wonderful plant makes mistakes. If yesterday the orchid was healthy, and today you notice leaves turning yellow or starting to turn black, do not rush to panic. It is not necessarily a disease or some pest that is killing your plant. Most likely, these are symptoms of improper care. What mistakes do the owners of these flowers make? Let's look at some of them.

Error Cause Elimination
Wrinkled yellowing
leaves with dots
damage
  • Increased air temperature;
  • the root system may be damaged.
  1. Remove the plant from direct sunlight.
  2. Move away from working batteries.
  3. Spray the leaves often.
  4. If the roots are rotten, remove the cymbidium from the pot, remove the damage, sprinkle the wounds with crushed coal and replant it in a fresh substrate. Do not water for several days.
Yellowing and rotting
pseudobulb
  • Improper watering;
  • moisture entering the base of the leaves.
  1. Remove the rotten area with a sharp knife, sprinkle with cinnamon or crushed coal and dry.
  2. Do not water for a week.
  3. After watering, be sure to remove water from the axils of the leaves covering the pseudobulb.
Yellowing of leaves
  • Insufficient watering;
  • excessive watering;
  • lack of microelements or their excess;
  • natural process.
  1. Adjust watering according to the rules.
  2. During the growth period, be sure to feed the orchid, observing the proportions.
  3. If this is a natural process, there is no need to worry.
Blackening of the tips
leaves
  • Overmoistening of the substrate;
  • sunburn.
  1. Dry the substrate and water according to the rules.
  2. Shade the plant from direct sun, especially if you have just sprayed the leaves.
Curling leaves
  • A sharp drop in temperature;
  • lack of microelements.
  1. Do not take cymbidium from a very warm room into the cold.
  2. Buy a plant in the warm season.
  3. Feed with potassium and magnesium based fertilizers.

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, orchids have quite a lot of diseases. It is affected by fungal and bacterial rot. It is very important to know the signs of the disease, this will help you choose the right treatment. Pests do not often visit cymbidium, but they can still cause a lot of problems.

Causes of appearance, control measures and prevention - table

How to recognize diseases and pests - photo

Reanimation of an orchid without roots

If you suddenly get your hands on an orchid with or without rotted roots, do not rush to throw away the plant, it can be saved.


There is another method that can be used to grow roots from a damaged plant. You need to hang the orchid with its leaves down in a closed container so that the place where the roots form is at the top. The vessel must be closed, in the form of a greenhouse. Spraying is carried out 2-3 times a week warm water with the addition of root growth stimulants. With this method, water does not get into the axils of the leaves and does not cause rotting. The orchid is kept in this suspended position until roots appear.

Reproduction

Cymbidium propagates in two ways - by dividing the bush and by seeds.

Dividing the bush

This is the easiest way to reproduce. It is combined with plant transplantation so as not to disturb the root system again.

  1. Remove the cymbidium from the pot.
  2. After cleaning, divide the plant into several parts, leaving on each divided plant several green bulbs and one brown, old one. It is in old bulbs that the cymbidium orchid retains useful substances, which it then uses in case of unfavorable conditions.
  3. Remove rotten and dry roots, sprinkle the cuts with charcoal and dry.
  4. Plant the cuttings in a suitable substrate. Spray, water moderately and keep in a warm place.
  5. The emerging young leaves will signal successful rooting.

How to germinate a seed?

You can try propagating the cymbidium orchid using seeds. Although it will take quite a lot of time.

  1. Orchid seeds are placed in pre-prepared soil consisting of crushed moss and leaf soil. The soil must be moist.
  2. Now it is very important to set a constant temperature between 22-25ºC and high humidity. These conditions can be obtained in small greenhouses.
  3. As soon as the shoots appear, we make a dive and continue to grow until 4 leaves appear.
  4. After which you can safely plant the seedlings in pots for permanent residence.

The process is complex, labor-intensive, lengthy, but interesting.

Cymbidium orchid is one of the most beautiful views orchids existing on earth. Its maintenance requires special conditions, but it is quite possible to create them in any city apartment or country house. A little knowledge proper care- and this queen of flowers will delight you with her magnificent flowers year after year.

Cymbidium orchid, unlike other species, does not require special conditions. This orchid can develop and bloom normally under normal home conditions.

More than 60 species of cymbidium are known in nature, growing both in the rainy tropical forests of India, South and South-East Asia, Japan, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and in the cool mountainous regions of Indochina and Australia.

The leaves of the cymbidium orchid are narrow, long, and can be either pointed at the end or rounded. The solid green pseudobulbs bear up to eight long leaves each. At favorable conditions leaves on cymbidiums can last up to 3 years. Then the old leaves gradually die off and are replaced by young ones.

Cymbidium flowers are fragrant, the smell is quite strong and pleasant. They stay on the peduncle for up to ten weeks. Flowers can be yellow, green, cream, brown, red, pink. Peduncles grow from the base of young pseudobulbs.

Modern hybrids bloom at different times, depending on the variety, which allows you to have blooming orchid cymbidium at any time of the year.

Miniature hybrids of cymbidiums native to Japan and China are especially popular all over the world.

This orchid is easy to maintain and decorative, which has contributed to the enormous popularity of cymbidiums among gardeners.

Cymbidium orchid: home care

Cymbidium is a rather unpretentious orchid. Many novice orchid lovers begin to compile their collection of these exotic plants from here.

To create modern hybrids, cymbidiums growing in mountainous areas were mainly used. high level illumination and fairly low night temperatures, which determines the rules for caring for the plant.

Location and lighting. Cymbidiums are light-loving orchids, but in summer they need to be shaded from direct sunlight. In winter, it is advisable to illuminate with special lamps. Ventilation is useful, but not cold drafts.

Temperature. Cymbidium prefers cool rooms; it does not have a rest period, so it needs a constant temperature of 16-20°C. It is advisable to ensure temperature fluctuations throughout the day - lower the temperature by a few degrees at night. IN warm time It is useful to take these orchids out into the fresh air every year.

For dwarf cymbidiums, such temperature changes are not necessary; they can be constantly kept in the apartment at normal temperature.

Watering. From spring to autumn, the soil in the pot is kept moist, using soft water at room temperature. Excess water is drained from the pan. In winter, in a cool room, the plant is watered less, preventing the earthen coma from drying out and the pseudobulbs from shrinking.

Excess moisture may cause root rot. A sign of possible rotting are black spots at the base of the leaves.

Air humidity. Cymbidium orchid does not require high humidity air. Humidity of 50-60% is optimal for it. It is better to ensure this humidity by placing the pot on wet pebbles. Spraying is not necessary, and at low temperatures it is even harmful.


Feeding. Fertilize with liquid mineral fertilizers once every two weeks. It is best to use special fertilizer for orchids. In winter, fertilizer should not contain a high concentration of nitrogen.

Transfer. Cymbidiums, like other orchids, do not tolerate transplantation well, so do not replant unnecessarily. Replant as necessary if the old pot has become small. Add a special orchid substrate annually, lightly removing the top layer of soil in the pot. When replanting or adding substrate, do not bury the pseudobulbs, as this can lead to their rotting.

The soil. Typically, store-bought orchid soil is used. You can mix a suitable substrate from the bark of coniferous trees; sphagnum, charcoal, vermiculite, expanded clay, coarse sand, and leaf soil can be used as additives.

Reproduction. It is best to propagate cymbidiums by division or using “spare bulbs” (that is, bulbs that have bloomed in previous years).

In early spring or after the orchid has bloomed, its rhizome is carefully divided with a knife so that each part has at least 3 pseudobulbs and one growing point. Plant in pots and water moderately for 1-2 months. With the resumption of growth, they switch to the usual cultivation regime.

Pests. Cymbidium can be damaged spider mite, scale insects and aphids. This causes deformation of the damaged parts of the plant, the leaves turn yellow, the flowers shrink and fall off without blooming.

Cymbidiums are more likely than other orchids to viral diseases, characteristic feature which are mosaic spots on the leaves. There are no effective measures to combat these diseases, so the diseased plant should be destroyed.

Other popular orchids.

One of the reasons why cymbidium does not bloom is non-compliance with the temperature regime when growing it indoors. Cymbidium in wildlife- a mountain orchid, and in the mountains it is cold, and there is a large difference in night/day temperatures. This is what needs to be achieved for the cymbidium to bloom at home.

An approximate annual “schedule” for the maintenance of cymbidium, although the timing may differ slightly for early and late varieties, the main thing is to understand when and what needs to be done. You can take the end of flowering as a starting point.

After cymbidium is fading, he's starting rest period, it does not grow, it seems to freeze. At this time, you need to reduce the temperature to +10 +14 o C. During the dormant period, watering should be more than moderate, which can even be replaced by spraying, without fertilizing, or once a month, but with a very weak solution of liquid fertilizers. This period for some varieties of cymbidium can last January-February, for others - until April.

In April, cymbidium wakes up, and he begins active growth phase. New roots grow and young shoots appear. Cymbidium is moved to a warm place with a temperature of +20 +22 o C.

During the period of active growth, which lasts from approximately April to June, cymbidium is watered abundantly, constantly sprayed and intensively fed once every two weeks. For feeding, it is advisable to use mineral liquid fertilizer or organic matter, for example, a solution of bird droppings (you can use passerine or pigeon), and you only need a little bit of it - a pinch per 1 liter of water. But even without organic matter, it is quite possible to get by with a balanced liquid fertilizer for orchids.

From June to September at cymbidium flower stalks are laid. During this period, cymbidium is best kept on fresh air in the garden, because to set flower stalks, cymbidium needs bright lighting (but without fanaticism, otherwise the leaves will get burned), and it also needs a large difference in day/night temperatures of 8-10 degrees. Such a temperature difference in summer is possible only at outdoors. (Either a garden or a balcony, the choice is small).

At the same time there is a stockpile nutrients in the pseudobulbs of cymbidium, they increase in size. By the end of summer, watering the orchid is gradually reduced by a third. Some gardeners apply pH stress to the orchid - they spill the substrate with a 0.01% sulfuric acid solution. As a result of this, the substrate in the pot acquires an acidic pH reaction of the soil. You can acidify the substrate with others by special means for the care of flower crops, for example with the drug Kislinka.

This “feeding” with sulfuric acid has a beneficial effect on the formation of cymbidium flower stalks. Day/night temperature difference, bright lighting — necessary conditions for cymbidium to set flower stalks. Without this it will never bloom. Cymbidium can be kept outdoors until mid-October; it can withstand even a significant drop in air temperature down to +5 o C.

If the care was correct, in September-October, cymbidium enters the budding period. It is brought into the room, that is, the temperature of the cymbidium changes from +14 o C to +20 +22 o C, but not higher than +28 o C, since too large a temperature difference can cause the buds to fall off. It is important that during the period of cymbidium budding and flowering, the temperature in the room remains approximately the same, without temperature fluctuations. It is better, of course, if the room is cool. At this time, the cymbidium no longer grows; watering is moderate, without fertilizing. After flowering there is a period of rest, and again the temperature should drop to +10 +14 o C. At the same time, a transplant can be done if necessary.

There is another reason why cymbidium does not bloom: the old pseudobulbs have bloomed and died, and the new ones, newly formed, pseudobulbs are still young. They enter the flowering period only in the third year.

Image source flickr.com: whitesnake1974, Paula Azevedo, xaviergardens, Eerika Schulz