These winter-blooming beauties tolerate brief frost and can last for months.
They feature large blooms in winter on flower spikes with long, thin leaves.
The flowers can last up to three months.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
If your orchids are outdoors, ensure they are not in direct sunlight, which can burn the plant.
A few hours of morning sunlight paired with shady afternoons should be perfect.
A southeast- or east-facing window is ideal if you are growing your orchids indoors.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Under the proper light conditions, the leaves should appear apple green instead of dark green.
A dark green plant is likely not receiving enough sunlight to provoke a good bloom.
Soil
Cymbidiums are semi-terrestrial orchids.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
They grow naturally in loamy humus, sending thin roots into the soil.
They are ideally suited to conditions easily replicated at home: a rich, loose, organic potting mixture.
A commercial paphiopedilum orchid mix will usually serve these plants well.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
And remember, the purer the water, the healthier the plants.
So check that to flush water through the potting mixture.
During the winter bloom, reduce watering.
However, don’t let the plant completely dry out.
Instead, keep the potting mixture slightly damp to the touch.
Temperature and Humidity
Cymbidiums are considerably more tolerant to cold weather than some other popular orchids.
Outdoors, these orchids can tolerate most humidity levels except for very dry climates.
And indoors, they like a humidity level of around 40% to 60%.
Ensure the bottom of the container isn’t touching the water, as this can lead to root rot.
Fertilizer
During the growing season, feed with a weakorchid fertilizerbimonthly.
Or scatter slow-release pellets in the potting media at the beginning of the season.
Once germination occurs, it can take up to two-plus years to notice leaf growth.
After that, plant growth can take up to four to eight years to develop blooms.
Also, repot when the leading pseudobulb (stem) reaches the pot’s side.
When repotting, only go up one size; cymbidiums bloom best when a little pot bound.
Overwintering
Cymbidiums are not frost-tolerant, so when frost is expected, bring it indoors.
Place it in a bright, cool section of your home, preferably in a south or east-facing window.
It will continue to need moderate to high humidity.
Common Pests & Diseases
A well-grown cymbidium should be resistant to most insects and diseases.
Try treatment with natural neem or horticultural oil before using chemical insecticides, and follow label directions.
Cymbidium orchids like bright light and cool evening temps to bloom.
A combination of falling temperatures and reduced water triggers the bloom.
Cymbidium flower spikes are heavy and will need support.
How Long Does Cymbidium Bloom?
Cymbidiums can bloom from one to three months, although six to eight weeks is more likely.
What Do Cymbidium Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Some may have no fragrance.
The flowers vary in size, color, and shape.
All flowers develop on long sprays (inflorescences) of abundant flowers.
There are also hybrid and miniature typesflowers range from 1/2 inch to 4 inches in diameter.
Some petals are long strands or wisps, while others are broader and showy.
How to Encourage More Blooms
To potentially get cymbidiums to rebloom, prune the flowering spike.
The flowering spike stem needs to appear still healthy and green.
Then, move the plant to a cool spot from 40 F to 60 F, simulating winter.
Common Problems With Cymbidium
Cymbidiums are wonderful orchids to grow in temperate regions.
They are also among the easiest and most reliable houseplants to grow.
Blackening Leaves
To revive a dying cymbidium, check the water, light levels, and soil.
Insufficient water is usually the main culprit.
Blackening leaves or black leaf tips signify a cymbidium dying or dying back.
Eventually, the blackening moves down to the rest of the leaves.
Cymbidiums prefer moist soil.
Too much light will cause blanching of the leaves, then browning.
Give the plant afternoon shade or move the plant to a partially shaded spot.
Cymbidiums need dappled light or bright, indirect lightanda 20-degree temperature swing at night.
Leaf color is a good indicator if they are getting the right light.
Leaves should be yellowish-green.
Dark green leaves indicate insufficient light, while bleached or scorched leaves mean it’s getting too much light.
Temperatures should ideally be about 80 F during the day, dropping to 60 F at night.
Once the plant reaches freezing temperatures at night, bring it inside or move it to a non-freezing location.
Brown Spots
Yellow to brown spots on your cymbidium orchid can indicate a lack of water.
To avoid that condition, never allow the soil to get dry.
Also, don’t get the soil too moist or soggy since that can lead to mushy root rot.
Increase watering if the soil isn’t consistently moist.
Any water remaining in the bottom tray should remain lower than the pot’s base to avoid root rot.
Plants rarely recover from these viruses.
It’s best to destroy those plants.
It’s best to buy cymbidiums already in bloom.
Although you might find them year-round, cymbidiums usually bloom from midautumn to midspring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Peak bloom time is winter when you most find cymbidiums for sale.
Cymbidiums are one of the longest-living species of orchids.
Orchids have the reputation of being able to live up to 100 years.
However, that’s in their ideal climate and natural habitat.
Expect cymbidium orchids to live up to 15 to 20 years as a houseplant with proper care.
Orchids planted in the ground in the correct zone have a longer life expectancy.
As far as blooms go, cymbidium flowers last long.
you’re free to expect a potted or in-ground cymbidium to bloom for one to three months.
A cut cymbidium can last up to 6 weeks in a vase of fresh water.
In most cases, cymbidium orchids will bloom only once from one stem.
The plant should rebloom the following growing season.
Cymbidium Culture Sheet.American Orchid Society Website
