First Cymbidium

[Rachelle-Lapensee]

Hello everyone! I'm SO excited!! I finally found a different type of Orchid beside a Phalaenopsis!! I found a Cymbidium!! It is SO big and beautiful!

As much as I love this beautiful new addition, I have no Idea how to properly care for it and was hoping that someone could help me understand how to keep it happy and healthy.

The tag that came with it says:
Light: Medium light
Water: keep evenly moist
Fertilizer: Feed monthly
Temperature: Average room temperature

When I purchased it the other day I made sure that it looked healthy and the medium was moist. I did notice that it was in soil and not bark and was a little concerned with that since my Phalaenopsis are all in bark . I also don't know weather this orchid should be in filtered, full, or shaded sunlight. All in all I am very unsure how to care for my new Orchid and I am hoping someone out there can shed some light on this situation.

P.S I have looked at a few different websites that explain how to care for Cymbidiums and all of those sites say that they should be cared for differently, and I'm left confused!

All I do know is that they are "cold weather" Orchids and I live in Ontario, Canada. the room I have it in right now ranges from about 15-23 degrees celcius

Rachelle

[cakedaddy]

I am fairly new to cymbidiums, but I think that they appreciate temps even a bit cooler than that, at least at night. I do know that in cold weather, they will take and love full sun. In warmer weather, a bit shadier. Lots of water and ferts in the growth season (warm). Only enough water to prevent drying out in winter. Glad you found something you love!

[Rachelle-Lapensee]

I think that they appreciate temps even a bit cooler than that, at least at night.

These Temperatures are during the day, It gets to a high of about 23 in the day when the sun is coming through the window, but at night it dips to 15 or lower... In the summer I plan on having it outside, but I don't know If it will be OK in summer weather, our hottest days can be about 30 degrees Celsius but besides that they stay in the 20's for most of the summer. Is that to hot for my plant or should I try to keep it on the north side of the house were it will not get the hot midday sun and will probably stay on the cooler side? What temperature are your Cymbidiums growing in right now???

[espranch]

That is really beautiful, Rachelle! Just a suggestion...I'd get rid of the foil paper that is around the pot, so that the plant can get some air, and properly drain. I'm pleased that you can grow these cold weather beauties up there... Congratulations! Betty :-)

[Rachelle-Lapensee]

That is really beautiful, Rachelle! Just a suggestion...I'd get rid of the foil paper that is around the pot, so that the plant can get some air, and properly drain. I'm pleased that you can grow these cold weather beauties up there... Congratulations! Betty :-)

Thank-you Betty! I'm glad that I have found an Orchid that likes my climate!

[cakedaddy]

These Temperatures are during the day, It gets to a high of about 23 in the day when the sun is coming through the window, but at night it dips to 15 or lower... In the summer I plan on having it outside, but I don't know If it will be OK in summer weather, our hottest days can be about 30 degrees Celsius but besides that they stay in the 20's for most of the summer. Is that to hot for my plant or should I try to keep it on the north side of the house were it will not get the hot midday sun and will probably stay on the cooler side? What temperature are your Cymbidiums growing in right now???

I only have one very large cymbidium...yours is very pretty btw. I haven't brought it inside since I got it. It stays on my front porch and gets full sun for a good bit of the day. Temps are typically around 40F nights and 60-70F days. It does have a bit of a roof over its head, so I left it out when temps dipped below freezing over a few nights. It's fine for them as long as they are dry and close to a relatively warm wall. In summer, I plan to move it onto my back deck...the deck faces northeast and against the wall, there is shade. I will get full sun on most of the deck for a good part of the day, but I put up shadecloth.

[Rachelle-Lapensee]

I only have one very large cymbidium...yours is very pretty btw. I haven't brought it inside since I got it. It stays on my front porch and gets full sun for a good bit of the day. Temps are typically around 40F nights and 60-70F days. It does have a bit of a roof over its head, so I left it out when temps dipped below freezing over a few nights. It's fine for them as long as they are dry and close to a relatively warm wall. In summer, I plan to move it onto my back deck...the deck faces northeast and against the wall, there is shade. I will get full sun on most of the deck for a good part of the day, but I put up shadecloth.

Thank-you for helping me out with this! Inside the house It dose not get to 4C at night I may be able to open a window at night if I really need to. I do have the daytime temps. I have only one more question that I would like to ask you... what would the daytime and nighttime temperatures be in the summer for you were you are??

[cakedaddy]

Just checked averages for my area...Daytime average in midsummer is 82F. Nighttime low is 53F.

[Rachelle-Lapensee]

Just checked averages for my area...Daytime average in midsummer is 82F. Nighttime low is 53F.

Thank-you so much For your help with this! That is roughly what are summers are like here as well... I think I just might have the perfect conditions for this species of Orchid!!!

This is my areas Monthly average:
Month________Max ~ Min_______
January-------[]-5°C ~ -15°C]
February------[-4°C ~ -13°C ]
March---------[2°C ~ -16°C ]
April----------[11°C ~ 0°C ]
May-----------[19°C ~ 7°C ]
June----------[24°C ~ 12°C ]
July-----------[26°C ~ 15°C ]
August-------[25°C ~ 14°C ]
September---[20°C ~ 9°C ]
October------[13°C ~ 3°C ]
November----[5°C ~ -2°C ]
December----[-3°C ~ -11°C]

The only thing is we get a high humid-ex that can make it feel allot hotter!

[cindiras]

the cymbidium will love the high humidity. Looks like you can set it out in a shaded, protected spot in late spring, move it into a sunnier location for the summer (maybe shade at high noon) and into autumn. Place in a protected area in early autumn and bring inside just before heavy frosts are expected.