Cymbidium Orchid Adaptations

Temperatures

• Cymbidium orchids have replaced Cattleya as the most popular cut flower for arrangements, notes Tom Mirenda in the Encyclopedia of Life. The orchids are easier for northern growers to raise because of the cold tolerance. Many of the larger flowered species of Cymbidium are from the mountains of the Himalayas where night temperatures are in the 40 degree Fahrenheit range. For this reason, some varieties of Cymbidium may be difficult to grow indoors as it is hard to supply such cold temperatures indoors. Cymbidium orchids can also handle temperatures up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These tolerances give the plants an adaptability to a variety of sites.

Three Types of Bulbs

• Cymbidium plants have a variety of bulbs. They have the classic pseudobulb that contains three different storage structures. The "old black bulb" is a storage for food reserves that are used in emergencies. The "old bulb with leaves," which supports the growth of new plants, is located at the base of the leaf stalk. The "new lead" is a tiny structure at the center of the plant's core that produces new flowers. The combination of these structures makes the plant more efficient with its use of energy.

Rooting

• Cymbidiums may be epiphytic, but some varieties can adapt to terrestrial or even lithophytic or rocky terrain. This means they may form different kinds of roots. Epiphytic roots are woody and have a velum covering them. They can harvest moisture and food from the air and act as support structure for orchids growing vertically or without soil. Terrestrial roots are soft, porous and spongy, The lithophytic plant grows on rocks and forms roots similar to the epiphytic variety.

Reproduction

• Although orchids have a pseudobulb, Cymbidiums comprise three different structures within the bulb. Of these, the old bulbs with leaves can create new plants by division. The ones located at the rear of the plant can be divided out of the plant to make a new orchid but will not flower for years. The new leads can also form a separate plant but care must be taken to leave at least one new lead and one old bulb and one bulb with leaves to ensure the plant thrives. Division is easy to do when repotting. You just pull apart the different bulbs, retaining some root and leaves on the pieces.