The Differences Between Cymbidiums and Other Orchids

Terrestrial Versus Epiphytic

• Cymbidiums are terrestrial or semi-terrestrial orchids, meaning they grow either on the ground or on the ground then climb into trees. Some genera of orchids are epiphytes that grow in trees yet have aerial roots.

Sympodial Versus Monopodial

• Cymbidiums are sympodial, meaning that their shoots grow laterally, following the ground. Each shoot grows to maturity and stops growing after it blooms. The orchid produces new shoots to replace spent shoots. Some other genera of orchids are monopodial, with each stem growing from a single bud with new leaves forming at the tip of the stem each year. Monopodial orchids grow vertically, and their stems grow longer each year.

Special Growing Considerations

• Cymbidiums ordinarily need more fresh air than other genera of orchids so they do better if you grow them outdoors or in a cool home. Grow your cymbidiums in a potting mix that drains well. Use pellets of slow-release fertilizer or a top dressing of organic fertilizer once or twice a year in warm months. If you use fertilizer with too much nitrogen, it will encourage the growth of stems and foliage at the expense of flowers. Your cymbidium should have golden-green foliage. It needs filtered light. A polypropylene shade cloth of 55 percent density will give it the right amount of shade. If the leaves of your orchids are a rich, dark green, they are not receiving enough light. Cymbidiums like water. If you water them with tap water that contains salt, the tips of the leaves may die back. If that happens, water them lightly to leach out the salts. Water your cymbidiums less during cold months but never let them go completely dry.

Propagation

• Your cymbidium will grow what looks like bulbs at the base of the stem. Racemes of flowers grow from these pseudo-bulbs. Each pseudo-bulb will have an eye on it that produces a new plant. An older, dormant pseudo-bulb is called a back-bulb. If you remove and replant a back-bulb, keep it in the center of the pot because there is no way of telling which way the new cymbidium will develop. Larger cymbidiums will yield more flowers, but you will eventually have to divide the orchids into smaller plants. When you do, remove all of the roots from a back-bulb that are attached to a division.