Description of the cymbidium orchid, its individual decorative varieties, as well as an overview of the conditions for growing a flower at home. Cymbidium (Latin name Cymbidium) belongs to the Orchid family and is an evergreen epiphyte. The plant is native to the subtropical regions of the northern part of the Australian continent and Asia. The first mention of cymbidium is found in the annals of Chinese emperors, written 2 thousand years ago. A detailed scientific description was made at the end of the 18th century by the Swedish botanist Peter Svarets.
Today, on the territory of the PRC and neighboring Japan, flower growers grow a wide variety of individual species that differ from each other in the shape of leaves, petals and shades of the flowers themselves. Small varieties of cymbidium, which spread a strong pleasant aroma, are especially popular here. On the territory of the Australian and European continents, large hybrid species intended for cutting have acquired special value.
General description of the cymbidium orchid
The shape of the bulb or, to be more precise, the pseudobulb is ovoid. It is located in the near-earth part of the stem in the form of a noticeable compaction. This is where the epiphyte stores precious moisture. The leaves are linear or xiphoid with a leathery structure.
The peduncle is able to stretch upwards by 1–1, 5 m. The inflorescence in the form of a loose loose brush can contain both an abundance and several lonely growing flowers. The latter, as mentioned above, differ in their size, as well as in a variety of shapes and shades, among which are yellow, brownish, cream, reddish, pink, etc. Sepals and petals, as a rule, have the same shape (lanceolate or crescent) and color …
Flowering in cymbidium lasts on average 1, 5–3 months, and the period of its active development, when the plant pleases flower growers with its aesthetic properties, is 3–7 years.
Varieties and varieties of cymbidium orchids
Science today knows more than 100 varieties of cymbidium, which are cultivated by flower growers around the world. However, only a few dozen species have become widespread, and we will briefly describe the most interesting of them below.
- Eburneum (in Latin Cymbidium eburneum) … In the common people, this variety is also called ivory for the beautiful creamy shade of its rather large flowers with wide petals. The scent of eburneum strongly resembles flowering lilacs. The plant loves a temperate climate, therefore it is actively grown in our latitudes.
- Aloe leaf (in Latin Cymbidium aloifolium). This is a kind of dwarf orchid, which stretches up to a height of no more than 0.3 m. From spring to autumn, the plant pleases the eye with small (4–4.5 cm in diameter) flowers with a delicate pale yellow, cream or burgundy hue.
- Lanceolate (in Latin Cymbidium lancifolium). The flowers of this variety are rather small (no more than 5 cm in diameter), and their petals and sepals are painted in a light green shade, through which a dark burgundy vein passes. A beautiful contrast is created by a white lip with a thin green mesh and red blotches. The flowering period begins in April and lasts until October.
- Day (in Latin Cymbidium dayanum). The orchid is distinguished by a dense inflorescence, consisting of small (no more than 5 cm in diameter) flowers, in which the petals and sepals are shaded in a beautiful shade of ivory, and a dark red vein runs through their center. In the natural environment, this species is found in Sumatra and the Philippines. At home, the plant blooms at the end of summer and pleases with its appearance until December inclusive. The most popular in Europe are two varieties - Tavoy and Twelf.
- Tracy (in lat. Cymbidium tracyanum) is a multi-flowered orchid species. Mainly grown for cut commercially, as its individual flowers grow up to 15 cm in diameter and have a beautiful yellowish-green hue with a dotted line of brownish-red veins. The lip of a delicate creamy color is characterized by a wavy, and less often fringed shape. The shaping brush can reach 1.2 m in length, and it can simultaneously contain two dozen flowers that appear in the period September-January.
- Lowe (in Latin Cymbidium lowianum) - Another popular type of epiphytes with large flowers up to 20 cm in diameter. The petals and sepals have a yellowish-green tint, and the 3-lobed lip is dark crimson. Lowe's orchid grows 0.8-1.2 meters in height, and its linear emerald leaves reach 0.75 m. In the natural environment, the plant is found in Burma, where it enters the flowering phase from February to June. Of the popular Low varieties, it is worth highlighting "Lilliput", which is more appreciated than others for its spectacular appearance.
- Yellowish white (Latin for Cymbidium eburneum). The homeland of this orchid is the Himalayas, where it reaches a fairly large size. Its flowers are 7, 5–8 cm in diameter and are painted in a delicate cream shade. The lip has a wavy edge, a yellowish crest and beautiful red blotches that create a spectacular contrast.
- Sword-like cymbidium (in lat. Cymbidium ensifolium) settles on the rocks of the Asian region. The inflorescence is formed from small flowers (3-4 cm in diameter) in the amount of 4-9 pieces and is decorated with an erect peduncle, which can have different lengths within 15-65 cm. The flowering period stretches from January to early May. The petals are painted in a pale yellow shade, with which dark red veins and those located closer to the base of the blotch are successfully combined. Among the most popular types of Sword Cymbidium are Peter Pan, Lovely Melody and Golden Elf.
- Wonderful (in Latin Cymbidium insigne). A characteristic feature of this orchid is the petals, painted in a pale pink hue and showing a specific shape, red spots. Lips in the form of lobes also have burgundy spots on their surface, and their wavy edge is slightly bent back. In one inflorescence there are up to 15 flowers, each of which is up to 8 centimeters in diameter, and they are formed during the period from February to May. In the natural environment, the wonderful epiphyte species is found in Vietnam, Thailand and China.
- Dwarf variety (in Latin. Cymbidium pumilum) differs in petals, which have a brownish-red tint and bordered by a thin yellow stripe. The lip exhibits a white tint and dark red spots, and the central lobe is slightly curved and blunt-pointed. The inflorescence is erect, up to 12 cm in length, consisting of large flowers about 10 cm in diameter. Dwarf cymbidium is considered a very rare species, and it is grown mainly in China and Japan, although recently, due to its decorative properties, it is increasingly bred in Europe and Russia. The flowering period of this orchid is December-March.
- Giant cymbidium (in Latin Cymbidium giganteum) forms inflorescences of 15 flowers with a diameter of about 11 cm, which exude a pleasant aroma. The petals are greenish-yellowish, dotted with fine red veins, and the lip is a delicate creamy color and is also covered in a mesh of thin red stripes. Located on a powerful peduncle, the inflorescence stretches up to 50-60 cm in length, as a result of which this species got its name. Natural habitat - Himalayas. The flowering period begins in November and lasts until mid-April. A characteristic feature of the giant cymbidium is that its flowers after cutting can stand for a long time (up to 4 weeks) without losing their decorative properties. The most popular among amateur flower growers is one of the varieties called "Red Chile", which is called a compact indoor orchid with flowers of a deep red shade.
Comfortable conditions for growing cymbidium
In order for the cymbidium orchid to please with its aesthetic appearance, the grower will need to be diligent and prepare in advance, providing the plant with comfortable conditions. First, here's some general information that everyone should know:
- The cymbidium feels most comfortable on the windowsill of a wide window, where there is always a lot of sun. In this regard, it is optimal to locate it on the south side. It is not necessary to specially shade the orchid, but nevertheless, in hot weather, it is possible to envisage closing it with a light curtain for a couple of hours to prevent exposure to direct sunlight during the midday heat.
- Most of the ornamental species bloom in winter, when the length of natural daylight is not enough. In this regard, the cymbidium will definitely need an additional source of lighting.
- Despite the fact that the plant is found in the natural environment in hot regions, orchids are not prone to heat and take cold more easily. Therefore, the temperature regime must be monitored and not allowed to exceed 23-25 degrees Celsius.
- Cymbidium places high demands on air humidity, which must be kept at 60%. In this regard, in the summer, the plant must be sprayed 3-4 times a day. You can also install a pot with an orchid in a pallet, on the bottom of which moistened expanded clay is laid.
As for the rest of the conditions:
- Watering with active development of the plant, it should be carried out regularly 2-3 times a week, but it is important to ensure that moisture does not stagnate. Otherwise, the roots may be affected by rot, which will destroy the orchid. If you do not control watering, then the lack of moisture will affect the state of the pseudobulbs and flowers. The first will begin to frown, and the second will fall off. For the winter, the intensity of watering is reduced to 1 time in 10-14 days, but in the case when the air temperature in the room remains high (more than 18 degrees), then the plant will have to be watered more often, focusing on the state of the soil.
- Top dressing carried out together with every third watering, preparing it in the form of a solution and pouring it directly onto the moistened soil. It is optimal for these purposes to use special fertilizers for orchids. For example, "Ideal", "Kemira +" or "Rainbow". In the spring and in the first half of summer, these compounds are added at the rate of 1/2 of the recommended concentration on the package. In the second half of summer, you need to reduce the nitrogen addition to the soil in order to reduce its acidity. During the period when the cymbidium blooms, it does not require additional feeding at all.
- Transplant carried out regularly, as the roots grow, after which the plant becomes cramped in the old pot. Usually this procedure is carried out 1 time in 2-3 years immediately after the plant has faded. The substrate is easiest to use purchased for orchids, but if you wish, you can make the mixture yourself, using the bark of pine trees as a base, to which finely chopped sphagnum, a little charcoal and fern roots are added. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed, a little humus is added and laid out in a pot, where a drainage layer of broken shards or expanded clay has already been prepared.
The cymbidium is transplanted together with the earthen lump, adding the substrate as needed so that the pseudobulb is above the ground level. If in the process it was necessary to clean out the roots, then it is impossible to water the orchid after planting for at least another 2-3 days. Well, in cases where the root system was not damaged, then you can water the plant immediately after moving, carefully adding water along the edge of the container.
How to ensure flowering of the cymbidium?
Certain types of cymbidium bloom at different times of the year and sometimes have different requirements for the conditions that they need for this. But there are universal recommendations that help ensure the appearance of beautiful flowers for the representatives of the orchid family.
First of all, it is important to control the temperature, since with an indicator above +22, all varieties are reluctant to tie buds, and some will refuse to do this at all. In addition, it is important to provide enough light during the day and not to allow a difference between day and night temperatures of more than 5 degrees Celsius. This is due to the fact that for breeding ornamental varieties of cymbidium, species that grow in the natural environment on the slopes of the mountains are mainly used.
If species that bloom during the spring-summer period are selected for breeding, then you should not worry about temperature fluctuations, since these plants, without any consequences, experience a decrease in temperature at night to +5 degrees Celsius. It is more difficult when growing those varieties that bloom in winter, since they do not like excessive heat and should be placed away from heating appliances or even taken out to a balcony / loggia if they are glazed and not specially heated.
The formation of flowers also largely depends on the age of the orchid itself. They reach their largest sizes only during the third period of flowering.
Reproduction of cymbidium
Reproduction is carried out vegetatively, simply dividing the bush. This procedure is carried out at the next transplant. Usually, when the cymbidium is removed from an old pot, its root system is a tangled ball, where the bottom will be dry and gray. These dead roots must be carefully cut using a carefully sanitized knife.
Then the orchid is divided into several parts so that each has a pseudobulb and part of the roots. The places of the cuts are treated with ash, and the separated parts of the plant are planted in separate pots with a pre-prepared substrate, wait a couple of days, and then provide a high intensity of watering and constantly moisten the leaves until the cymbidium releases young shoots or leaf plates - a confirmation signal that that rooting was successful.
Alarming symptoms and main pests
- The plant does not bloom. In cases where the cymbidium does not show any dangerous signs of damage, but refuses to bloom, stress conditions should be created for it. To do this, it is advisable to lower the temperature at night to 11-12 degrees and reduce watering.
- The cymbidium begins to dry out. If wilting begins with leaves, the tips of which dry up and turn yellow, then this most likely indicates insufficient air humidity in the room. The problem can be eliminated by regular spraying (3-4 times a day) or moving the flowerpot to the pallet, where wet pebbles / expanded clay are placed on the bottom.
- The appearance of yellowness on stems and leaves. Most often this is caused by a lack of moisture, but in some cases rotting of the roots leads to similar alarming symptoms. To find out the reason, you need to carefully remove the top layer of soil and check the condition of the root system. If the development of putrefactive processes is visually noticeable, then the plant must be transplanted as soon as possible, thoroughly drying the roots and removing the damaged areas. In addition, it is necessary, if possible, to establish the cause of decay in order to eliminate it and prevent this from happening in the future.
Of the harmful parasites, the spider mites, scale insects and aphids are the most troublesome. The fight against them is carried out with the help of appropriate insecticides. In many ways, the correct growing conditions help prevent the appearance of dangerous insects, since, for example, ticks and aphids do not like high humidity.
How to care for the cymbidium orchid at home, see here:
