Cymbidium Season
Cymbidiums are popular orchids, and here on the California coast, Cymbidium blooming season has started. This yellow one, possibly Cymbidium Golden Elf ‘Sundust,’ is a hybrid of Cymbidium ensifolium, which has traditionally been grown in China, Korea, and Japan for centuries.
To grow these beauties with their sweet, richly scented flowers, you need to provide an environment where the nighttime temperature drops 15-20 F (8-11 C) every night. Without these nightly temperature drops, these Cymbidiums won’t form flower spikes. Otherwise, these are easy to grow with bright light, regular water, and regular fertilizer.
Even when not in bloom, Cymbidiums are beautiful plants, with long, graceful, arching leaves. Although my variety has solid green leaves, some Chinese Cymbidiums have variegated leaves, with stripes or spots of color.
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November 26th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I didn’t know that some Cymbidiums have a scent. I’ve had several different kinds, but none of them has ever had a scent I could smell.
January 10th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
This is one of my favorites kinds of orchids. the smell is so sweet like honey. In China they have been grown since the time of Confucius or maybe even earlier.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
i’ve grown cymbidiums for years but i never knew there are ones with scents. none of mine have scents. now i want new ones, time to go shopping!