The Orchid Garden

Cymbidium advice, please

Question:

There is no reason to cut off the spike after the flowers have developed. Thousands of cymbidium growers here in Southern California don’t do it, why should you?  As long as you keep the plant watered properly, it won’t harm the bulbs at all.  Cymbidiums do not need a dry rest period so do not reduce your watering practices.  Just keep in mind that the weather is cooler and sometimes wetter so that plant doesn’t dry out as fast as it does in ummer.  -Matt

The last of the flowers are now dying so I am going to cut off the flower spike shortly.  I watered today, as I do once a week.  The plant is rather large (I think) and I have it in a west-facing window so it is in indirect light pretty well all day with a brief bit of direct light late in the day.  I am in Canada and since the gas prices are high right now I have the heat in the house turned down so it is pretty cool for the plant near that window.  I have been encouraged that cymbidium seem quite capable of dealing with the cooler temperatures. I am pleased that it seems this particular orchid is well designed for my particular climate and I look forward to getting it outside this summer too. Thanks to all who have responded.  I am feeling pretty excited about this, my first orchid. –  Sandy

Response:

There is no reason to cut off the spike after the flowers have developed. Thousands of cymbidium growers here in Southern California don’t do it, why should you?  As long as you keep the plant watered properly, it won’t harm the bulbs at all.  Cymbidiums do not need a dry rest period so do not reduce your watering practices.  Just keep in mind that the weather is cooler and sometimes wetter so that plant doesn’t dry out as fast as it does in ummer.  -Matt

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Sandy, Welcome to the wonderful world of Cymbidiums. The advice I received was that the spike should be cut from the plant soon after the last flower was fully open. The reasoning being that to retain the flower spike on the plant, draws strength from the pseudo bulbs, which the plant needs to develop for its next flower. As a general rule, I find this works well for me. Regards. Ted

Response:

Hi Sandy, Welcome to the wonderful world of Cymbidiums. The advice I received was that the spike should be cut from the plant soon after the last flower was fully open. The reasoning being that to retain the flower spike on the plant, draws strength from the pseudo bulbs, which the plant needs to develop for its next flower. As a general rule, I find this works well for me. Regards. Ted

Response:

Interesting. I’ve always felt that the plant already expended all the energy it could to produced the spike, and would slowly draw from it after it had served its purpose.  Why else would it whither away — Ray Barkalow –<– First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Sandy, Welcome to the wonderful world of Cymbidiums. The advice I received was that the spike should be cut from the plant soon after the last flower was fully open. The reasoning being that to retain the flower spike on the plant, draws strength from the pseudo bulbs, which the plant needs to develop for its next flower. As a general rule, I find this works well for me. Regards. Ted

Response:

Sandy, Cymbidiums only flower once per inflorescence, so go ahead and cut the old ones off. There are some genera – most notably phalaenopsis – that can, if the health and conditions are right, branch and rebloom from old inflorescences, or simply resume growing and forming new buds. — Ray Barkalow –<– First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a new owner of a cymbidium and I have been encouraged by all I have read about them so far but I recall reading somewhere that orchid flower stems should be cut back after the plant has stopped flowering in order to "spare" the plant. So, should I or should I not cut back the flower stem of a cymbidium now that it has stopped flowering?  I haven’t been able to find this information in reference to cymbidiums elsewhere so I would appreciate any advice here. Thank you. –  Sandy

Response:

I am a new owner of a cymbidium and I have been encouraged by all I have read about them so far but I recall reading somewhere that orchid flower stems should be cut back after the plant has stopped flowering in order to "spare" the plant. So, should I or should I not cut back the flower stem of a cymbidium now that it has stopped flowering?  I haven’t been able to find this information in reference to cymbidiums elsewhere so I would appreciate any advice here. Thank you. –  Sandy

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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