The Orchid Garden

Cymbidium's buds not bloom

Question:

Patrick & Bo Lee, Depending on the hybrid, they CAN be frustratingly long to open.  But when they do!  What a show! Keep the humidity up and make sure it’s evenly moist but not sopping, and it’ll be fine. — Ray Barkalow – First Rays Orchids   On-line List and Order Form:     http://www.firstrays.com

Response:

  Sounds like you have received pretty good advice already but I would like to add that you should water it in the morning if at all possible. Also try to keep the flowers, once they are open, fairly dry as you can get botrytis (a black fungus) on the flower petals over night when wet (this is one reason to water in the AM).   If I were you, I’d put out some snail bait really fast as those slimey, creepy, crawly things will eat your flower buds really fast once they discover your plant.  Just 1 or 2 can really do a lot of damage in just one night.  You should put out the bait every 2 weeks until the flowers are gone.  If any part of the plant is in contact with a wall or touching the ground, be careful as those little buggers are really sneaky and will creep up a leaf to get to your buds and flowers.  As an example, I have some cymbidiums hanging in my patio with wire hangers, a couple of those buggers climbed up and over the patio beams and down the wire to get to a plant. I was really dumbfounded when one morning I was looking eye to eye with one.   Being that you live in S.D., there are quite a few orchid growers down there.  If you would like some names and/or numbers I can give those to Jim Kawasaki

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’ve been lurking for awhile now, and learn many helpful hints from this group. I now have question that I can’t seem to find answer anywhere (books, web-site). This is my first time trying my hand at orchids. Last month, I bought cymbidium from Home Depot. It is in clay pot and already has 3 spikes appeared. All the flower on these spikes were not open, yet. It is sitting at my front door under the roof, so it gets lots of southern California sun (San Diego, to be exact), but not directly. I water it about once a week. The weather has been pretty mild, 65-80F day time and 50-60F at night. I has been about a month since I bought this cymb., I have yet to see any of the flower open up. So, to all the cymbidiums expert out there, could you please tell me how long does it take for cymbidium to bloom once in buds? Is there anything I can do to help my cymbidium bloom? Or, should I just give up my hope of seeing any blooming flowers this year. HELP!!!! TIA, Bo. San Diego, CA

Hi, I grow Cymbidiums in northern California.  My spikes stared coming out last November and the buds are just starting to open this week.  They have been pretty large for a couple of months.  Be patient, they will bloom.  They are slow to develop, but they also last a long time. You may not be giving your plant enough light.  These plants should get strong filtered light.  Indirect light is not really enough.  I grow mine in the full morning sun and then they get indirect light all afternoon.  The leaves should be a light yellow-green.  Anything short of burning them.   And considering the temperature you are describing, you probably want to water more often.  My plants are in plastic pots and when it gets hot in the summer ( 80), I water two to three times a week.  They shouldn’t be allowed to dry out completely. These plants are tough and will put up with alot of neglect, but they bloom better if you give them what they want. Irene Timossi San Rafael, CA

Response:

Hi, I’ve been lurking for awhile now, and learn many helpful hints from this group. I now have question that I can’t seem to find answer anywhere (books, web-site). This is my first time trying my hand at orchids. Last month, I bought cymbidium from Home Depot. It is in clay pot and already has 3 spikes appeared. All the flower on these spikes were not open, yet. It is sitting at my front door under the roof, so it gets lots of southern California sun (San Diego, to be exact), but not directly. I water it about once a week. The weather has been pretty mild, 65-80F day time and 50-60F at night. I has been about a month since I bought this cymb., I have yet to see any of the flower open up. So, to all the cymbidiums expert out there, could you please tell me how long does it take for cymbidium to bloom once in buds? Is there anything I can do to help my cymbidium bloom? Or, should I just give up my hope of seeing any blooming flowers this year. HELP!!!! TIA, Bo. San Diego, CA

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

Related Posts