About
An orchid naturally growing on trees or rocks, with tall, narrow, upright, lime green leaves, occasionally with dark spots. In autumn and winter, long arching stems carry about a dozen scented flowers, 8cm wide, with five narrow outer petals, green with dark red spots, and a tubular green centre with a white lip marked with dark red.
About the genus
Cymbidium are epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial orchids with prominent spherical to ovoid pseudobulbs, long linear leaves and fleshy white roots. Several long lasting showy flowers with a distinctive 3-lobed lip are borne on erect or arching flower spikes from the bases of the pseudobulbs
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesContainers, conservatories, houseplants.
Native toHimalaya SC China
FragranceFlower
ToxicitySkin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationRequires day temperatures around 16°C and 10°C at night. Provide good light levels, but avoid direct sunlight. Pot firmly into epiphytic or terrestrial orchid compost, water thoroughly when compost is almost dry, allow to drain and use orchid fertiliser at every third watering. Water sparingly in winter. Place outside in dappled shade during the summer months to aid flower initiation. See cymbidium cultivation
PruningCut flowered stems down to base
PropagationPropagate by division of pseudobulbs
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free