Cymbidium Symphony

HARDY, ELEGANT AND LONG-FLOWERING, CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS ARE GOOD FOR A RIOT OF COLOUR FOR MANY WEEKS

- Jennifer Stackhouse

Cymbidiums are among the most popular orchids, ideal for the beginner orchids and usually grown in large pots positioned outdoors. They have light green strappy leaves but come into their own in winter and early spring when they produce robust stems of flowers.

These large flowers come in light-green, pink, magenta, yellow, cream, white and brown. The blooms may have distinctively marked patterns on the labellum (lip) with many flowers on a single stem.

Flowers last for many weeks and can be used for indoor potted decoration for up to six weeks while the plants are in bloom. However, cymbidium orchids are not indoor plants and must be returned to the garden once flowering is over.

Cymbidiums come from the tropics, subtropics and some warm temperate zones, with some native to Australia; many also thrive at high altitudes. These climatic aptitudes mean they do well in conditions from warm temperate to tropical but, if grown in cold zones, they need protection from cold and frost.

CARE AND REPOTTING

The trick with managing orchids is to give them enough light through summer and autumn to induce flowering.

Orchids grow best in dappled light such as in a fernery, on a balcony or under a tree so they are sheltered from being scalded by the hot sun. However, there needs to be a balance as plants grown in heavy shade may fail to flower.