Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for Cymbidium iridioides

Air requirements

Cymbidium iridioides prefers shade and moisture and dislikes dryness, so it is best grown in an environment with good air circulation.

Soil requirements

Cymbidium iridioides does well in well-drained, humus-rich sandy loam, such as leaf mold or mountain soil. A slightly acidic loose soil or iron-containing soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 can also be used.

Temperature requirements

The suitable growing temperature for Cymbidium iridioides is between 15°C and 30°C. If the temperature is too low and drops below 5°C, it will affect the growth vigor of Cymbidium iridioides and cause it to enter a dormant state; if it is not moved in time at this point, frost damage will occur. Conversely, if the temperature is too high and reaches above 35°C, Cymbidium iridioides will grow poorly, and if it is also exposed to the sun, the leaves will become scorched or withered within one or two days.

Now that we understand what kind of air, soil and temperature are most suitable for growing Cymbidium iridioides, let's also look at what needs attention when growing it!

Cymbidium iridioides Cymbidium iridioides Illustrated Guide: How to grow Cymbidium iridioides / How to propagate Cymbidium iridioides

How to grow Cymbidium hybridum, growing methods and precautions for Cymbidium hookerianum / Cymbidium / Cymbidium

Cymbidium hybridum Knowledge Encyclopedia

Growth Habits of Cymbidium hybridum

Temperature: Cymbidium hybridum is native to southwestern China. It often grows wild in semi-shaded environments along streams and under forests. It likes warm winters and cool summers. The suitable growth temperature is 10-25°C. A nighttime temperature of about 10°C is better. The leaves remain green, flower buds grow and develop normally, the flower stems elongate normally, and it blooms in February-March. If the temperature is below 5°C, the leaves turn yellow, the flower buds do not grow, the flowering period is delayed to April-May, and the flower stems do not elongate, affecting flower quality. If the temperature is about 15°C, the flower buds suddenly elongate and it blooms in January-February, and the flower stems are soft and cannot stand upright. If the nighttime temperature reaches 20°C, the leaf clusters grow luxuriantly, affecting flowering, and formed flower buds will also turn yellow and wither. In short, flower bud formation, flower stem emergence and flowering of Cymbidium hybridum all require a large temperature difference between day and night.

Water quality: Cymbidium hybridum has relatively high requirements for water quality, prefers slightly acidic water, and is relatively sensitive to calcium and magnesium ions in water. Rainwater is ideal for irrigation. During the growing period, relatively high air humidity is needed. If the humidity is too low, the plant grows and develops poorly, the root system grows slowly and becomes thin and small, the leaves become thick and narrow, and the leaf color tends toward yellow. Overall, Cymbidium hybridum is afraid of dryness and not of moisture.

Light: It is an important factor affecting the growth and flowering of Cymbidium hybridum. Among orchids, Cymbidium hybridum belongs to the light-loving category. Sufficient light is beneficial for leaf production, flower stem formation and flowering. With too much shading, the leaves become slender and thin, cannot stand upright, the pseudobulbs become smaller, it is prone to disease, and flowering is affected. In midsummer, shade 50%-60%; in autumn, more sunlight is beneficial for flower bud formation and differentiation. In winter on rainy and snowy days, adding supplementary light is extremely beneficial for flowering.

Key Maintenance Points for Cymbidium hybridum

Selection of Growing Medium and Pot

It is advisable to choose a tall cylindrical pot with many holes at the bottom and on all four sides. The growing medium should be bark chunks or fern roots with good air permeability and water permeability. Charcoal, ceramsite and similar materials should be added to the lower part of the pot to facilitate drainage.

Fertilizing and Watering

After division and planting, do not water immediately. If it appears dry, spray water on the leaves and the pot surface to prevent the leaves from drying out, falling off, and the pseudobulbs from shrinking. Water only after new shoots and new roots have grown. During cultivation, watering should depend on the weather and the dry-wet condition. During the vigorous growth period, sufficient water should be supplied. In dry and hot seasons, water in time. When the winter temperature is relatively low, the frequency of watering can be reduced. The pH of the water used for watering is best at 6.5. Cymbidium hybridum relatively likes fertilizer. After new shoots grow in spring, apply a compound fertilizer mainly of nitrogen at a concentration of 0.1%-0.2%, once a week. Or use diluted, fully decomposed cake fertilizer water. During the bud stage, additional quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied in advance.

Light and Ventilation

Avoid direct sunlight; sufficient scattered light is needed. Under strong summer light, about 50% shading is needed. In autumn, slightly more sunlight is acceptable - it is beneficial for flower bud formation and overwintering. In winter, it can be placed in a lighted place in a greenhouse. In areas of southern China with strong sunshine and high temperatures, it should be cultivated under a shade shed year-round. To facilitate ventilation, it should be placed on a raised rack and not too densely.

Temperature and Humidity

Suitable growth temperature: 25°C during the day, and 10°C at night is better. If the nighttime temperature is higher than 20°C, it will cause flower buds to wither or affect flowering. In winter, the temperature cannot be lower than 5°C, but also cannot be higher than 15°C, otherwise the flower buds will suddenly elongate. In addition, in summer and when the climate is dry, water should often be sprayed on the leaves, the ground and the racks. At the same time, attention should be paid to the prevention and control of various pests and diseases.

Pest and Disease Control of Cymbidium hybridum

Fungal anthracnose

It mostly occurs at the leaf tips. The edges of the lesions are dark brown and the centers are grayish white. It is mostly caused by high temperature, high humidity and poor ventilation. The lesions should be cut off in time and accompanied by spraying. Commonly used agents include 1000x mancozeb and 1000x copper hydroxide.

Other fungal diseases are commonly controlled with the following agents: 1000x chlorothalonil, 800x metalaxyl, 800x metalaxyl.

Bacterial diseases

Commonly used agents include 6000x agricultural streptomycin sulfate, 300 ppm agricultural streptomycin, and 800x validamycin. When replanting continuously or cultivating long-term, soft rot can become severe. This disease does not occur at the seedling stage. Generally by the third year, when flower buds reach a height of 20 to 30 cm, the bulbs are found to suddenly rot away, and it also occurs on mountain land. At this point they can only all be destroyed, otherwise the disease can easily spread to healthy plants. If the surrounding environmental sanitation is dealt with in time and chemical control is carried out, it will inhibit the disease.

Pests

The main pests are slugs and spider mites. Commonly used agents: slug killer (for trapping and killing), trichlorfon acaricide. From June to September, when ventilation is poor, slugs occur severely, mostly hiding on the backs of leaves, and at the same time harming the root system. For control, lime can be scattered in the cracks between bricks and then water sprayed, which can kill large numbers of adults. At the same time, Kalanchoe leaves and granular slug killer can be used for trapping and killing. Spider mites occur on the backs of leaves, so when spraying, start from the backs of the leaves.

The phenomenon of yellow leaves and scorched edges in Cymbidium hybridum roughly includes the following situations:

Improper watering

Although Cymbidium hybridum likes moisture, because its potting medium has strong moisture retention and it has fleshy roots, it is relatively tolerant of mild drought. Therefore, it is recommended not to water too much or too frequently. Water with clean water close to room temperature. Do not apply fertilizer water during the flowering period. Apply fertilizer only after the flowering period is over, otherwise the flowering period will be shortened, and improper fertilizer use can also cause fertilizer damage. The interval between waterings can be controlled according to room temperature. When watering, pour slowly and gently, not hastily.

Improper transplanting

The Cymbidium hybridum and other New Year flowers currently sold on the market are all repotted into relatively beautiful and noble porcelain pots. However, during the repotting process, because the flower pot is somewhat larger, some merchants also add some flower soil to the pot. However, some of this flower soil is not fully decomposed. After it is repotted and sold, when the organic matter ferments and releases heat, it causes damage to the flowers. The root system is scorched, root rot occurs, and the plant develops yellow leaves or dies. It is recommended to carefully inspect the flower pot soil to ensure healthy flower growth.

Cold air damage

Although Cymbidium hybridum is relatively cold-tolerant, it cannot withstand relatively low temperatures. On the way home after purchase, it may be exposed to cold air, causing damage to the leaves or flowers. It does not show at the time, and only after a few days do the symptoms slowly appear. For this type of affected flower, the yellowed leaves can only be cut off and it should be conditioned slowly, but it generally will not die.

Unsuitable micro-environment

Cymbidium hybridum is a flower that likes relatively high air humidity. If the indoor air humidity is relatively low and the temperature is also relatively high, yellow leaves and scorched edges are very likely to appear. Water can be sprayed several more times each day to increase the humidity of the micro-environment. In addition, if it is directly blown by an air conditioner or placed close to heating, in a micro-environment prone to dryness, scorched edges and yellow leaves are also very likely to appear. When this phenomenon appears, just adjust it. But leaves that have already turned yellow can only be cut off.

Too poor light

Cymbidium hybridum likes light but is also afraid of direct strong light. Generally, scattered light is best. Too weak light will also cause poor growth and the appearance of some symptoms. Generally, indoor appreciation determines the placement position of the flower based on the indoor location, but at this time attention should also be paid to whether the flower adapts to the micro-environment of this position.

Flowering Period Care of Cymbidium hybridum

The optimum temperature during the flowering period is 8°C to 15°C. It cannot be placed next to high-temperature dry heating. During the flowering period, water once every 3 days. If exposed to a low temperature of 2°C to 3°C for a long time, the flowers will suffer frost damage, the buds will turn yellow, and they cannot open. If the room temperature is too high, above 18°C, the buds are prone to turning yellow and falling off, and the flowering period of the whole plant is shortened.

How to carry out restorative care for Cymbidium hybridum after flowering

When its flowers are 70% wilted, cut the flower scape from the base as early as possible to reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption in the plant. Try to remove the potted orchid plant from the narrow plastic pot, being careful not to forcefully damage the root system, remove the old growing medium from the roots, cut off rotten roots and dead leaves, and repot into a tall cylindrical pot slightly larger and slightly deeper than the original pot with many drainage holes at the bottom. The growing medium can be a mixed preparation of sphagnum moss, bark chunks, vermiculite, leaf mold, peat soil, etc., and 3 cm thick brick granules or bark chunks can be placed at the bottom. Under ordinary household conditions, the growing medium can be mixed with bark chunks, leaf mold and vermiculite at a ratio of 1/3 each, with 3% decomposed cake fertilizer powder or a small amount of multi-element slow-release compound fertilizer granules added, and the pH controlled between 5.5 and 6. During the growing season, pay attention to keeping the growing medium moist, and frequently spray water on the leaves and the surrounding environment. From April to October, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month. From April to August, household cultivation can consider applying dilute cake fertilizer water, or a mixture of 0.2% urea plus 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. From September to October, a mixture of 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus 0.1% urea can be used instead. Summer management of Cymbidium hybridum is crucial. During the day, it should be placed in a humid environment not higher than 35°C, while giving 40% to 50% shading. If shaded by 90%, it is difficult to form flower buds. At night, it is best to maintain an environmental temperature below 25°C. If conditions permit, it can be placed in an air-conditioned room, which is beneficial for promoting the smooth completion of flower bud differentiation. Its flower bud differentiation usually occurs around June. Specifically, in terms of plant morphology, when the topmost leaf of the vigorously growing new shoot (also called the stop leaf) has not yet fully unfolded and the 3rd to 4th leaves have completed growth, flower buds form at the base of that pseudobulb. To better promote flower bud formation in the plant, during this period a 10-day to 14-day "water withholding" (drought treatment) should be appropriately given, but it must not cause damage to the plant. After Cymbidium hybridum completes flower bud differentiation, during the three months of July, August and September, a relatively humid, cool, semi-shaded and well-ventilated environment must be created for it. To prevent mistakes caused by improper fertilization, when the environmental temperature reaches above 32°C, fertilization should be suspended, and normal fertilization resumed after the weather turns cooler. After the winter temperature is below 12°C, fertilization should be stopped. The overwintering temperature should be maintained at 8°C to 10°C. For household potted Cymbidium hybridum, self-made granular fertilizer can be used, such as decomposed cake fertilizer powder mixed with bone meal or superphosphate, plus pond mud, rolled into fertilizer balls 2 cm in diameter and dried in the sun, then regularly buried and applied in the growing medium. It can be slowly released with watering and the penetration of rainwater to meet the needs of plant growth.