Cymbidium is native to tropical and subtropical Asia covering North-India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Borneo islands and North-Australia, usually growing in cooler climates at high elevation.

 

It is a beautiful plant which grows to a height of 60 cm and the racemes are as high as 90 cm.

 

Cymbidium is one of the most popular and desirable orchids. The flowers are beautiful and they are available in a rainbow of colors including white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, and red, with the exception of blue and black. Cymbidium orchids are thick, waxy flowers with five pointed petals on each bloom. The rounded sepals and petals have about the same dimensions. They show very diverse color patterns, different for every species. Cymbidiums tend to grow more leaves than most orchids. Roughly eight long, green, narrow leaves originate from the sheath of each pseudo bulb.

From the time that the first flower bud opens, the sprays are long lasting, up to 3 months.

 

Cultivation of this plant is uncomplicated, making cymbidium suitable for growers new to orchids. A healthy plant should grow 1 to 2 new bulbs each year from each bulb that grew the previous year. When repotting, the roots should be teased apart to remove old potting mix and then dead roots are to be removed. If required a plant may then be divided into two or more plants by twisting and tearing the bulbs apart. Feed with orchid fertilizer once a month in summer.

 

They flourish almost anywhere where the summers are warm and bright and the autumn and winter nights are cool. Cymbidium flower annually - in the period late autumn through to spring

 

Cymbidiums are very popular in floral arrangements floral corsages. They are excellent for cut flowers. The breath taking sprays of cymbidium flowers make ideal home or patio decorations.

 

Did you know?

·        It is a genus of 52 evergreen species.

·        The name is derived from the Greek word kumbos, meaning 'hole, cavity'. It refers to the form of the base of the lip.

·        Cymbidiums' symbolizes virtue and morality.