James Burghardt
Family
Orchidaceae
Botanical Name
Cymbidium
Plant Common Name
Cymbidium, Spray Orchid
General Description
Corsages for Mom and prom have long been made from the exquisite blooms of Cymbidium. It is an orchid genus with around 45 species whose origins range from cool temperate regions to the subtropical and tropical areas of southeastern Asia, India, China, Japan and northern Australia. They have been valued and cultivated for centuries and there are many grexes and cultivars.
Most Cymbidum are epiphytes (tree dwellers), a few are terrestrial, meaning they grow in soil like most other plants, or lithophytes (rock dwellers). Like all orchids they are monocots, which means they are related to plants like lilies and grasses, their leaves tend to be linear with parallel leaf veins and their flower parts are in threes.
Cymbidum plants may be compact or large but all exhibit sympodial growth. Sympodial orchids creep laterally along growing surfaces. Most Cymbidium have bulbous water-storing bases called pseudobulbs with thick roots that appear at the base of the bulbs. The leaves are more dense and numerous than in other orchids. There are often eight to ten long linear leaves per pseudobulb. The roots are often covered with a protective spongy surface called velamen, which aids in water and nutrient absorption.
The flowers are usually produced in winter or spring. They appear on upright or arching shoots that rise from the base of the psuedobulbs. The blooms have six showy petal/tepals, five of them are basically equal in size and shape and the sixth is modified into a lip. The lips vary in size, but all are designed to attract and guide insects into the flowers for pollination. In the flower, male and female reproductive parts are fused into a single structure called the column that holds two pollen large masses, called pollinia, which only orchids have. The flowers are usually fragrant and come in all colors and color combinations. These are long-lasting and make exceptional cutflowers. Once the flowers are spent, remove the old stems to encourage vigorous bloom the following year. The dust-like seeds are produced by the thousands to millions in bulbous pods that turn from green to brown.
Most Cymbidium grow best when nights are cool and days warm and require indirect bright to moderate light. They prefer highly humid environments, regular water, when actively growing, and are very sensitive to salt. So, plant them in orchid mix in pots with good drainage and place them in a bright window or well-lit orchidarium on a tray of rocks, to increase drainage and humidity, and provide regular water and fertilizer. Where hardy, they make fine landscape and outdoor plants.
Characteristics
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Native To
Southeastern Asia, India, China, Polynesia, Australia
Growing Conditions
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Petal Number
Single
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Cutflower, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
