Basic Cymbidium orchid care: they're relatively easy!

This week plant lovers it's a Cymbidium orchid 101 as one of mine is in bloom and it seems like a good time to look at one of the oldest orchid types in cultivation! The most common Cymbidium types are the cold - cool growers; hybrids with amazing flower size, colour and sometimes fragrance. There are others out there...cymbidiums for hot/tropical areas, species, autumn flowerers etc..but we'll just look at the basic hybrid type found in cultivation and in just about every florist in the world as a cut flower! The hybrid I feature in this video is Cymbidium Pure Sarah 'Snowball'.
0:00 introduction
0:27 the Cymbidium as a 'gateway' orchid!
1:12 Cymbidium hybrids
1:43 epiphyte/terrestrial habit
1:59 best potting medium type
2:37 best growing conditions
2:48 cold-cool growers
3:11 watering requirements
3:28 coolness required for flowering
4:18 new growth cycle
4:43 fertilising requirements
5:39 growth habit
6:15 seedling to first flowering time
6:46 where the flower spikes emerge from
7:54 Cymbidium Pure Sarah 'Snowball' details
10:04 pot type and re-potting

[@lisascenic]

Cymbidium orchids grow incredibly well - outside - in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s not uncommon to have plants grow so huge that dividing the plants requires a saw! It’s late winter at the moment, and my cymbidiums are just starting to flower. So far, the slugs have only gotten to one plant’s buds. Fingers crossed that they don’t do any further damage.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!!

[@troyyoung8167]

Awesome. Have had orchids for years and now after watching this I know why they haven’t been flowering as much as I’d like.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Good luck with yours!

[@tuyetvo4353]

feeding them every 2 weeks or monthly. Water ever week in summer - Drain well . My Cymbidium blooming flowers in springtime.

[@tuyetvo4353]

Cymbidium orchids for outdoor- Like sun - Water weekly - drain well. Feed king them weekly.

[@pathammond9645]

So glad I found your channel! I purchased my first cymbidium about a month ago and was looking for some information on how to care for it. You provided lots of good information- I’m excited to watch it grow and eventually bloom! Thank you!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and good luck with yours!

[@Altheodi]

Thanks to your videos i did not repot my cymbidium! Orchids seem to have slightly different rules and i find my plant intuition is "off" with them. Thanks for putting me on the right path!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - I hope yours flourish!

[@fishmut]

Great video , I have had a number of different type orchids and living in a very cold area with frosts etc , cymbidium’s are my go to , they are under trees outside and doing fine , dendrobium and epedendrums and other variety orchids are not plants I like , definitely do not like plants I have to baby to much , if an orichid doesn’t like the climate I live in I don’t want it , they only take up a lot your time and losses are garrenteed should you make mistakes with them , but each to their own I’ll stick with cyms. 👍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@mexy04]

I just bought my first seedling cymbidium! The grower I bought from said the same. I have a tiny grow space and their under grow light to supplement because my window doesn’t adequately provide. I’m hoping she will do well, I’m glad she does well in cooler temps being that we have 4 seasons in NC.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck!!

[@anastasiaa4372]

Thank you so much! That was the best cymbidium care video ever!!! Very detailed and understandable! You have helped me a lot!!! I've been growing phalaenopsis for years but I bought my first and only cymbidium in November. There is a flowering spike growing! I can't wait! I don't know what the color is, I hope it's not white either!! Anastasia from Athens, Greece

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh good luck! If there's a flower spike all must be well! It MAY be the beginning of a tiny obsession!!

[@howtogirl]

I stumbled across your channel randomly and I’ve been absolutely loving your content. I’m in SA so the info you give is the most relevant to my conditions I’ve found anywhere (though you’re a bit colder haha). I absolutely love your presentation style too. You’re an engaging and welcoming teacher. Please keep up the great work - it’s very much appreciated! I’d love to see a video about caring for young orchids/orchid seedlings as I’m finding this is how most are available in my area.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching and your kind words! I definitely will as I buy a LOT of seedlings too! I do. have an un-flasking video coming up - but I will follow up on your suggestion - thank you!

[@trishsmith2811]

Thank you Mathew! I have two baby cymbidiums and have been wondering how many years it might take to bloom. You might be an armature but you give the rest of us amateurs information we need. My cymbidiums are not growing and I think (thanks to you) I have had them in to much sunshine. Several hours in an E. Window that gets quite hot even with a sheer curtain. Also, I had them in the wrong bark! Poor things. I repotted them in (gasp) store bought bags of generic orchid medium and I think I heard them whisper ‘thank you’ as I put them in a cooler spot. I am passing on that thank you to you.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - and I can hear the whispers from here!!

[@andreianifourcault2245]

Beautiful plant and the flowers are so fairy looking. Mine are huge with huge pseudobulbs.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevins9242]

Hi Mathew, I really enjoy your energetic teaching and sharing of your amateur orchid knowledge... the Aussi accent, well-spoken English, and humor are very entertaining. I have about 5 orchids that are from a 'seed population'. One of those, a violacea var. correulea, has a spike growing now. Even if the flower doesn't have good color saturation, after a year, it will be difficult to part with it! I'd likely consider trading it for another mature plant. Cheers.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - I know - after all that waiting and nurturing...we become attached!

[@restawhileyall1781]

Thanks for the encouragement Matthew.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@barbararussell897]

Thank you.. this is so helpful. You are a very good teacher.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@collingwood46]

Thanks for your cym. Chat. We live in the Pacific Northwest and keep our cyms outside too - until quite cold or first frost. Spikes develop in our autumn and grow and flower in late winter in the greenhouse. A few years ago our cyms were infested with cymbidium virus and had to be destroyed. Sad. Keep up the good work.

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh that's tragic! But thanks for watching! Did you start again?

[@CarrieandEugenia]

Thank you for posting this! I have been hoping that you would post a cymbidium video!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching it!

[@christinenorton2510]

That's a beauty, I've got two very dark red ones almost black, not to keen if I'm honest. Outside all summer then in the garage for the winter. Bit to big for me. Great video as allways.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@wandashaw3551]

She's so pretty, I hope you stay in love with her!!! I did have a similar feeling towards one of my Oncidium types, she just so big and then only blooms once per year. :( The jury is still out on her FATE!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - its hard being ruthless!

[@libbyhocking5516]

A great introduction thankyou!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you very much!

[@ultimate_o5672]

I enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing info and your beutifull cym....er snowball? Love your energetic and relax presentation.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you for watching!

[@PeterGeorg-ez7ft]

Ich habe gerade eine ältere Pflanze mit 7 Blüten Stengel ! Von Mai bis Oktober im Freien !Herrliche Blume !😊

[@helloplantlovers]

Danke fürs zuschauen!

[@kazwilsy2408]

Hi Matthew...just started watching you...Im in Cranbourne so a local but we can get a bit of frost out here. I divided a HUGE cym last Spring that Ive had for years in a 50cm pot just growing in yard with flowers once I started feeding it. 😅 I was lucky to have some flowers again this year but things have gone down hill with scale and rot. So its now treating and cleaning time! Great info and all the answers I need thanks! I also have an old happy Dendrobium and a new Sarcochilus from an orchid show...so kinda hooked haha 😂

[@helloplantlovers]

Ah ha! It's the beginning! Scale is relatively easy to treat on Cymbidiums. Good luck with everything!

[@cymbidiumm]

Lovely video. Idk, I think I stumbled upon your video and now the wish to get a Cymbidium (it was in me, but dormant) woke up haha. I just didn't have the space for them, now I kinda do even for the full sized-ones. I once had one (lots of years ago, I was a kid), beautiful pendant shorter-type cymbidium, with yellow-orange-ish flowers. Gosh I love pendant inflorescences and Cymbidiums ain't no exception. I shall go and hide my wallet cause you know us plant lovers...

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - and yes! The smaller pendant flowerers really take up NO space(!).

[@rosepaetzke2933]

It is beautiful!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@kimdemanche2066]

Thank you for the detailed info

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@carolesykes7955]

Enjoyable video, thanks Matthew

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you!

[@carolesykes7955]

@@helloplantlovers can I just ask why you say not to leave them out in the rain?

[@helloplantlovers]

@@carolesykes7955 Depends where you are, you just don't want it sitting in water constantly over winter. If its elevated and free draining and not in a saucer it would be fine, and as it likes dappled light being under a tree will give it some protection too.

[@cherylpenn4509]

Its gorgeous!!! Keep her, keep her!!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh I have!

[@cherylpenn4509]

@@helloplantlovers My friend is going to gift me 3 of these precious plants. Im so excited!!!!!!

[@donatellatosi4660]

Ciao Mathew Thank you very much!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thank you for watching!

[@suzannefarley1583]

You're adorable! Great enthusiasm!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@K2dot]

thank you! Good content on how to grow cymbidiums :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@elaine6705]

gonna try this! Just had all my cymbidiums repotted at the specialist orchid nursery because bloody hell - I can get vandas and paphs and other fussy gals to flower but not these at all

[@helloplantlovers]

Really! Wow! Well I hope they show their thanks by blooming. I must say I LOVE the idea of getting a specialist to re-pot everything!! Good luck!

[@samanthamanning3051]

Hi Matthew. Thanks so much for this video. Am in SA and just got my first cymbidium. Even though it’s about middle Spring, we are having a heatwave so all my blooms burst 😢. Your video helped my figure out why. Just got some seedlings. Would you be able to do a cymbidium seedlings for dummies kind of video - watering, fertiliser etc?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - glad it was useful! Good idea on the seedling vid - I'll add it to the list!

[@FrancescaAngri-sm5cr]

Hello Mathew thanking you for your channel, I’ve just started to enjoy growing orchids and your comments and guide have been very helpful. I need some help with some cymbidiums that got so wet that half of the orchid rotted but I did safe some of the plant but I think I repotted it into a too large pot can I repotted again into a smaller pot or can I leave it and see what happens?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! I'd be inclined to leave it to recover at this point if its been in the new pot for a while. If you literally just re-potted it, then a quick down size probably won't hurt! Good luck.

[@triciahamilton5903]

Matthew, I can hear your passion come through with every comment. Thank you for your knowledge. I am trying to save a cym where I discovered all the roots had rotted. I have it sitting in a jar on pebbles that are almost covered with water, then placed in a plastic bag to create a micro climate. Is this what I should be doing to try and save the orchid. I acquired it from an orchid club member who is no longer with us. I live in Sydney.

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no! Tricky but they are a tough orchid! If the bulbs are still healthy you could be in for a chance! The only thing I might do is use an orchid mix with chopped sphagnum moss instead of the pebbles and sit the orchid on that in the bag in a warm but shady spot - and make sure all the rotted roots are removed. It might take a while but best of luck!

[@DanikaBasista]

Really great info! I'm wondering how you would go about rehabbing/regrowing roots

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for finding me! Funnily enough I just performed an 'orchid rescue' for a friend of some very old and neglected Cymbidiums from a house that is about to be sold. The video will be scheduled in a couple of weeks and I'll be sure to talk about roots as this one is full of DEAD ones!

[@sfinx69]

She's beautiful 😍

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@raneeabanilla5585]

I may have reported my cymbidium too deeply that it's bulbs are hidden underneath the potting mix. Think I may pull them up a bit like your plants and see if this will flower as I bought this as a small plant without flowers

[@helloplantlovers]

Hi there - yes - the bulbs should sit above the soil level - good luck!

[@Qu_2_wil_lmjk]

I'm currently in Sydney; very informative discussion, which will hopefully turn around my cymbidium growing luck which hasn't been great, to date. I've let them dry out too often, plus they've not had enough dappled light. Also, I'd given up & not fed them last growing season. 'Now inspired to do better! 😊

[@helloplantlovers]

Ah! Well good luck with them!

[@Qu_2_wil_lmjk]

Thanks; I'll have to try harder! ☺@@helloplantlovers

[@carlottapanico3049]

Thank you for the helpful video! I like the terracotta pot too but I'm afraid to break too many roots when I need to repot my orchids because they might stick to the pot, so I use the clear plastic pot for this reason...Has this ever happened to you? Can you do a video on how to repot orchids in terracotta please? (Sorry if I made mistakes in English , I'm writing from Italy 🙏🏻😍)

[@helloplantlovers]

Hello and thanks for watching! It is a problem.....I just re-potted a Cattleya that was well and truly STUCK to its pot! But I will make a video of that when it happens again! I think the common tip would be, which is what I did, to soak the whole pot + plant in room temperature water for a few hours before you go to re-pot it. This should hopefully soften the roots, and the medium (!) and make the whole thing easier to remove.

[@AntionetteJaleesa]

Hey Matthew, do they require tons of sunlight? I saw on another video here in KZbin that they should be given enough light to make them yellow and sickly looking in order for them to flower, that was the advice... I would like to hear another opinion because that doesn't sit well with me.

[@suzanneburrows1118]

No flowers this winter but now mid September in Sydney Aus I have 2 pots just opening. Weird timing!

[@helloplantlovers]

The season is all over the place this year!

[@ruthradford897]

I just bought my very first cymbidium orchid, a dusky pink variety. Your guidance and adivce will help me keep this beauty going strong!When is a good time to repot, in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon)? It is currently in bloom :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - generally a good time to repot is spring after the flowers have died and before the new growths get too big. Good luck!

[@jehamymedinafinch1515]

Hello!! I have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you. Could you tell me why some buds of my cymbidiums die before opening the little flowers. I opened a chicken because I saw it with some spots from the inside and when I opened it all the little flowers that were growing fell and inside there was something sticky and brown, also that in some areas of the floral wand when I removed the cover they have. 😢😢 so I don't know if it's a bacteria or a plague. I hope you help me. Thank you 🎉❤

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Hmm I'm not sure. Bud blast can be caused by a few things; a sudden change in temps - too hot or too cold, the buds getting too wet and cold, the plant not getting enough water - or too much, or insects. Sounds like you might have a larva in there. I would try a generic organic oil insecticide for flowering plants and see what happens. Good luck!

[@IndoPlants01]

In my place it is called orchid

[@sylviabeichert943]

Can propagation be done by using the flower stem nodes before or during flowering?

[@helloplantlovers]

No idea I'm afraid! Never heard of that method of propagation with Cymbidiums.

[@gc5258]

Yay melb cym advice

[@helloplantlovers]

Very amateur Cymbidium advice though!!!

[@gc5258]

@@helloplantlovers it’s very appreciated:)

[@lienlienchan]

I love cymbidium , but most cymbidium orchids are so big. I was thinking of buying some small type , cymbidium palmbelina.

[@helloplantlovers]

So do I! There are lots of smaller type hybrid varieties out there now - go for it! Thanks for watching!

[@annadaccione332]

did u ever get a yellow one? I have an old (had it for over 30 yrs) that is yellow, and called 'swallow carriga' could send u some bulbs when next dividing. (in spring)

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh thank you that's very kind! I did in the end - I can't remember the name of it! When it flowers I'll make a video - and I made sure it REALLY was a bright butter yellow!

[@wildflowers477]

Keep it !

[@helloplantlovers]

!!Yes...I have....too soft hearted!

[@plantreviewsuk1204]

Another question about fragrant Cymbidiums, among the very fragrant ones, is there any quite compact, that doesn't take too much space indoors?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! No I don't unfortunately. I find most sellers are clear about whether a plant has fragrance, though it's a perpetual source of disappointment for me! A good specialist seller will know their stock - good luck!

[@plantreviewsuk1204]

@@helloplantlovers thanks very much !!!

[@gc5258]

I’m in Melbourne and my option is a balcony that gets moderate sun except in summer it’s very hot and strong. Should I keep it in the apartment? My phal loves inside.

[@helloplantlovers]

OOOo tricky - but you know I've seen them in peoples gardens in Melbourne, in pots OUT in all weather all year looking yellow as all hell but covered in flower spikes! But....If you can give it dappled protection from another plant on the balcony? I used a smallish Strelitzia nicolai from Bunnings to do that on my city balcony - cheap, tough, easy, takes full sun and has large arching leaves which will provide dappled protection for quite a few orchids. Otherwise perhaps leave it out in winter for the chill it needs and bring it in for summer but in good light? Good luck!

[@gc5258]

@@helloplantlovers thank you so much. I can give it dappled shade so I’ll make a nice home on the balcony. Thank you so much.

[@helloplantlovers]

@@gc5258 Perfect!

[@ccxu1154]

Hi can you please recommend a good nursery in Melbourne? Thanks

[@helloplantlovers]

Hi there - there aren't that many! I bought this one on line but the best physical shop would be Collectors Corner who in spring always have a good selection of more unusual cymbidiums, including these smaller cascading types. Otherwise www.australianorchids.com.au/collections/cymbidiums always has a good selection as does orchidsonnewbold.com.au/ Good luck!

[@CassyTaguda]

What about pest and fungi control

[@helloplantlovers]

No magic answer I'm afraid. I don't have fungal problems nor any real pest issues with my Cymbidiums. Depends on your climate and how you grow them. Scale is the only problem I've ever had - keep your eye out for it - clean them off - or use rubbing alcohol - or a suitable spray.

[@donnaread4109]

I cannot get these orchids to bloom on the mid north coast of NSW

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh no! The basics are: they need light - dappled light with some direct morning is good - don't over water - they need a cooler winter temp change to stimulate blooms - fertilize in spring with slow release pellets - don't over pot - good luck!

[@gonuldunyam7468]

Bu ne gözellik sanki yapay gibi

[@helloplantlovers]

İzlediğiniz için teşekkürler!

[@sabikeralasafarabi2103]

❤സൂപ്പർ

[@helloplantlovers]

നന്ദി!

[@mklyngdohnongbri3605]

I have orchid but they wouldn't bloom

[@helloplantlovers]

Ah....right light and a winter change in temperature are important. Good luck!

[@EMuro-wu7uy]

I just got a cymbidium orchid. It looks sad, very sad.

[@helloplantlovers]

Oh dear....if you're in the Northern Hemisphere I would repot it and give it a light feed, if in the Southern Hemisphere put it some somewhere with dappled light and let it dry between waterings and repot in spring. If it has no leaves keep it dry until it shoots again! Good luck!

[@EMuro-wu7uy]

I live in northern hemisphere, in Oregon, USA. I love it, there are 3 plants in sphagnum moss right now. I trimmed the leaves that are damaged. I just got it. I try to let them acclimate before I pot them up. Love your videos

[@carlottapanico3049]

Thank you for the helpful video! I like the terracotta pot too but I'm afraid to break too many roots when I need to repot my orchids because they might stick to the pot, so I use the clear plastic pot for this reason...Has this ever happened to you? Can you do a video on how to repot orchids in terracotta please? (Sorry if I made mistakes in English , I'm writing from Italy 🙏🏻😍)

[@helloplantlovers]

Hello and thanks for watching! Yes, the natural adhesive roots produce can be very....sticky!! Best thing is to soak the whole pot for a morning or overnight in room temperature water (not when it's cold though!) that will loosen the roots. And yes - when I have to re-pot something with lots of stuck roots I will make a video!

[@deek8623]

Thank you this was so helpful I’m so mad at my cymbids as they haven’t flowered in 2 years but yes they were purchased very young so I was being unrealistic 😂 I will repot and fertilise and hope for flowers next year 😋 my friend stuck a bunch down the side of her house and ignores them and honestly they are going berserk with endless blooms and I just shake my head ..there is little to no bark but they are thriving 😆