Here are our recommendations for cymbidium care:
Light: We use 60% shade cloth allowing 40% full sun year-round with excellent results.
Temperature: Cool nights (50–57°F / 10–14°C) and daytime temperatures around 75°F (23.8°C) are critical for flowering. Our temperatures in southern California naturally follow this pattern, and so no temperature control outdoors is required. The key is a drop in temperature of at least 25 degrees day-to-night in order to initiate flowering.
Water: Keep potting mix evenly moist year-round. This results in watering 1-2 times per week most of the year. Less watering is required during the fall winter as the plants maintain their moisture for a longer period. For clean leaf growth, it is important not to let the root mass go completely dry at any time.
Fertilizer: We use Nutricote 13-11-11 (270) timed release fertilizer exclusively with very good results. This fertilizer provides all necessary macro and micro nutrients over a 270 day (9 month) period. We apply the fertilizer in February each year, and it lasts the entire year. It is not necessary to feed during winter.
Frost Protection: While cymbidiums can tolerate light frosts, we use misters during freezing temperatures to protect the plants from frost. Protecting them with frost cloth is also an option, especially if the temps are going to drop below 28 degrees.
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