Cymbidium Cultivation Methods and Precautions
This article provides detailed experience related to the cymbidium bulbous flower, including its cultivation methods and precautions, which are sure to help you. Let's learn about them together!
This article mainly discusses the cultivation methods and precautions for cymbidium. First, it is important to inform readers that what we commonly refer to as cymbidium is scientifically known as Gladiolus, as there are overlaps in common names for plants. Therefore, the first thing to do when reading this article is to verify whether the cymbidium you want to know about is Gladiolus (there are illustrations in the article).
I. Cultivation Methods for Cymbidium
First, a brief overview of cymbidium cultivation methods, and then we will discuss soil, environment, watering, etc., one by one. Cultivating cymbidium is actually quite simple, as long as there is a suitable growth period of 4-5 months. From planting the bulb to flowering, it takes about 60-120 days (varieties differ in flowering time). During cultivation, attention should be paid to sufficient lighting and avoiding waterlogging. Let's now look at the specific cultivation methods.
1) Planting Time: The best time to plant cymbidium in China is spring, when the average temperature is above 20°C.
2) Planting Depth: The best soil coverage depth for cymbidium is about 10 centimeters.
3) Planting Environment: Whether in a pot or in the ground, sufficient sunlight is essential. If there are no good lighting conditions, it's better to give up planting cymbidium.
4) Soil: Well-drained sandy soil is preferred, but other soils are also acceptable as long as they are well-drained. Cymbidium does not tolerate waterlogging and can easily rot, so the drainage of the potting soil is particularly important.
5) Watering: Generally, less watering is better. The soil should be slightly dry, and it is not suitable to keep the soil moist for a long time, for reasons similar to point 4).
6) Fertilization: Cymbidium requires a lot of fertilizer, especially for potted plants, with a focus on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and applying thin layers of fertilizer frequently.
Image from online flower enthusiasts
II. Precautions for Cymbidium Cultivation
1) Light: Before bud differentiation, the growing environment requires long-daylight hours, which is beneficial for cymbidium bud differentiation. Insufficient lighting will reduce the number of flowers. After bud differentiation, short-daylight hours help the formation of flower buds and early flowering.
2) Temperature: Cymbidium prefers warm conditions and dislikes stuffy heat and cold, so the temperature of the growing environment is important.
3) Planting Time: Cymbidium is suitable for spring planting. Some enthusiasts can't wait and plant in autumn, but because cymbidium has the habit of winter dormancy, most of the cymbidium planted in autumn will wither before flowering.
4) Preventing Bulb Rot: If the soil is moist for a long time, such as in the case of ground planting during consecutive days of rain, it may cause bulb rot. For potted plants, excessive watering and poor drainage can also easily cause bulb rot.
The above information on cymbidium cultivation methods and precautions is provided for your comprehensive understanding and reference!