Orchid cymbidium refers to exotic indoor plants. More and more often on the windowsills you can see these beauties with luxurious bright colors. Love of the plant is explained not only by its beautiful appearance, but also by the ease of care. Even in comparison with a relative, Phalaenopsis, taking care of the cymbidium at home is much easier. These miniature orchids with flowers of wax color, reaching a diameter of four centimeters, can grow to two meters, but at home it is better to breed smaller hybrids.
Conditions for cymbidium
Observance of several rules on how to care for an orchid with a cymbidium will help you to admire this exotic plant for a long time. If your favorite is decorated with a window sill, then in the summer choose the western or eastern sides, and in the winter - the south or south-west. The plant needs considerable illumination, but does not tolerate high temperatures. Do not know how to make the cymbidium bloom? Provide the plant with a cool temperature with a difference of 7-8 degrees and an abundance of light. If the orchid is too hot, the leaves will lose the turgor, the roots will begin to die, and the pseudobulbs will wrinkle. If, and under these conditions, the cymbidium does not bloom, check the humidity. It should be within 40%. Increase the humidity to ensure the flowering of the cymbidium can be by spraying the substrate or putting the plant in a pallet with water.
Watering the cymbidium
In the period of active growth of pseudobulbs, the plant needs abundant watering. Before pouring the cymbidium by immersion, a protective net is placed on the substrate, preventing the floating of cortical pieces. Avoid getting moisture on the flower stem - it can cause rot of the plant and even its death. Immediately after flowering, caring for the cymbidium is reduced to a sharp decrease in watering. When the flower rests, wait until the substrate dries. In addition, new shoots should grow to three centimeters. Only now you can not only spray the leaves, but also water the substrate. During the rest and flowering plants do not fertilize it. Care of the roots is the monthly washing them under running water. Do not forget that the soil for the cymbidium, consisting of peat, moss-sphagnum, sand, foam plastic chips, bark and small gravel, should not surface.
Transfer
Transplantation of the cymbidium occurs every two years. This is done for several reasons. First, the substrate cracks, depletes, and secondly, it is necessary to remove old leafless and wrinkled pseudobulbs. A fresh substrate is poured into the pot for the cymbidium, and the plant itself is positioned so that the pseudobulb growth point is located not at the edge, but in the center.
If you plan to multiply the cymbidium, then the old pseudobulbs separated from the plant can be placed in a small greenhouse in moss for germination. However, new processes sprout only in 45-50% of cases.
Diseases and pests
The most common diseases of the cymbidium are caused by arachnoid
Stems, tubers and leaves are a treat for mealybugs , which suck the juices from the plant and cause it to blacken. From them help to get rid of alcohol. To do this, rubbed with alcohol wadded disk rubs the affected areas, and then treated with contact, systemic or intestinal insecticides.
These orchids also suffer from viruses. Unfortunately, the treatment of cymbidium in such cases is useless - the plant will die.