Question
QUESTION: Hello, I am a recent cymbidium purchaser and need to know if the stem is suppose to turn black after the gradual loss of its blooms.  If not, where have I gone wrong.  Only one stem has done this but the other two are now starting to loose their blooms as well.  I purchased 3 plants over 2 months ago and this is the only one that is starting to "loose it."  Thank you for your time and answers.

ANSWER: Hello Brook,

Spent flower stems (spikes) will normally turn black within a short time after the flowers are gone.  Once the flowers drop off, cut the spike off an inch or two from the bottom.  

You didn't mention where you live, how and where you plan on growing them but here are some general guidelines on their care.  

Cymbidiums prefer being outdoors where temperatures are between 40F to 85F, even lower and higher with some protection and additional care.  They love the sun so, unless you live in the south, it is best to grow them in full sun to light shade, leaf color will be a light green color when getting good sun exposure.  Humidity above 40% with some light air movement around them.  Water them when the potting mix becomes barely moist, especially in winter.  Feed them a balance type orchid fertilizer at 1/4 strength with each watering.  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



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QUESTION: Thank you so very much!  I live south of you in Bakersfield, we have very hot summers!  So far so good.  I've been keeping them in the restroom with morning/evening trips outdoors.  They are so beautiful, I just hope I don't fall into the trap of not being able to get them to bloom again.  I was also wondering if you sell Orchids or if you could recomment a great place to purchase them.  My sister lives in San Francisco so I travel north quite often.  I've been told there is a grower in Watsonville???

ANSWER: Hi Brook,

No, I don't sell any of my orchids but have been known to give a few away to friends once in a while.  The grower I believe you're talking about is closer to Salinas than Watsonville but they usually do not sell directly from the nursery but to chain stores, etc.  

If you have some time over the March 20 to 22 weekend, there is a big orchid show in Santa Barbara.  I make it a point to attend this show every year.  There will be quite a few vendors selling cymbidums and orchids of all kinds plus the major orchid nurseries in the area will be open.  For cymbidiums, one of the best is Hatfield Orchids (http://www.hatfieldorchids.com/) located in Oxnard, they have some of the best and latest hybrids.  In addition, there is Santa Barbara Orchids Estates (http://www.sborchid.com/) and Cal-Orchid (http://www.cal-orchid.com/), both located in Santa Barbara and Gallup & Stribling (http://www.gallup-stribling.com/about.html) in Carpinteria.  There will also be Casa de las Orquideas (http://www.orquideas.com/) from San Diego at the show.  

There are a couple of smaller orchid nurseries in the San Francisco area but the bigger and better ones are around Santa Barbara.  At one time in South S.F. there was Rod McLellan Orchids who had lots of cymbidiums but they are only a shadow of what they used to be.  

Living in the Bakersfield area you will probably have to grow the cymbidium under 50% shade, especially from 10 AM to 3 PM during summer.  Keep in mind that as the temperature goes up beyond 70F to increase watering and feeding - possibly as often as every 3 days and even every other day if it is over 90F.  It may be helpful to place the pot on a plastic saucer (about an inch deep) to hold water, that will give you an extra day between waterings under most circumstances.  

Hope this helped.  Maybe we'll bump into each other in Santa Barbara.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for the valuable information.  The SB show sounds wonderful, I hope to attend.  Thanks again!  Take care.

Answer
Hi Brook,

Hope you are able to make it to the SB show, I know you won't be disappointed.  There are many different kinds of orchids at the show but mostly it is about cymbidiums.  Then there is a vendor sales area next door to the show.  And, after all that, there are the local nurseries to visit!  (grin)  

I'm normally pretty set in my routine in SB, arrive late Friday morning and go to SBOE and Cal-Orchid then to the show.  Afternoon I go to Hatfields in Oxnard then to the motel for the night and head home around noon on Saturday.  But this year I will be going back to Hatfields on Sat. morning to hear a presentation and afterwards purchase a special book signed by the author.  After that I am driving down to LA to visit an uncle who recently got out of the hospital, he's 88 or 89.  

Maybe we'll bump into each other.

Jim Kawasaki  ([email protected])
San Jose, Ca.