Question
got a beautiful cym Feb 2005, but it hasn't flowered since. It is kept indoors in Ireland. House doesn't get too hot or  cold. Had it, up to recently, in room getting probably dappled sun but fairly bright. Recently moved it to kitchen which is north facing. Looks fairly healthly but odd leaf has brown tips and few others have brown bits midway along leaf. Not really sure of correct care needed, scared of overwatering which probably means it is often a bit dry!!!! Have not been feeding it!!!! Any help gratefully received!!!!

Answer
Hello Ann Marie,

Cymbidiums grow and bloom better when grown outdoors as much as possible.  Keeping it indoors, even in a bright window, and basically you have a large green plant.  Living in Ireland, keep it outdoors as long as temperatures remain above freezing (5C to 25C) in bright sunlight for much of the day.  If you cannot grow it outdoors, a south window would be best followed by a west window, an east window would be marginal while a north window does not provide enough sunlight.  In any location you decide to grow it, make sure there is some light air movement available.  Water when the potting media becomes barely moist and it would be a good idea to feed it some orchid fertilizer once in a while.  

Most cymbidiums produce blooms in winter through spring, so if yours shows no signs of blooming by now it probably will not do so this winter.  To see if yours will bloom this year, look at the base of the pseudobulbs to see if you can see any new growths.  New bulb growths will be somewhat flat and pointy while a flower spike or stem will be more roundish with a bullet shaped tip.  

Browning of leaf tips could be due to your water quality.  If your water is high is calcium and sodium, that is what causing this.  In most instances, this will not kill the cymbidium but only cause the leafs to not look very nice.  If you wish to minimize the tip browning and there are frequent rains, try collecting rain water to use on it.  Rain water is one of the best water for orchids, plus it FREE!  (grin)  

Hope this helped.  If you have other questions or would like more information, write back and I'll try to help with them.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.