Question
my cymbidiums, when I'm fortunate enough go get them to bud, open with holes all through the blossoms.  There doesn't seem to be any issues with the foliage, only the blooms.  Are (is) thrip the culprit here?

Answer
Hello Larry,

From your description it does sound like thrips could be the culprits.  While you may not have noticed it but they also can cause damage to the leaves, mainly on the underside.  To control them, go to your local garden center and ask for an insecticide for thrips.  Be sure to follow the directions on handling, safety, mixing and application.  Many insecticides should be applied several times over weeks to get the eggs that may hatch after the first application, it probably wouldn't hurt to apply it again when you first notice the bloom spikes growing.  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.