By Suzy Massey
As the past few cool nights have shown, the warm of summer is coming to a close. For a couple those nights, I didn’t take any chances and brought my orchids in from my porch. Many orchids, especially phalaenopsis (moth orchids) do not like to be chilly at all; 60º is the limit.
However, there are some orchids that need the chill to bloom again. Cymbidiums are one of those.
You can find Cymbidiums at Trader Joes. Here are some pointers:
- Spring-Summer: As much light as possible without burning. Leaf color should be medium green or lighter.
- LOTS of water & fertilizer throughout the summer.
- Starting in September: Keep outside as long as possible and reduce the water and fertilizer. They need 40º-50º to trigger flowering.
Suzy Massey has been a member of the Maine Orchid Society since 2006.
If you have questions about growing orchids, you are always welcome to attend a meeting and take advantage of our members’ knowledge and experience.