Cymbidium spp. Plant Care Reminders

General Information

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

  January 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 2. Water Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water. 3. Protect Protect plants and flowers from frost. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 5. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  February 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. 2. Plant Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. 3. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 4. Water Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water. 5. Protect Protect plants and flowers from frost. 6. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 7. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  March 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. 2. Plant Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. 3. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 4. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 5. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 6. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  April 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. 2. Plant Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. 3. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 4. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 5. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 6. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  May 1. Buy Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. 2. Plant Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. 3. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 4. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 5. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 6. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. 7. Transplant After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots. 8. Propagate Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\").

  June 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. 5. Transplant After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots. 6. Propagate Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\").

  July 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. 5. Transplant After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots. 6. Propagate Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\").

  August 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  September 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  October 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 4. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  November 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. 2. Water Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. 3. Protect Protect plants and flowers from frost. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 5. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  December 1. Fertilize Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. 2. Water Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water. 3. Protect Protect plants and flowers from frost. 4. Pest/Disease Inspection Check for snails and slugs. 5. Treat for Pest/Disease Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! February Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. March Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. April Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids. May Buy plants in bloom to get the flower colors you want. Visit specialty orchid nurseries for the best selection of the best hybrids.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? February Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. March Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. April Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. May Grow plants in containers in commercial orchid mix in partial shade under fairly cool, humid, and frost-free conditions (a shade house is ideal). Provide enough light so that foliage is light green (not dark green), but enough shade that foliage doesn\'t burn. To keep flowers fresh, provide a little more shade during bloom season. June Repot after bloom season is over (see \"Transplant\").

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? January Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. February Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. March Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. April Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. May Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. June Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. July Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. August Fertilize twice a month with a 30-10-10 water-soluble plant food. September Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. October Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. November Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering. December Fertilize twice a month with a low nitrogen liquid plant food such as 5-10-10 to encourage flowering.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? January Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water. February Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water. March Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. April Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. May Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. June Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. July Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. August Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. September Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. October Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. November Water regularly and thoroughly from spring through fall. Mornings are the best time to water. During hot weather, keep humidity up by sprinkling foliage, and do not let plants dry out. December Water when potting mix is dry, but keep plants on the dry side and don\'t over-water in winter. Mornings are the best time to water.

  Protect When and how should you protect this plant from birds, deer, rabbits? Does this plant need be covered, or wrapped or painted or moved? January Protect plants and flowers from frost. February Protect plants and flowers from frost. November Protect plants and flowers from frost. December Protect plants and flowers from frost.

  Pest/Disease Inspection What are the common problems this plant will face and when should you look for them to appear? January Check for snails and slugs. February Check for snails and slugs. March Check for snails and slugs. April Check for snails and slugs. May Check for snails and slugs. June Check for snails and slugs. July Check for snails and slugs. August Check for snails and slugs. September Check for snails and slugs. October Check for snails and slugs. November Check for snails and slugs. December Check for snails and slugs.

  Treat for Pest/Disease How do you treat the common problems for this plant? What products or concoctions or natural means do you use? Any special requirements? January Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. February Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. March Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. April Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. May Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. June Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. July Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. August Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. September Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. October Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. November Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate. December Control snails and slugs with a product containing iron phosphate.

  Transplant When's the best time to dig up and transplant this from one spot to another? (This is different than planting). Any special requirements? May After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots. June After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots. July After they finish blooming, cymbidium plants may be repotted in fresh orchid mix. This should be done at least once every three years to insure that the plants are not too crowded and that their roots do not rot in decomposed, soggy mix. Older plants may also be divided at this time, but make sure each division has at least 3-4 healthy green bulbs. Pot into containers wide enough to allow for around 2\" of fresh potting mix around the plants. When repotting, remove any dead roots and any old, dead bulbs, and pot with the lower third of the bulbs covered, firming the new mix gently but securely around the roots.

  Propagate When's a good time to divide, take cuttings, layer or propagate this plant. Any special requirements? May Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\"). June Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\"). July Propagate by division of older plants (see \"Transplant\").