GREENGOLD GARDEN CONCEPTS
CARE AND MAINTENANCE NOTES

ORCHIDS (CYMBIDIUM)

Orchids in bloom make most elegant and eye catching plants for indoor decoration. They are also an excellent proposition because the flowers of most types last for many weeks - sometimes for months.

Orchids should be grown in a position where they get morning sun or filtered shade. They will take full sun in winter, but in summer should be protected by 50% shadecloth.

However, once in flower, they can be kept in a light, airy spot indoors, or on a veranda or patio, entrance foyer, or sunroom.

WHEN TO BUY :The largest selection is available at their peak flowering season during the months of July, August and September. There are many varieties available in a wide range of colours: greens, yellows, browns and reds. Being evergreen, their numerous, long, strap-like leaves can also be attractive even when the plants are not in flowers.

WHEN TO REPOT: The correct potting time is after flowering or in the case of non-flowering plants - October/ November.

REPOTTING: Before you start potting, make sure that your potting media is evenly moist but not wet. When repotting you need to gently shake the old mixture from the roots and then trim off any dead or damaged roots. It is important to select a correctly sized pot. Avoid overpotting, and never place a small orchid in a large pot as this will inhibit flowering.

DIVIDING YOUR ORCHID: When dividing your orchids, it is important to select the correct place for the division. If you gently pull the root mass, you will usually find the point where the plant begins to divide. When cutting, your aim is to minimise damage to bulbs. When cutting through orchid roots, include at least one back bulb (this is a bulb with no leaf) along with one or two bulbs with healthy leaves. If your expectation is flowering next year after breaking up, divisions should contain at least three bulbs and a leaf. Smaller divisions will grow on, but probably won't flower in the next year.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OBSERVE CLEANLINESS WHEN USING KNIVES OR SECATEURS DIVIDING YOUR ORCHID. Never use the same implement on another plant without first sterilizing it by wiping with bleach or methylated spirits. Virus and fungal disease are easily transmissible by using unclean implements.

When repotting, choose the smallest pot that will comfortably accommodate the roots, placing the plant so that the old part is against the side of the pot and the growing part has space to expand. Fill the bottom quarter of your pot with a good orchid growing media such as Debco Orchid Media, or Amgrow Orchid Mix.. Place your plant in the pot and check to make sure that the top edge of the pot is approximately level with the bottom third of your orchid bulbs. Holding your plant in this position, (it would be really useful if nature had provided us with an extra hand at this juncture!) add the rest of your orchid growing media and firm the mixture around the sides with your hand. Fill the pot to about 1 cm below the top of the pot. After repotting, it is essential to water the pot thoroughly to the point where you can see the water freely draining from the bottom of the pot. Ideally, your potting mixture should be moist all year round, but how often you water is of course directly related to your mixture, the prevailing weather conditions and the siting of your plants.

FEEDING :When repotting your orchids, add some controlled release fertiliser such as AUSSIECOTE, or GARDEN GOLD just under the final layer of compost. Don't forget to water thoroughly. When orchids are in their peak growing season, they should be fertilised weekly to obtain best results. During the winter months you can reduce fertilising to once every three weeks or so. You need to use fertiliser at half strength. A complete flushing of the pot with water is desirable now and then to eliminate any build- up of salts from repeated fertiliser applications. YATES ORCHID FOOD is a complete water soluble fertilizer that should be applied fortnightly. Many growers use Campbells Orchid food. This is also a water soluble fertilizer in two parts - Campbells Blue is for green leaf growth, and should be applied from July to December. Campbells Yellow is for flower growth, and should be applied between December and July .

WATERING: Cymbidiums, like many other sub-tropical plants, need careful watering. As the weather warms up in spring, watering needs to be increased in frequency so that during summer the plants are receiving daily watering. During autumn, as the temperatures fall, water less frequently. By winter, watering may be required only once a week, or less, to keep the compost just moist, for this is the cymbidium's dormant period of growth.

PESTS: Orchids don't have very many pests. Scale, aphids, slugs and snails are the worst and can be controlled by regular spraying with YATES SCALE GUN (White oil and Pyrethrum) and by the use of snail bait.

DISEASES A virus known as Cymbidium Mosaic Virus is common amongst hobbyist growers. When purchasing a plant deal only with reputable nurseries. The best way to deal with a virused plant is to destroy it, unless there is a very good reason for retaining it as the disease is incurable. Your purchase from a GREENGOLD GARDEN CENTRE member guarantees premium quality. Should you be uncertain, please ask a staff member for advice.

TIPS:

1. Don't take your plant inside where the atmosphere is hot and dry due to artificial heating. Your Cymbidium will drop its flower buds and ultimately drop its leaves in this warm dry atmosphere.
2. Don't leave flower spikes on the plant until the flowers die. This can result in non flowering the following season. Approximately four weeks after the last flower is fully open, the spike should be removed so that the plant has a full growing cycle for next year's flowering.
3. If your plant fails to flower give it the recommended attention plus exposure to a sunnier situation to help force flower spikes.