Question
QUESTION: Hi Jim,

About a month ago I purchased my first cymbidium orchid from Home Depot.  I don't know how long the flowers were in bloom prior to my purchase, but approximately a week after I bought it, I noticed the petals started to get yellow spots on them.  Within two weeks after that, all the flowers on one stem turned brown and have now all fallen off.  The flowers on the other stem are now starting to brown and fall off too.  Both stems are dying also (browning from the top to the bottom).  While these two stems are dying, my orchid is still definitely growing - I have a couple of new stems growing.  I live in Sacramento, CA and I keep the plant indoors and in indirect sunlight.  I have been watering it about once a week and the roots are white and look fine.  Can you tell me if what I'm describing is normal, or is there something wrong with my orchid, especially re: the spotting?  Also, what do I do with the dying stems?  If this is just the normal process, when can I expect the flowers to bloom again?  

Thx!
Anh

ANSWER: Hi Anh,

As you noted, you do not know how long the flowers had been open and it just may have been time for them to die.  Most cymbidium flowers will stay open for upwards of 2 months under mild conditions.  There are a few cyms in which the flowers barely last 4 weeks, luckily most last longer.  Once the flowers have fallen off, cut the spike off as low as you can as they will not produce more flowers.  

If possible, it would be best to grow the cymbidium outdoors under some protection from the hot Sacramento mid day sun.  With your hot summers, you may have to water it 2 or more times a week outdoors and when it is near 100 or higher, water it almost once a day.  

Those new growths you see are probably new pseudobulbs and not flower spikes.  They should grow to be as large or larger than the current pseudobulbs by the end of summer and produce a flower spike next winter.  

If you are interested, there is an orchid club devoted to cymbidiums in Sacramento.  If you are interested and have the time, here is the information:  

Regular meetings 4th Wednesday of each month, October-June, except December, 7pm, Shepard Garden and Art Center, 3330 McKinley Boulevard, Sacramento, CA.
Contact: Rich Heisler at 916.989.1650 or email: [email protected].

The Sacramento club is fairly new, having only been formed 2 years ago but the members are very active and is growing.  

Hope this helped a little.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the info Jim! It was very helpful.  Do you have any comments re: the yellow spotting on the flowers, or is that just part of the normal wilting process?

Thx,
Anh

Answer
Hi Anh,

Oops!  Did I forget to address the yellow spots?  Must have been a senior moment.  (grin)  

I have to admit that I've never experienced yellow spots on flowers myself, so I'm not quite sure what it is.  Usually, as a cymbidium flower starts to die, it slowly wilts while also turning a darker color or even brown then falls off.  

By the way, if you can make the Sacramento club meeting, I'm sure they welcome guests and if you like what you see after attending a couple of meetings, you can join them.  

Sorry I couldn't be of more help on the spotting.  

Jim