Cymbidium orchid blooms forth from a forest of pale green leaves. The flowers are so plentiful that their stems quickly bend over from the weight. That’s what makes this orchid so unique: it’s a verdant green, cheerful and easy-to-care-for plant that's absolutely covered with flowers.
Caring for cymbidium
- Cymbidium prefers to be in a spot with indirect light.
- Unlike many other orchids, Cymbidium has a real root ball. Immerse it once a fortnight, leave to stand for half an hour, and allow to drain.
- Add plant food to the immersion water to help it grow and flower.
- Once Cymbidium has finished flowering, cut out the flower stem. Put the plant away in a light and cool spot, and it will produce another stem.
Colours and shapes
Cymbidium orchid flowers for weeks. Like a torch, it glows with red, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green or bicoloured flowers, that sometimes also have a soft, pleasant fragrance. It's available from standard sizes through to extra-large versions that make a gorgeous indoor shrub. Cymbidium is particularly desirable as it's one of the few plants that flower through autumn and winter.
Symbolism
Cymbidium is traditionally a special gift for friends, as the flower symbolises a valued and respected friendship. The Chinese philosopher Confucius admired Cymbidium so much, he named this orchid 'King of the Fragrant Plants'.
Origin
Cymbidium orchid is not a delicate plant. It originates from the southern slopes of the Himalayas. In that rocky, nutrient-poor soil, through freezing cold nights and in bright pale sunlight, it happily produces its sweet-smelling, elegant flowers.
Every flower has a hollow arched lip that resembles a boat. This shape is where the plant gets its common name 'boat orchid' from — and its scientific name too: ‘Kymbos’, the origin of Cymbidium, is the Greek word for boat.
