Cymbidium simulans

Base Price: $85.00

Intro:
Cymbidium simulans is a warm growing species native to Thailand. This plant has 12 to 16 inch very stiff leathery leaves. In nature this plant can be found growing in the tops of palm trees with very bright filtered light. The flowers emerge in the summer months on pendulous sprays with 35 to 50 flowers per raceme. They are colored in straw yellow with deep red veining. They are fragrant and smell similar to sandalwood but a little more subdued.

Light:
This plant prefers medium to high light and prefers south windows in the winter months. In summer it can be grown out of doors hanging in a tree with bright dappled sunlight. Under artificial lights a sodium fixture is the only way to successfully cultivate and bloom this plant.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.

Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate to warm temperatures with winter nighttime lows of 58 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime highs of 70 to 80 degrees. Summer temps can be ten to fifteen degrees warmer.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering.
Over watering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This plant flowers in the late spring to summer months with 18 to 24 inch sprays of 35 to 50 flowers that are an inch and a half to two inches in size. They are straw yellow in color with a deep red mid-vein. They do have fragrance like a tropical hardwood or subdued sandalwood.

Repotting:
Repot this plant in the summer months after flowering using a well-drained medium bark mix. Very often one will have to cut the pot off of the plant in order to repot. The root system is very vigorous and often consumes all of the mix. If this is the case simply pot on to a bigger pot. This can be done at any time of year. If you must divide the plant do so after flowering. Simply cut up through the root system with a saw. Once you reach the under side of the pseudobulb you can either cut through the rhizome or pull the plant apart. Keep shadier and dry for the first week to 10 days to allow damaged roots to heal.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock, charcoal, tree fern fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.