Cymbidium is a type of orchid, an epiphyte from tropical forests. More than sixty Cymbidium hybrids have been bred for home floriculture. In this article, we will discuss Cymbidium Erythrostylum or also called Red Column Cymbidium Orchid.
These varieties differ in the color of the petals, and the shape, and height of the leaves. Combines their incredible fragrance of buds and long flowering with proper care.
LATIN NAME: CYMBIDIUM ERYTHROSTYLUM
Primary genus: Cymbidium
| Cymbidium Erythrostylum Motherland | Vietnam |
|---|---|
| The soil | Sour, crumbly. The use of ready-made soil for orchids is recommended. |
| The size | from 40 to 50 cm |
| flowering time | March to February |
| Possible colors | white |
| illumination | Many // West, south orientation, may require several hours of direct sunlight |
| Watering | Plenty // Needs constantly moist soil (watering more than 3 times a week) |
| Complexity of care | Moderate // Generally unpretentious, may have specific requirements for the species |
| Air humidity | Many // High humidity (60% or more: tropics year-round; typical mid-summer humidity) |
| Fertilizer frequency | Many // Requires frequent fertilization (including all year round) |
| Content temperature | moderately warm content (+18 – +25°C) |
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Orchid Growth and natural habitat
Vietnam. It grows at an altitude of 1500 m.
The climate in natural habitats:
- Fixed temperature range from +3°C to +36°C.
- The average humidity ranges from 65% in winter to over 80% in summer.
- Precipitation from 5 mm. in January up to 257 mm. in September.
- Average temperatures (day/night) from +23.2°C/+10.4°C in January to +26.5°C/+15.4°C in May.
Check out White Cymbidium Orchid Varieties and also Yellow Cymbidium Orchid.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Orchid Plant description:
Size and type of plant:
Cymbidium Erythrostylum is Epiphyte, lithophyte or ground orchid 45–50 cm high.
Pseudobulbs:
Flattened oval pseudobulbs 6 cm high at the base are covered with leaves and 2–3 scaly stipules.
Leaves:
On each growth, from 6 to 8 narrow, arcuately curved leaves 45 cm long appear on Cymbidium Erythrostylum.
Peduncle:
In immature pseudobulbs, a flexible, arched peduncle 15–35 cm long appears between the lower leaves.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Orchid Flowers:
In the inflorescence of Cymbidium Erythrostylum there are from 4 to 8 flowers with a diameter of about 6 cm. The outline of the flower resembles a triangle: wide flat sepals are spread out, and the petals are directed forward, covering the column and the base of the lip. The petals and sepals are white, because of their special texture they seem shiny. Petals along the central veins are pale pink, sometimes pinkish at the base. A yellow-white lip with a dark yellow middle part is decorated with intermittent red stripes and red dots. The flowers do not smell, but they last a very long time.
Flowering period: in nature, these orchids bloom in late spring and early summer, and in cultivation from September to November.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Orchid Care:
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Temperature:
The plant is thermophilic. In summer, the average daily temperature is +24°C, at night +15°C, the daily difference is 8–9°C.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Lighting:
30000-40000 lux. In the places where this orchid grows, due to heavy cloudiness in summer and early autumn, the illumination is low, but in winter the weather is clear and sunny. These seasonal changes should be recreated in care, shading the orchid in the summer, especially in the middle of the day, and in the fall and winter, providing it with as much light as possible, but not allowing the leaves to burn.
Watering:
In late summer and early autumn, heavy rains fall, then after a short transitional period, a winter drought occurs, lasting 4 months.
Fertilizer for Cymbidium Erythrostylum:
During the period of active growth, the Cymbidium Erythrostylum is fed weekly with a normal dose of fertilizer for ordinary houseplants or a double dose of fertilizer for orchids. Many orchid growers advise using a fertilizer with less nitrogen and more phosphorus in the fall to encourage next season’s blooms and strengthen new growth before winter.
To avoid salinization of the substrate during the period of intensive feeding, it is recommended to wash the substrate about once a month. This is especially important in areas with hard water. Washing is done as follows: first, the plant is watered as usual to dissolve the accumulated salts, and after about an hour, the substrate is shed with water in an amount equal to twice the volume of the pot.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Substrate:
During the growing season, Cymbidium Erythrostylum need to constantly maintain a fairly high level of humidity, while the substrate must be loose and quick-drying, because the roots quickly begin to rot in wet or dense soil. It is best to use a mixture based on pine bark and chopped tree fern fibers, to which chopped sphagnum, osmunda fern roots, coarse sand, perlite, charcoal and fibrous peat are often added in varying proportions. Some orchidists use pine bark of medium or large fraction as a substrate without any additives. This substrate also gives good results: medium-sized bark is placed in the lower part of the pot, and small pieces of bark mixed with 10% perlite and 10% charcoal are poured into the upper part.
The plant needs to be repotted every two years, but if it has grown beyond the pot or if the substrate has begun to decompose, then even more often. Transplantation is carried out in late winter, when the orchid forms new growths and does not bloom, or immediately after flowering, trying not to damage the new fragile roots.
Air humidity:
Cymbidium Erythrostylum air humidity 75-85% most of the year.
Cymbidium Erythrostylum Orchid Rest period:
In winter, average daytime temperatures are +23–25°C, nighttime temperatures are +10–12°C, the daily difference increases to 12–14°C for Cymbidium Erythrostylum. In nature, for four months in winter and early spring, there is little rain, so watering is reduced at this time. High humidity and cold nights cause heavy dew to appear. Water also comes in the form of drizzle and fog. In culture, these conditions can be simulated by periodically spraying the orchid in the morning in combination with rare (once every 2-3 weeks) watering. It is advisable to do this in clear sunny weather. Top dressing is limited or completely stopped until spring, when the orchid resumes growth and can again be watered abundantly.
