Cymbidium ensifolium Care

Water your Cymbidium ensifolium thoroughly during active growth and hot, dry periods. As soon as you see the top inch of the soil drying out, you’ll know it’s time to water. Keep an eye on the drainage – the substrate at the roots shouldn’t capture excessive moisture. We recommend you water the plant in the early morning, so it has time to drain properly during the warm time of the day.

The four-season orchids don’t need pruning. Simply cut off the flower stems when the bloom fades.

Cymbidium ensifolium grows actively from September to mid-December. You should feed them an NPK fertilizer rich in nitrogen to help with the growth during this time. When flower spikes appear, apply fertilizer high in potash and phosphorous. Use a half or a quarter of the recommended amount of fertilizer every week (when you water more frequently, fertilizer gets washed out quicker). Don’t forget to water the plant before feeding to avoid root burn. Rinse the pot once or twice a month, so the minerals do not build up on the walls of your container.

Cymbidium ensifolium requires about 50% shading, especially in the summer period. Reduce shading to 20% during flowering. In winter, the plant can tolerate bright indirect sunlight. Keep an eye on the leaves: typically, they are pale yellow and turn bleach-white when burned. If it is too dark, your plant will look bright green and won’t bloom. In that case, you’ll want to provide your Cymbidium ensifolium with more light.

The substrate for your four-season orchids should be very loose and quickly drying. Put some medium granulation bark in the bottom half of the pot, adding a mixture of 30% fine bark, 10% perlite, and 10% charcoal on the top.

Dividing the mature plant is the easiest way to propagate at home. Wait till early or mid-spring until you see that your Cymbidium ensifolium has grown out of its container and has 3+ pseudobulbs. Repot in your standard substrate used for adult plants and follow the aforementioned watering guide.

Keep the temperature in your greenhouse at about 77-82.5˚F (25-28°C) in the daytime and 59-64.5˚F (15-18°C) at night. This fluctuation in temperatures lets the spikes initiate. To help the plant cool down in scorching evenings, sprinkle it with water. Evaporating moisture will do the deed.

A perfect pot for your Cymbidium ensifolium will be about 6 in (15 cm) wide and about 12-13 in (30 cm) tall. These plants have long, straight roots, which require such a shape for the pot. Excellent drainage is crucial. All orchids are sensitive when it comes to the roots, so make sure there are enough holes for the water to drain. To help these gorgeous flowers thrive, you’ll have to provide them with a proper replication of their native climate. Noble orchids are very proud plants: they won’t flourish on your standard windowsill. If you don’t live in a tropical zone and want to accept this challenge – arrange a greenhouse for your Cymbidium ensifolium.

The four-season orchid is so old that it has been known to people since the time of Confucius.