Bob mentioned cymbidiums standing in water.
Is this the right treatment to get them to flower?
I've had one which has not flowered for at least 15 years.
Last year it was so big that I split it into 5 and kept one.
The guy who runs the Writhlington School Orchid Project said that they
need to stand in water, outside, in summer.
Does it work?I've always understood that orchids generally should not
stand in water but I'm trying the wet treatment. Not difficult this
weather!

Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote

Bob mentioned cymbidiums standing in water.
Is this the right treatment to get them to flower?
I've had one which has not flowered for at least 15 years.
Last year it was so big that I split it into 5 and kept one.
The guy who runs the Writhlington School Orchid Project said that they
need to stand in water, outside, in summer.
Does it work?I've always understood that orchids generally should not
stand in water but I'm trying the wet treatment. Not difficult this
weather!


I would not let them stand in water, but if that guy says it's OK then it
must be, he is an expert and has done an excellent job at that school
inspiring the kids.
What I have found is they like a lot of feed, much more than the books say
for orchids usually and a feed or two of Tomato feed late in the summer
might also help flowering. They also need a cold spell, but not frost, to
initiate flowering. I leave ours outside until frost is forecast, it's been
as late as November, so they get lots of cool/cold nights and then bring
them into a frost free but cool place (unheated garage with a twin walled
plastic roof) for the winter. Flower spikes are usually initiated early in
the new year and are easy to break off at first, I speak from experience.
:-(
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 07/07/2012 10:23, Pam Moore wrote:
Bob mentioned cymbidiums standing in water.
Is this the right treatment to get them to flower?
I've had one which has not flowered for at least 15 years.
Last year it was so big that I split it into 5 and kept one.
The guy who runs the Writhlington School Orchid Project said that they
need to stand in water, outside, in summer.
Does it work?I've always understood that orchids generally should not
stand in water but I'm trying the wet treatment. Not difficult this
weather!

Pam in Bristol


I should think a shallow tray to hold no more than an inch of water.
I was always told somewhere cool and shaded for the summer, but remember
slugs will go for them.
David @ the damp end of Swansea Bay

On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:08:47 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

On 07/07/2012 10:23, Pam Moore wrote:
Bob mentioned cymbidiums standing in water.
Is this the right treatment to get them to flower?
I've had one which has not flowered for at least 15 years.
Last year it was so big that I split it into 5 and kept one.
The guy who runs the Writhlington School Orchid Project said that they
need to stand in water, outside, in summer.
Does it work?I've always understood that orchids generally should not
stand in water but I'm trying the wet treatment. Not difficult this
weather!

Pam in Bristol


I should think a shallow tray to hold no more than an inch of water.
I was always told somewhere cool and shaded for the summer, but remember
slugs will go for them.
David @ the damp end of Swansea Bay

Thanks Dave and Bob.
I've put mine out the last few summers, but shady and quite dry.
Will experiment with wetter this summer. The Writhlington guy really
knows his stuff and their open day in Sept is a real eye-opener for
orchid fans. Saw they had a girl from the project on thursday's
Hampton Court prog, but talking about working in horticulture not
orchids. The school got a complete new building partly on the
strength of the Orchid Project.

Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote ...

David Hill wrote:

Pam Moore wrote:
Bob mentioned cymbidiums standing in water.
Is this the right treatment to get them to flower?
I've had one which has not flowered for at least 15 years.
Last year it was so big that I split it into 5 and kept one.
The guy who runs the Writhlington School Orchid Project said that they
need to stand in water, outside, in summer.
Does it work?I've always understood that orchids generally should not
stand in water but I'm trying the wet treatment. Not difficult this
weather!

Pam in Bristol


I should think a shallow tray to hold no more than an inch of water.
I was always told somewhere cool and shaded for the summer, but remember
slugs will go for them.
David @ the damp end of Swansea Bay

Thanks Dave and Bob.
I've put mine out the last few summers, but shady and quite dry.
Will experiment with wetter this summer. The Writhlington guy really
knows his stuff and their open day in Sept is a real eye-opener for
orchid fans. Saw they had a girl from the project on thursday's
Hampton Court prog, but talking about working in horticulture not
orchids. The school got a complete new building partly on the
strength of the Orchid Project.


When they say shady I think they mean little sun but open aspect, however a
friend that knows little about orchids grew his as a patio plant on a S.
facing patio, full sun most of the day, watered it with watered down wormery
water and always had an amazing number of flower spikes.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK