Cymbidium lowianum

Also known as: Low's Cymbidium or Cymbidium lowianum h.f. aureum Cymbidium lowianum h.f. flaveolum Cymbidium lowii Cymbidium giganteum var. lowianum Cymbidium hookerianum var. lowianum Cyperorchis lowiana Cymbidium lowianum var. kalawense Cymbidium lowianum var. viride Cymbidium lowianum h.v. pitts Cymbidium lowianum var. superbissimum Cymbidium lowianum h.v. i'ansonii Cyperorchis iansonii Cymbidium mandaianum Cymbidium grandiflorum var. kalawense Cymbidium lowianum var. iansonii Cymbidium lowianum var. ailaoense Cymbidium lowianum f. concolor Cymbidium lowianum var. concolor Cymbidium lowianum var. lowianum Cymbidium iansonii Cymbidium i'ansonii in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: China Thailand

General Information

Low's Cymbidium is a sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to China and Thailand. It is named after the English Nursuryman in the 19th century.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 100cm. Each new growth has numerous arching leaves that grow to 61-91cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 5-13cm

Flowers

Numerous long lasting, fragrant blossoms appear

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Small
• Fine
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Treefern
• Spaghnum Moss
• Perlite
• Sand

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

Grows at high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 0mm to 284mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 44% to 80%, highest in August and lowest in April. Temperature ranges from 4C to 28C, highest in April (16C to 28C) and lowest in January (4C to 18C).

Fertiliser

These plants thrive on fertiliser, especially during periods of growth. Liquid fertiliser can be applied year round at the recommended strength, augmented with manure pellets or other quickly degradable fertiliser, applied away from the base of the plant, during periods of strong growth. Slow release pellets can also be applied year round at the rate of 2-3 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, and by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears. 

Use balanced fertiliser year round. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser during Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.

Potting

It's best to observe the root system when repotting and use that as a guide:

A plant with a short root system will do better in a shallower pot with a fine mix, or mounted on fern or cork supplanted with a good amount of moss or similar material.

A plant with a long root system often does well in a pot filled with moss or fine media, mixing in perlite and charcoal is always beneficial to reduce the likelihood of the mix becoming soggy and keeps it fresh.

A plant with a coarser long root system can be potted in a deeper pot, but with 2/3 coarse material such as bark, expanded clay, or coco chips and topped with moss or similar material. This will allow the moisture to remain inside the pot but give the roots air as well.