Cymbidium iridioides

Also known as: The Iris or Cymbidium iridioides h.f. pallidum Cymbidium iridioides h.f. obscurum Cyperorchis gigantea Iridorchis gigantea Limodorum longifolium in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Bhutan China India Nepal

General Information

The Iris is a large sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 100cm. Each new growth has numerous arching elliptic leaves that grow to 2-90cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 2-17cm

Flowers

Numerous long lasting, fragrant blossoms appear during Summer, Autumn and Winter

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Blooming Season

• Autumn
• Summer
• Winter

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 5mm to 546mm per day, heaviest in June and lightest in December. Humidity ranges from 51% to 84%, highest in September and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 2C to 22C, highest in April (17C to 22C) and lowest in January (2C to 14C).

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. 

Be sure to flush out excess fertiliser by running water through the media regularly year round. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser during Winter. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser year round.

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.

Repotting is best done annually.