Cymbidium mastersii

Also known as: Master's Cymbidium or Cymbidium mastersii h.f. album Cymbidium affine Cymbidium micromeson Cymbidium mastersii var. album Cymbidium maguanense in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Manipur - India Sikkim - India Thailand

General Information

Master's Cymbidium is a cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to India and Thailand. It is named after the Gardener at Calcutta Botanical Garden in the 19th century.

Plant Description

Grows to 50cm. Each new growth has numerous arching leaves that grow to 64cm long

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Small
• Fine
• Bark
• Charcoal
• 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 6C to 29C, highest in April (17C to 29C) and lowest in January (6C to 20C).

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Use balanced fertiliser year round. Be sure to flush out excess fertiliser by running water through the media regularly year round. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser year round. 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.