The Red Column Cymbidium is native to Vietnam, where it can be encountered on trees, in the ground or on rocks at elevations around 1500 meters. This species has narrow-ovoid, bilaterally flattened pseudobulbs with 2 to 3, scarious with age cataphylls and carries, 6 to 8, thin, narrowly linear-obovate, arched, unequally apiculate apice leaves. It is best grown cool and will bloom in the late summer and fall on a basal, erect or arching, 2' (60 cm) long, racemose scape with basal sheaths and 4 to 10, long-lasting, non-fragrant flowers.
Cymbidium erythrostylum orchid, also called as The Red Column Cymbidium, is a species of the genus Cymbidium. Several synonyms are know for this species such as: "Cyperorchis erythrostyla (Rolfe) Schltr. 1924"; "Cymbidium erythrostylum f. luteoalbum Grüss & Roeth 2010"; "Cymbidium erythrostylum var magnificum Hort 1931". This species was first described by Rolfe in 1905.
IDENTIFY CYMBIDIUM ERYTHROSTYLUM ORCHID
The Red Column Cymbidium is native to Vietnam, where it can be encountered on trees, in the ground or on rocks at elevations around 1500 meters.
This species has narrow-ovoid, bilaterally flattened pseudobulbs with 2 to 3, scarious with age cataphylls and carries, 6 to 8, thin, narrowly linear-obovate, arched, unequally apiculate apice leaves. It is best grown cool and will bloom in the late summer and fall on a basal, erect or arching, 2' (60 cm) long, racemose scape with basal sheaths and 4 to 10, long-lasting, non-fragrant flowers.
Cymbidium erythrostylum is one of the most beautiful of all cymbidiums, each blossom is about 1.2 inch (6 cm) across. The appear triangular with broad, flat sepals that open fully, and petals that point forward and cover the column and the base of the lip. Sepals and petals are white with a texture that glistens as though they have been frosted. The lower end of the petals, which are pale pink along the mid-vein, are sometimes spotted with pink at the base. The lip is yellow-white, with darker yellow on the midlobe. It has strong deep red veins become broken and spotted near the edges of the sidelobes.
GROW AND CARE CYMBIDIUM ERYTHROSTYLUM ORCHID
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Temperature:
This is one of the few cymbidium species that prefers warm temperatures. In summer, when the average temperature is 24 °C, night 15 °C , with an amplitude daily 8 - 9 °C. In Spring, Autumn and Winter, night-time temperatures may drop to between 50 °F (Winter) and 60 °F (Spring and Autumn).
Light:
The plant requires about 30000 - 40000 lux. In the natural environment, sunshine in the summer and early autumn is low because it is limited due to the presence of strong clouds combined with summer monsoons. So in Summer this orchid likes to be kept shaded - not bright light and no direct sun - but provide as much light as possible during the rest of the year (still no direct sun o avoid the leaves to burn).
Humidity and watering:
Recommended humidity is 75-85% for most of the year and needs be kept moist in the growing season. Water well from Spring through to Autumn, but decrease and increase water gradually through Autumn and Spring respectively and keep dryer (not dry) through the winter months.
Substrate, growing medium:
The medium also needs to be free-draining to avoid rotting the roots. Growers will find the mix that suits them and their plants best. Suggestions include a mixture based on pine bark and sliced fibers of a tree fern, which is often added with cut sphagnum, osmunda fern roots, coarse sand, perlite, charcoal and fibrous peat in different proportions, but there are many other possibilities.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizer, may be every week with a normal dose of herbaceous fertilizer or a double dose of fertilizer for orchids, used while the plant is in active growth, but the growing medium should be flushed out regularly to avoid any build up of salts. It is recommended to rinse the containers approximately every month. Rinsing is particularly important where the water is highly mineralized. First, normally, the plant should be watered to dissolve the accumulated salts, and after about an hour, rinse the substrate with water equal to twice the volume of the container.
Repotting:
Plants should be repotted every two years, or more often if the plant outgrows the pot or if the media breaks down. Repotting should be carried out in the Spring, just as the plant is beginning its growth cycle, ideally without disturbing the roots. Otherwise replanting should be done as early as possible after flowering.
Pest control:
Cymbidium erythrostylum orchid are susceptible to red spider mite so check them frequently for any sign of this pernicious pest. Keeping the leaves clean by washing or wiping them weekly will help, as will raising the humidity around them, but sometimes it might be necessary to spray.
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