Cymbidium dayanum

As well as growing orchids in our greenhouses we have a loarge collection of orchids indoors in a number of the microhabitats offered by our house - cool shaded rooms and hot bright rooms.

The warmest brightest spot we have is near our south facing velux windows upstairs. Plants here get lots of direct sunlight throughout the year and the room can get very warm with temperatures regularly in the min 30s. There are several orchids that love these conditions including our toughest orchid - Myrmecophila tibicinis (the one right in the window) and Cymbidium dayanum now covered in flowers.

Cymbidium dayanum has an extensive natural range from Sikkim in the Himalayas through South East Asia as far as Taiwan and Japan in the East and Borneo in the South. Throughout its range it grows in warm forests sea level up to about 1300m and is reported commonly growing in on rotting trees and often in good light. We find that the species is very accomodating in cultivation and tolerant of both high and low temperatures. It particularly enjoys life as a house plant where its fine elegant leaves make it very attractive all year round. We find that it will flower in a shady spot but really enjoys exposure to full sun for a part of the day. we find that the key to success is to keep plants well watered all year.

Cymbidium dayanum is variable across its range with flowers becoming more red towards the South of its range - the extreme red form being Cymbidium dayanum var. angustifolium which we also grow. The form here is more typical of himalayan populations and the red and white striped flowers are an absolute joy. As you can see it produces muliple spikes from a small plant - a really easy and rewarding house plant.

We are please to have germinated seed of this species in our lab that will be ready for sale in about a years time. We have lots of Cymbidium dayanum var. angustifolium seedlings ready for sale.