Description
IMPORTANT NOTE: these plants are NOT IN BUD/BLOOM when shipped. PLEASE look at all the pictures in this listing so you know the condition/size of plant you’ll be getting.
Cymbidium Equinox ‘Mana’
Twice a year, the Earth moves to places in its orbit where the Sun shines most directly on the equator, and every place on the planet receives an equal amount of day and night. These days are known as the spring equinox and fall equinox, and mark the change in seasons. If you’re on the equator on one the equinox days, be sure to wear a hat, as the Sun’s rays will be beating down on you more directly than at any other time of the year. Cym Equinox ‘Mana’ is perfectly named, since it makes a flowers that look like the hot equatorial sun on an equinox: a pure and intensely bright yellow. The reason for the pure yellow color of this flower is that this variety is an albino, and does not express anthocyanin pigments (which make red and brown shades). Cym Equinox ‘Mana’ does make caratenoids (and plenty of them), which show up as yellow. Serious orchid collectors covet certain albinos, as some albino variants of certain species may be very rare. Pure albino Cymbidiums may not be exceedingly rare, but they are uncommon and very distinctive.
This Cymbidium hybrid, like virtually all Cymbidium hybrids, is very easy to grow and bloom. It is bred to be warm-tolerant, so it doesn’t need a winter drop in temps into the 40s F to set bud, making it a great choice for growers in places with equatorial heat — like Florida!
Cym Equinox ‘Mana’ will bring a bit of distinction and sunshine to your orchid collection!
ABOUT CYMBIDIUMS AND WHY THEY’RE GREAT
Cymbidium orchids are one of the most popular orchid types grown in the world.
Many excellent qualities make them favorites in the flower world:
COLORFUL FLOWERS — Breeders have done an excellent job producing an incredible variety of colors. Colors, spots, splashes: cymbidium blooms have them all.
SHOWY FLOWER SPIKES — Some types hold their spikes erect with big, round flowers and others produce pendulous spikes with graceful arching flowers.
LOTS OF FLOWERS — Some varieties can have 30+ flowers on a single spike! Most modern hybrids have at least ten.
LONG-LASTING BLOOMS — Many modern Cymbidium blooms stay open for two months (or more!).
EASY TO GROW — I usually recommend using reverse osmosis/rainwater/distilled water on orchids when possible, but Cymbidiums don’t seem to need it. They grow outside in non-freezing zones and are used as landscape plants and get the same water as all the other plants. (Of course, using RO/rainwater/distilled doesn’t hurt!)
EASY TO BLOOM — Cymbidiums are not fussy about blooming. They bloom regularly year after year, unlike a lot of other orchids who take up room and board but don’t bloom or do much else! Sort of like kids these days.
HARDY — A mature Cymbidium is a beast of plant. Big, tough bulbs, and thick, stiff leaves make them tough plants that can handle a lot. No shrinking violets, these!
HOW TO GROW THIS CYMBIDIUM
Cymbidium orchids are among the easiest orchids to grow. They grow well in chunky orchid bark (fir bark typically), or thoroughly rinsed coconut husk. Avoid overpotting (i.e., putting the plant in a pot that is too big) — select a pot that is not too snug but also leaves room for growth. Make sure your pot has drainage holes at the bottom. Water twice per week, and fertilize lightly every week or so with any balanced fertilizer. For smaller plants, avoid frost; larger plants can handle near freezing temperatures, but do not leave outside if you grow in an area that gets snow. For blooming size plants (usually three growths/bulbs), allow the plant to experience cooler temperatures (in the 40s F) to set the bud the following season. Larger plants can handle bright light, but younger plants should be grown in bright shade or allowed to receive diffuse light.
