Why Cymbidium Orchid Not Flowering?

Cymbidium orchids are peculiar compared to Moth Orchids in that they thrive best in moderate temperatures, an aspect that has implications regarding its re-flowering.

Besides temperature, other factors like lighting and watering also influence blooming. If you’re worried that your cymbidium orchid might not re-bloom, follow my tips below to trigger a repeat flowering in your orchid.

How to Get Your Cymbidium Orchid Flower Again?

If your Cymbidium orchid shows no signs of wanting to bloom again, I usually advise going back to the basics of caring for this type of orchid.

A few changes here and there can add up and can prepare your Cymbidium for another blooming cycle. So, here’s what to watch out for:

Lighting

Orchids in general require a lot of light and the Cymbidium is no different. Aim for 12 hours of diffuse light per day. Placing these orchids near a south-east or east-facing window should do the trick.

If you’re not sure that your orchid is getting enough light, check the leaves. Are the leaves apple green? Congratulations! Your Cymbidium is getting the right amount of light?

Dark green leaves on your orchid signal lack of enough light, while yellow spotted leaves signal too much light, especially direct light, which is not good for orchids.

Temperature

Cymbidiums actually prefer moderate temperatures over high temperatures. These orchids are cold-tolerant, and to retrigger blooming, you will need to lower nighttime temperatures for a couple of weeks.

Aim to lower the temperature by 10 degrees. This will aid in the growth of flower spikes and the formation of flower buds.

Watering

You need to keep the soil slightly moist but not so wet that you might induce rotting. Aim to water your orchid every 7 to 10 days, depending on the season and environmental conditions in your home.

Make sure your orchid’s soil drains well to prevent the roots from sitting in the water for too long.

Repotting

When the roots of your orchid seem to be overflowing the pot, it’s time to transfer the plant to a bigger pot. While doing so, trim the roots of dead or damaged parts.

Use a well-draining orchid potting mix (check to see if it contains composted bark and peat moss) and pick a pot that’s one size larger.

You need to be patient if you’re hoping for a repeat flowering after repotting. At this stage, the plant will invest in developing strong roots and it can take 6 to 12 months for it to bloom again.

Fertilizing

Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength to fertilize your orchid weekly spring through summer. Don’t overfertilize, it can hinder blooming.

When do Cymbidium Orchids Flower?

Cymbidium blooms from autumn to spring. Late autumn and winter is when flower spikes start budding and blooming can be expected from late winter to late spring.

During the flowering phase, you need to continue caring for your orchid, especially when it comes to light, temperature and watering. Disturbances in these factors can cause the orchid to shed its buds.

Why do Cymbidium Orchid Flowers Falling Off?

Cymbidium flowers can last anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks, sometimes even more. So, flower buds suddenly falling off or flowers falling off immediately after blooming are signs that something is off in the orchid’s environment.

Some of the most common reasons include:

• Root rot caused by overwatering
• Extreme temperatures
• Humidity issues
• Overfertilizing
• Pests

There’s normal loss of flowers, when blooms fall off one-by-one at the end of the blooming cycle and the flower spikes become spent. And there’s bloom loss caused by environmental changes.

Root rot caused by overwatering or root burn caused by fertilizing can result in the orchid shedding its flowers.

Likewise, if temperatures become suddenly too high or the orchid is exposed to freezing temperatures, its flowers can prematurely fall off. When this happens, usually all the blooms fall off in a short period after the triggering event.

Humidity issues can also contribute, especially if the air is extremely dry. Pests like aphids and mealybugs can also trigger bloom blast.

How Many Times do Cymbidium Orchid Bloom?

Cymbidium orchids will usually bloom only once a year between late autumn and early or mid-spring. Some newer Cymbidium hybrids can bloom twice a year. Blooms can last one to three months.

Cymbidiums are more peculiar about their environment than Phalaenopsis orchids, despite better handling cold temperatures.

They also require a lot of light, the chief reason why the plant is often moved outdoors in the summer. Indoors, it will often not receive the amount of light it needs.

Cymbidium Orchid Care After Flowering

After the flowers on your Cymbidium are spent, there are a few things you should do ‘maintenance’-wise to prepare your Cymbidium for a new blooming cycle.

Here are my go-to Cymbidium after-flowering care tips:

– Remove flower spikes

The flower spikes of your Cymbidium will not carry blooms again, unlike Phalaenopsis orchids, so you can go ahead and remove them by cutting them down all the way to the base of the plant.

– Repot if needed

If it’s time to repot your orchid, do it in spring, after the flowering has finished. Clean the roots, refresh the potting medium and pick a pot that’s about 1 inch larger than the current put. Cymbidiums like to fit snugly into their pots.

– Fertilizing

After blooming, you can resume the fertilizing regimen of your orchid. This will replenish your orchid with nutrients and sustain its strong root development and plant growth.

Continue the watering regimen and make sure your orchid gets plenty of indirect light.

Wrapping Up

Cymbidium orchids will usually only flower once a year, but when they do, the flowers can last for months, so the frustration of missing this period is understandable.

Usually, the problem is easy to fix by making some slight changes in the environment of your Cymbidium. Go back to the basics of orchid care to figure out what’s missing in your orchid’s care.

Make sure your orchid’s needs are being met, that your flowering aftercare regimen is airtight, and you can enjoy repeat flowerings year after year.