Cymbidium Tiger Tail gx

RHS Plant Profile

boat orchid Tiger Tail gx

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse

A dwarf, free-flowering terrestrial orchid to 30cm tall and wide with ovoid pseudobulbs and linear leaves 30cm long. Produces several gently arching spikes with about 5 brown-shaded, lemon-yellow to olive-green flowers 6cm across, with a contrasting white-tinged pink lip, in upright racemes and holding its flowers above the leaves, during early winter

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Cymbidium are epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial orchids with prominent spherical to ovoid pseudobulbs, long linear leaves and fleshy white roots. Several long lasting showy flowers with a distinctive 3-lobed lip are borne on erect or arching flower spikes from the bases of the pseudobulbs
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Requires day temperatures around 16°C and 10°C at night. Provide good light levels, but avoid direct sunlight. Pot firmly into epiphytic or terrestrial orchid compost, water thoroughly when compost is almost dry, allow to drain and use orchid fertiliser at every third watering. Water sparingly in winter. Place outside in dappled shade during the summer months to aid flower initiation. See cymbidium cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division of pseudobulbs when pot-bound or repotting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required, cut flowered stems to the base

Pests

Aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs could be a problem

Diseases

Generally disease-free. Sterilising cutting tools may prevent virus diseases, such as Cymbidium Mosaic Virus (CMV).