Cymbidium 'Cali Night'

RHS Plant Profile

boat orchid 'Cali Night'

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse

An evergreen, epiphytic orchid with narrowly oval leaves to around 60cm long. From winter into spring, long, erect to arching stems bear flowers of the deepest purple to nearly black edged with a thin white line

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

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: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown at temperatures of around 16°C in the day and 10°C at night. Ensure adequate light levels, but avoid direct sunlight. Water thoroughly when the growing medium is almost dry and allow to drain; allow to dry out between watering during the winter. Fertilise regularly and re-pot after flowering when pot bound using a suitable orchid compost. If possible, put the plant outside in dappled shade after the last frost and bring back in before the frosts start to aid flower initiation. See indoor orchid cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division; remove and replant old pseudobulbs when repotting in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free