Went down to McBeans today to get some compost and whilst there Sue picked
up a couple of their "How to grow" leaflets, one on cymbidiums.

We have talked on URG about the requirement for a temperature differential,
a reasonable night drop in temperature, as the key to initiate flower spike
production which is normally obtained by putting the plants outside for the
summer to early autumn.
However it also says in very bold print " To help flower spike initiation,
do not give any fertiliser during July" which is not something I've heard
before.
It goes on to talk about plants in spike and says " It's very important that
the night temperature falls below 15°C (58°F) when the flower buds are
developing otherwise they may drop off prematurely"

Sue also picked up some superb condition large Phalaenopsis "luck dip"
plants out of spike for £5 each, too good to miss.

-- Regards
Bob Hobden
Posting to this Newsgroup
from the W.of London. UK