As I write this in the first week of November, there is almost a full month of spring still to come, yet it’s most important during the hotter months that you don’t allow the mix in your pots to completely dry out. Keep an eye on the weather, as the temperature rises, in excess of mid-twenties on a constant basis, its necessary to water your plants more often. I water daily. Early in the morning (6:00am) while the weather is still relatively liveable. However as soon as we start to get temperatures of 32⁰-33⁰ or above I water twice a day. In the morning and mid to late afternoon. The increase in water and humidity can sometimes cause or contribute to an increase in fungal problems E.g. bulb rot. If this occurs, remove the affected bulbs immediately. If you leave the rotten bulbs in the pot the problem can spread to other bulbs and destroy the whole plant. Mancozeb Plus and or Fongarid can help control fungal problems.

At this time of the year, Cymbidiums thrive on being fed a little, and often. I use slow release fertilizer in conjunction with liquid or soluble fertilizers. At a rate of about ¼ to ½ whatever it says on the pack. 4 out of every 5 times that I water. Obviously this means that in the hot weather they get more, and they love it. For the plants that have just been re-potted Etc. or those that will not flower before next season, I use high Nitrogen fertilizer/s. For those that are still in flower or are about to flower between now and Christmas, I use high Potassium fertilizer E.g. Manutec liquid Potash, or Polyfeed.

This is also the time when Red Spider Mite/2 Spotted Mite will start to pose a threat. Watch for evidence on the underside of the leaves of your Cym’s. It will look a little like a very fine spider’s web all over the underside of the leaf, but it won’t come off if you rub it. If it is at all possible ensure the underside of the leaves get thoroughly wet when you water your plants. It may be necessary to increase the space between pots to allow this to happen. There are lots of Miticide sprays available. Most are ‘kill on contact’ sprays, that need to be applied once to kill the adult mites, then again 10 days or so later to kill any newly hatched mites. It is imperative to read and follow the instructions on the pack, and follow all the safety precautions. Otherwise it won’t just be the Mites that are feeling crook.

These mites love hot dry conditions with little or no air movement, so you may have to repeat action’s to control them, several times during the Summer and Autumn months. About every 5-6 weeks is recommended.