FAQ
Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions which may help you with your orchids. If you don’t find the answer you are looking for please feel free to contact McBean’s by email.
a. 3 nodes up from the base of the spike
a. No, this is mainly for the benefit of commercial growers, however they can be helpful to be able to see and check the roots
a. No, it’s better to sit it on a tray of wet gravel if you need to increase the humidity. However if you have lots of arial roots, these may need spraying. If the leaves look wrinkled, they are dehydrated.
a. Your Kitchen or bathroom are generally ideal because of the high humidity, however make sure to avoid any south facing windows in the summer.
a. Only water any orchid when it appears dry, and the pot feels a little lighter. This might be approximately once a week in the summer, however you will want to reduce watering in the winter. You will do far more damage overwatering your orchid than under watering.
a. It is always best to use rainwater where possible – that is all we ever use on the nursery.
a. Yes – this will help flowering and leaf growth. We have it available in our shop here. Do not use regular garden/ houseplant fertiliser as it is far too strong.
a. Make sure to stand it outside from mid May to mid October. Flower initiation depends on the difference between high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures. If your cymbidium is comfortable indoors all year, it will have no need to flower! Just make sure it doesn’t get too much sun outside, and bring it in well before the first frost.
a. When it is bursting from the pot, or has been in the same pot for over 5 years. Don’t be worried if it looks potbound – Cymbidiums love this! We offer a repotting service for £5 per plant/division. Contact us at Sales@mcbeans.com to book.
a. When the ratio of pseudobulbs-leaves looks unbalanced, and has many more bulbs than leaves, it is most likely time to divide.
a. We recommend using a dilute washing up liquid spray. This will suffocate the bugs, and is non-toxic. With mealy bug you want to check all the crevices and underside of the leaves. With scale you need to wipe off with a damp cloth, and then spray for maximum efficiency – their hard outer coating protects them very well. So make sure to do repeat spraying too. They are very hard to fully eradicate.
Please feel free to contact Mcbean’s directly for advice on 01273 400228 or at sales@mcbeans.com