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All About Cymbidium Orchids
About Cymbidium Orchids
- Cymbidium Orchids, also known as boat orchids, are renowned for their striking beauty and elegant blooms that come in a variety of colors including white, green, yellow, pink, and red.
- These orchids are popular for their long-lasting flowers and are often used in floral arrangements and corsages.
- Cymbidium Orchids have pseudobulbs and long, arching leaves, with flower spikes that can bear numerous blooms.

Processing & Storage
- Start with clean, sanitized buckets (use FloraLife® D.C.D.® Cleaner).
- Cymbidium should be purchased when at least two flowers per spike are open, or fully open if the bloom is purchased individually.
- Check spikes for perky, vibrant flowers free of spots, discoloration, or mechanical damage.
- Ensure flowers are hydrated in orchid tubes or check water levels in existing tubes and top up as needed.
- If you receive dry-packed, we recommend conditioning of stem ends to prevent blockage and promote solution uptake. Cut approximately 1” or more off stems. Use clean, sanitized clippers or knife, and treat with FloraLife® Quick Dip.
- Place flowers in a flower food solution such as FloraLife® Express 300 per manufacturer’s directions. Do not put flowers directly in metal/galvanized buckets. Use clean, high-quality water that has not been treated with a water softener as the salt levels can be damaging to flowers.
- Store in a cooler at 34 - 38° F (1-3° C) with a relative humidity of 75-85%.
- Allow a minimum of 2 hours to hydrate by placing buckets in an area with good airflow.
- Always remember FIFO (first in/first out) when rotating flowers.
Finish
- For corsages or boutonnieres, use orchid tubes to maintain hydration.
- Apply FloraLife® Finishing Touch® Spray as a final step to refresh and hydrate before Cymbidiums leave the shop.
Customer Care/Tips & Tricks
- Use wired support for stems in large arrangements to maintain upright posture.
- Cymbidiums perform well in foam but have a shorter shelf life than if displayed in vase with solution.
- Never store or display fresh-cut flowers near ripening produce, direct sunlight, extreme heat, cold, or drafts.
- Your best insurance policy? Send customers home with a FloraLife® Express Flower Food packet. Advise customers to repeat care and handling steps on the packet every 3 days or as needed for maximum enjoyment.