The hybrid Cambria orchid, the other queen of orchids
There's no need to look for Cambria in the Amazon jungle or in the forests of Southeast Asia. The genus comprises only varieties created by horticulturists. Hybrid Cambria orchids have inherited pseudobulbs and spectacular flowering from their wild ancestors. Today, they are the second best-selling orchid in the world, just behind phalaenopsis hybrid.
How to recognize a hybrid Cambria orchid?
Cambria orchids are upright epiphytes. The largest specimens measure up to a metre in height, and have a light-green, swollen pseudobulb at the base. This contains the reserves essential to the plant's development, and supports the lanceolate leaves.
Flower stalks grow from the heart of the foliage. Each stem can bear up to 100 flowers. Flowering occurs at any time of the year, and generally lasts two months. The star-shaped flowers have three sepals, three petals and a labellum. Size and color depend on the cultivar. Red, white, violet, pink, yellow or brown, they come in all shades except blue. Some varieties, like cambria orchids Nelly Isler, have plain petals. Others, such as vuylstekeara Cambria orchids, feature zebra and variegated petals.
The hybrid Cambria orchid is non-toxic. You can enjoy its blooms even if you live with young children or pets.
Our maintenance tips
Light and humidity are key to keeping cambria hybrids in top form. To stimulate flowering, don't hesitate to take the plant outdoors between June and September.
Watering
Place your Hybrid Cambria in its pot in a container at least twice as large. Pour room-temperature, non-calcareous water into the larger container.
Soak your Hybrid Cambria for 15 to 20 minutes, then put the plant back in its place. If you're using a saucer or planter, don't let the water stagnate. You risk rotting the roots.
Spray
Mist foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
Also spray the substrate to keep it slightly moist.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Cambria hybride to give it more space.
Cambria hybrids are epiphytic. To repot them, use a special orchid mix of bark and sphagnum moss.
You can use a pierced, transparent or opaque pot. Choose a container only slightly larger than the previous one - your plant likes to be cramped!
Remove your Hybrid Cambria from its pot. Remove the substrate from the roots. Pseudobulbs flower only once. Take advantage of repotting to remove those that have already flowered and those that have dried out. You can cut them off with clean, sharp pruning shears.
Your plant is growing forward. To give it more room, place the oldest pseudobulbs at the bottom of the pot. Fill in with substrate and pack lightly, without damaging the roots.
Start watering from the top, using non-calcareous water at room temperature.
If the air in your home is dry, place the pot on a saucer filled with moist clay balls. Water evaporation will improve humidity.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Cambria hybride, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
To stimulate the growth of your Hybrid Cambria add orchid fertilizer to the water.
Prune
Always use a clean instrument to prevent the spread of disease.
After flowering, remove the flowering stems. Pseudobulbs flower only once. You can cut them off at the base with pruning shears.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Enter your Hybrid Cambria. If the plant has at least six pseudobulbs, you can divide it. The rule is to keep at least three healthy bulbs and one young shoot for each subject.
Prepare a pierced pot filled with a mixture for epiphytic plants. Orchid substrate made from bark and sphagnum moss is ideal.
New pseudobulbs form in front of the old ones. Place them at the back of the pot, against a wall. This will give your Hybrid Cambria plenty of room to grow. Fill in with the growing medium and tamp gently.
Water for the first time from above.
For one month, stop adding fertilizer and water from above.
For one month, stop adding fertilizer and water from above.
Diseases / Threats
Information
Family | Orchids - Orchidaceae |
Type | Cambria - Cambria |
Species | Hybrid Cambria - Cambria hybride |
Lifecycle | Perennial |
Foliage | Evergreen |
Exposure | |
Substrat | |
Planting methods |
In pots Bucket |
Categories | |
Tags |
Flowery Fritillary |
Origins |
Central America South America |
Hardiness (USDA) | 12a |
Leaf color |
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Flower colors |
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