Read more of cultivation of Cynorkis gibbosa Ridl.
Light:
1200-1800 fc. Plants require shady conditions and should be protected from bright light. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Summer days average 82-84F (28-29C), and nights average 64-65F (18C), with a diurnal range of 17-20F (9-11C). These temperatures are the average conditions under which this species grows. Because of the range in habitat elevation, plants should adapt to temperatures 3-5F (2-3C) warmer or cooler than indicated.
Humidity:
75-80% most of the year, dropping to 65-70% for about 4 months in late winter and spring.
Water:
Rainfall is moderate to very heavy from late spring to autumn. Average rainfall then drops rapidly into a five-month dry season that starts in late autumn and lasts until early spring. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but their roots must dry rapidly after watering.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers prefer to use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; but others use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to one high in phosphates in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days average 72-74F (22-23C), and nights average 52-54F (11-12C), with a diurnal range of 19-22F (11-12C). These temperatures reflect the average conditions under which this species should be grown. Growers are reminded that because of the range in habitat elevation these plants should adapt to conditions that are 3-5F (2-3C) warmer or cooler than indicated. Rainfall in the habitat is low from autumn to early spring and in the northern parts of the island the dry season lasts even longer. Humidity is high throughout the year, however, so considerable moisture is available from heavy dew and late-night mist. Cultivated plants need less water in late autumn through winter, but they should be watered periodically so that the medium never dries out completely. Fertilizer should be eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
Growing media:
Hawkes (1965) suggested that "These orchids are best grown in rather shallow, perfectly-drained pots or pans, filled with a porous compost of shredded osmunda, fibrous loam, gritty sand, and chopped sphagnum moss." He stated, "Most of the Cynorkis have somewhat tuberous roots, and are at least partially deciduous. Although they require quantities of water while in active growth, when the foliage starts to become yellow and wither, moisture should be virtually stopped. Care must be taken, however, that the compost never dries our completely, or the tubers may become overly desiccated. When the new shoots again appear at the surface, water should be resumed." Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium becomes stale or remains soggy after watering as these plants are very intolerant of sour conditions at the roots. With this in mind, it is probably advisable to repot every year while the plant is dormant, particularly if chopped sphagnum moss is included in the potting mix.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
