Springfield Orchids

Leaf burn on cymbidium orchids in heatwaves.

Perth is currently going through a second heatwave in a week i.e. daily temperatures rising to 38 - 41 degrees Celsius (100 - 106 degrees Fahrenheit) with minimums overnight in their 20's (i.e. 70+ Fahrenheit) - continuously over a 4 to 5 day period.

My experience over 39 years in the same location has rarely seen any signs of leaf burn, but last week was different. Most of the burn has been on older leaves and plants with hookerianum (grandiflorum), erythrostylum, devonianum and tracyanum close-up in their genetic make-up appear to have been hit the hardest.

It suggests that 70% shadecloth and a good morning watering is no longer sufficient to fully protect cymbidium plants during these heatwave occasions.

Storing Pollen

Quite often, I like to mate two cymbidiums that are not in flower at the same time or even in the same year.

How can that be done?

Quite simply - if you store pollen.

The images below show how I go about it. Specifically:
a. choose the plant that you wish to retrieve pollen from
b. remove the pollen (i.e. anther) cap
c. remove the pollen with a small piece of twisty tie. If the pollen is not bright yellow (i.e. discoloured), forget it as it won't be viable.
d. place the removed pollen in tissue showing the plant name and date that the pollen was removed
e. put the folded tissue in an envelope - again with the relevant details on the envelope
f. put the envelope in a sealed plastic container and place it in the crisper section of the fridge, ready for future use.

If you've ever wondered about it, give it a go. It works.