This is the largest Cymbidium I have (I guess they are called ‘standard’), a delicate pale green, flowers are about 12 cm across. Current pot and plant are together more than 1.5 m tall. Only 4 spikes this winter, and they are all in different stages of development. Several years ago was its best blooming (last photo), all flowers opening more or less at the same time. I successfully propagated it from backbulbs (old leafless pseudobulbs) by separating them, removing all dried remaining leaf matter, and placing them in a ziplock bag. Nothing else in the bag, just put it in a dark closet, at room temperature, and in a month or two there were small new shoots. Gave them all to friends after I potted them and when they became a decent size. About a month before buds start opening this winter.
Update for Jan 9 on the two most developed spikes. At least 3 more weeks before flowers start to open. Even though the flowers are very large, I rarely get more than 5 buds per spike for this one, typically 3 to 5 (only once I got 7). If anyone knows the name of this hybrid, I will be very grateful.. I also learned that the sugary drops at the base of the buds and on the stem are the result of extra-floral nectaries, in order to attract ants for protection against other insects. Not very useful indoors.
I don't really know what all to look at. Do you think this looks the same? Cymbid Big Chief Kirawee - Cymbidium - Orchids - Flowers by category | Sierra Flower Finder
Wendy, this is it!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I have spent so much time trying to figure it out... But definitely, this is the hybrid, ‘Big Chief Kirawee’. Again, thank you so much!
Update for Feb 1, still nothing open but getting close. Buds are now about 5 cm long on the most developed spike. 4 spikes total, 3 with 5 and one with 6 buds.
The first spike is now all partially open. Still a lot of stretching and expanding for the flowers left. Quite cheerful on a cold February day when everything is snow-covered outside.
It is very hard to capture the velvety nature of the lip with a phone camera. This is the best I can do.
Here is how most Cymbidium flowers fade. First picture shows a flower that is still in a good condition. The second one shows a fading flower that has just few more days before it drops. The colors of the lip start‘bleeding’ into the surrounding areas. For a boutonnière a flower in decline is perfectly fine (and some people may find them even better looking), but be aware not to purchase cut flower cymbidium that looks like that. Instead of weeks they will last only days.