Cymbidium devonianum aka Orchid

Cymbidium devonianum is an orchid in the Orchidaceae family. It stays green all year. Its home range runs from eastern Nepal to southeastern Yunnan and Indochina. It comes from a wet tropical climate. It grows in clumps on other plants, as an epiphyte. Small, egg-shaped pseudobulbs store water and energy. These stores help new growth when growers split the plant.

In gardens, plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) tall and wide. They take two to five years to reach full size. The dark green, oval leaves feel like leather. Each leaf is about 1–2 feet (0.3–0.6 metres) long. Flowers grow on stems that hang down from spring into summer. Each stem bears 15–35 blooms. Each bloom is about 0.13 feet (0.04 metres) across. They range from olive-brown to yellow-green and have dull purple lips.

Grow this orchid in a house, conservatory or greenhouse. Give it bright light, but keep it out of direct sun. Use an open orchid mix that drains well. Add perlite, sphagnum moss or coir to the mix. Aim for days near 16°C and nights near 10°C. Water well once the mix has almost dried. Then let the water drain out. Feed with orchid fertiliser in the growing season. Cut back on water in winter. Shade outdoors in summer can help spur flower growth. Its RHS hardiness rating is H1C. In Britain, it suits outdoor use for part of the year.

Plants need no regular pruning. Just cut spent flower stems off at their base. Split mature clumps in early or mid-spring once they outgrow their pots. Keep at least three older pseudobulbs in each new clump. Their stores help the plant cope when you repot it. To raise plants from seed, you need a lab with controlled conditions. Splitting a well-grown plant thus yields more plants without growing seed.

Watch for aphids and glasshouse red spider mites. Look out for scale insects and mealybugs too. The RHS reports few disease problems. Still, viruses can infect the plant. Sterilise cutting tools to help stop Cymbidium mosaic virus from spreading. Touching this orchid can cause an allergic skin reaction. Wear gloves and other protective gear when you work with it. The stated safety concern is skin contact. The draft states no risk from eating it.