Cymbidium Orchid Zen Era 'Elizabeth'

These plants are in 7.5cm pots and will take 2-3 years to flower but are well worth the wait.

A stunning orchid to add to your collection. The flowers are big, growing up to 11cm across, with up to 20 on each arched stem. The blooms are white with a soft pink blush and red patterned lip, the strong blush carries through to the petal reverse making them appealing from all angles. This beauty blooms July/August. It was developed by Mr K Black.

These selected hybrid, cool growing Cymbidium Orchids are exceptionally elegant and wonderfully long lasting plants. The large, exotic flowers open on upright stems in big numbers. We have chosen only vigorous varieties for our collections, so even beginner growers will look like experts in no time.

Once they open, the blooms will last from 4 to 12 weeks on the plant and 2 to 5 weeks if you cut the stems for the vase. As cool growing orchids they require cold winter nights in order to flower well (10-15C at night). Long, dark green drooping leaves are an indication of too much shade, which will result in little to no blooms.

Cymbidium Orchids are easy to grow as long as you cater for their basic needs:

1. Use an orchid growing mix.

2. Position the plant in dappled light with good air flow.

3. Keep the plant just moist, watering frequently in spring and summer while it is growing, then keeping just moist in winter, allowing the mix to dry out in between. Fertilise well (twice a month with a diluted liquid orchid fertiliser spring to summer (after flowering finishes), then drop it back to once a month in autumn. Liquid fertilisers are readily enjoyed by the plants as the nutrients are immediately available, but they flush through quite quickly which is why you have to apply so often. Or use a slow release orchid fertiliser as per the directions on the package.

Cymbidium Orchids make ideal pot and hanging basket plants. They may take a year or two to settle in and flower, but they will flower reliably for decades to come.