Wintertime and the livin' is dead easy - that's if you grow the seductive cymbidium orchid. At this point in the year its exotic blooms are just beginning to unfurl, and if you time it right you can have several varieties in flower from now until spring. Orchids have something of a reputation for being delicate and difficult to grow, but with a few simple measures, cymbidiums will last a lifetime. They like night-time temperatures of between 10 and 15°C, although these posh plants tolerate climatesdown to 5°C. Mine live outdoors year-round in Auckland, but if temperatures in your area are cool, grow them in a greenhouse or bring them under cover of a porch or sunroom in early winter. Mine also reside in pots. That's so they can be moved to a spot with overhead protection when in flower, as rain and hail have more than once damaged the blooms.
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