Moderate Epiphyte Safe for pets

Devon Cymbidium

Cymbidium devonianum

A compact Cymbidium species producing cascading spikes of dark purple-red flowers with a striking white and red lip.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 5 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

60–80 %
Temperature

12–25 °C

How to care for your Devon Cymbidium

Everything you need to keep your Devon Cymbidium healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

The Devon Cymbidium is a charming and distinctive species, celebrated for its unique pendulous flower spikes. Unlike many upright Cymbidiums, its blooms gracefully hang downwards, creating a beautiful display. The flowers are typically a rich, dark purple-red with a contrasting white and red-spotted lip. This species prefers intermediate temperatures and consistent moisture during its growing season. Its compact size and unusual growth habit make it a prized addition to any orchid collection, especially for hanging baskets.

Watering your Devon Cymbidium

Every 5 days

Keep consistently moist during growth, allow to slightly dry between waterings. Reduce in winter.

How to know it needs water

Top inch of medium is dry
Leaves lose turgor

How much light a Devon Cymbidium needs

Bright indirect light

Bright, indirect light; tolerates slightly less light than other Cymbidiums.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 2 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

60–80 %

Moderate to high (60-80%). Occasional misting can be beneficial, especially if grown indoors in dry air.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 14 days

Fertilize regularly from spring to fall; a slightly cooler rest helps induce flowering.

Recommended feed: Balanced orchid fertilizer during growth; reduce in winter. · 10-10-10

Repotting your Devon Cymbidium

Every 36 months

Repot carefully into a free-draining cymbidium mix; avoid burying pseudobulbs.

When: Spring, after blooming.
Potting mix: Orchid mix
Mix in: pine bark, sphagnum moss, perlite

The tell-tale signs

Overgrown pseudobulbs
Old, degraded media

Pruning your Devon Cymbidium

After flowers fade. Cut the spent flower spikes at their base; remove any damaged or yellow leaves.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 8 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 4 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

Native to the Himalayas, growing at moderate elevations.
Known for its pendulous flower spikes, which hang gracefully over the pot.

Frequently asked questions about the Devon Cymbidium

How do you care for a Devon Cymbidium?

Water it every 5 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 60–80 %. Ideal temperature: 12–25 °C. Keep consistently moist during growth, allow to slightly dry between waterings. Reduce in winter.

How often should you water a Devon Cymbidium?

Every 5 days Keep consistently moist during growth, allow to slightly dry between waterings. Reduce in winter. How to know it needs water : Top inch of medium is dry ; Leaves lose turgor.

How much light does a Devon Cymbidium need?

Bright indirect light Bright, indirect light; tolerates slightly less light than other Cymbidiums. 0 to 2 h a day

Is the Devon Cymbidium toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Devon Cymbidium is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Devon Cymbidium leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Devon Cymbidium?

Repot every 36 months, ideally in spring, after blooming.. Repot carefully into a free-draining cymbidium mix; avoid burying pseudobulbs.