My Cymbidium

This is a picture of my magnificent cymbidium orchid, taken last year. Most of the orchids you see in shops are cattleyas, with broad, flat leaves, so this foliage didn't look orchid-like to me at first. I thought when I got it that it was an orchid buried in the middle of some sort of palm foliage, but in fact it's one enormous plant. Four feet tall from the base of the pot to the top of the flower spike.

The plant is still green and healthy, but it didn't bloom this Easter. I'm not experienced with orchids, and I hadn't ever fertilized it for fear of burning it.

Cymbidiums are quite hardy. But underwatering or underfertilizing them can set back blooming for a year or even more. So I guess I've got to be a bit braver from now on, if I want this orchid to be all it was destined to be.