I. Tracing the Roots:
"Orchid" refers to a flower family, also known as a flower category, and Cymbidium sinense is just one of them. Different "orchids" have different cultivation methods, sometimes quite different. Therefore, orchid cultivation should be discussed on a case-by-case basis, treating each orchid differently. Wild Cymbidium sinense lives in warm and humid areas, generally among riverbank pebbles, or on tree trunks and near rock crevices. This determines that Cymbidium sinense has both a "love of water" and a "dislike of water" characteristic.
Love of water—Cymbidium sinense lives in the warm and humid areas along rivers in the south, where summers and autumns are often rainy, which has shaped its preference for water. However, Cymbidium sinense rarely survives in wetlands, and it is even harder to find in fertile soil because its roots are "fleshy" and prone to rotting. Therefore, Cymbidium sinense also has a "dislike of water" characteristic.
Based on this characteristic, when choosing soil for cultivation, granular and moisture-retaining materials are generally preferred. I use a mixture of 1/3 commercially available pond base stone (granular soil), 1/3 pine bark, and 1/3 floating stones. This type of soil is effective at preventing waterlogging when growing Cymbidium orchids and keeps the soil moist. In its
native habitat, Cymbidium orchids experience hot and humid summers with continuous rain, requiring very moist soil and little sunlight. Therefore, the following methods should be adopted when cultivating Cymbidium orchids in apartments in Jinan:
1. Water once or twice a day (morning and evening);
2. Provide less or only slight sunlight in summer and autumn;
3. Growth is slow, requiring very little fertilizer; therefore, fertilization should be minimal or absent for home cultivation.
II. Plant Adaptation to the Environment
Humans can only utilize nature, not modify it. Based on my experience with Cymbidium orchids, for north-south oriented apartments in Jinan, the north-facing window sill is the best location.
In Jinan, the sunrise in summer is around 10 degrees north of due east, and the sunlight shines directly on this area between 6:30 and 8:00 AM. The light temperature is not high, and Cymbidium orchids thrive in this type of light. After the sun shines, this is the coolest spot in the house, and its ventilation is also the best. If you don't have such a place in your home, it's not recommended to keep Cymbidium orchids; there's no need to insist on growing orchids. For example, a south-facing balcony is not suitable for growing orchids. The air here is hot and dry; in summer it's hotter than a boiler room, and in winter the sunlight is too strong, with temperatures reaching as high as 30 degrees Celsius in short periods. However, it's a good place to grow jasmine in summer and daffodils in winter, and it's also a great place to grow gardenias and camellias!
Some flower enthusiasts say, "I can change the location of the flowers every day," but this is highly inadvisable:
1. The purpose of growing flowers is to improve our lives, not to practice weightlifting. Constantly carrying flowerpots around the house defeats the purpose of growing flowers.
2. Orchids, like other flowers, strongly dislike frequent changes in their environment. They prefer places with minimal environmental changes and don't want to stay in one place. Changing the environment is very harmful to flowers.
III. Be Careful When Buying Flowers When
buying Cymbidium orchids, always buy those wrapped in moss.
1. Open the moss and check if the roots are firm. Don't buy them even if they're free.
Reasons: 1. Firm roots indicate the plant is nearing the end of its survival period; soft roots make it difficult to cultivate successfully at home.
2. Don't accept free plants without moss wrapping.
Reason: Moss wrapping the roots of Cymbidium orchids helps maintain an environment compatible with the potted plant's growing conditions. Moss is a short-term solution for the orchid's survival. Because moss wrapping is expensive (1 yuan/plant), flower vendors often opt for spraying pesticides instead of moss protection to compete. The survival rate of such orchids is practically zero.
I bought 10 moss-wrapped Cymbidium orchids in Yunnan and 4 moss-wrapped ones from a flower market in Jinan, both with a 100% survival rate. However, the Cymbidium orchids without moss protection bought at the Biaoshan Flower Market in Jinan had an extremely low survival rate. Even those that survived looked like they had been seriously ill, not as robust as those wrapped in moss.
IV. Start with Wet Cultivation, Then
Dry Cultivation There are two methods for cultivating Cymbidium goeringii: wet and dry.
Dry Cultivation: Less water is needed, resulting in thicker leaves and larger flowers. Experienced orchid growers generally use this method. Water every 4-7 days, adjusting the amount of water according to the time and season. This method produces beautiful Cymbidium goeringii, but the technique is difficult to master, and beginners are prone to failure.
Wet Cultivation: In Jinan summers, water twice a day, morning and evening, watering only when the soil surface is not moist. This method produces robust Cymbidium goeringii with upright leaves, but the flowers are relatively smaller. Advantage: Easy for beginners to master.
My suggestion: Use wet cultivation for the first year. Once new flower spikes appear frequently, then try dry cultivation. Ultimately, keeping the Cymbidium goeringii alive is the priority.
V. Avoid Cooking
Fumes Cooking fumes are the most harmful to Cymbidium goeringii. These fumes include those from the kitchen and food.
If kitchen fumes inevitably enter the house, absolutely do not grow orchids (including Cymbidium goeringii).
Do not place orchids (including Cymbidium sinense) near the dining table. Placing orchids near the dining table is like "wearing a suit and tie with cloth shoes"—unseemly and harmful to the plant.
The above is my experience in cultivating Cymbidium sinense. Our group is a hydroponic flower cultivation group, and hydroponics is considered "high-tech" in flower cultivation. For the flower enthusiasts in the group, cultivating Cymbidium sinense is as easy as cultivating spider plants.
Here I will mainly discuss Cymbidium goeringii varietal varieties. When introducing these varieties (and other varieties as well), we must first understand the cultivation methods and management practices of the region where they are being introduced, including the source of the seed (natural propagation or tissue culture), potting mix, fertilization and pesticide use, environmental characteristics, and other basic information, especially the potting mix. In Taiwan and Guangdong, Cymbidium goeringii varietal varieties are mostly grown using hydroponics. However, many orchid enthusiasts in the north, especially beginners, are unaware of or do not pay much attention to this. They rush to pot them with local leaf mold and other completely different potting mixes, causing these new plants to become ill due to their inability to adapt to the new growing conditions. Some orchid enthusiasts have imported Cymbidium goeringii varietal varieties worth tens of thousands of yuan, only to have almost all of them rot within a year. My own initial imports of varieties such as "Aiguo," "Ruiyu," and "Damo" also largely suffered this fate. Originally, we used local leaf mold for potting, and neither the imported orchids nor the potting mix were sterilized. As a result, the new seedlings rotted first, followed by the older seedlings and the roots. We were heartbroken and shed tears at this setback. But we didn't give up. After visiting the place of origin to learn from their experiences, we quickly changed our planting and management methods. We disinfected all newly introduced Cymbidium goeringii variegated varieties, adopted hydroponics, and used various granular planting materials such as pine and cypress stone and fairy soil. We used fertilizers from Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan for top dressing, and especially frequently applied domestically produced Orchid King series of medicated fertilizers, with excellent results. Now, variegated Cymbidium goeringii varieties such as "Hyuga" have vigorous roots and leaves, without tip burn or root rot. Mr. Liu Jun, an orchid enthusiast from Heilongjiang in the far north, also achieved great success. This truly shows that "nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it." Cymbidium goeringii
has broad, thick, and tall leaves with a strong and powerful posture. We Northeasterners, influenced by our long-standing love for Clivia miniata, have a particular fondness for Cymbidium goeringii varieties. We also adore the smaller plants with their masculine leaf shapes. Some rare and elegant orchid varieties, such as Datun Qilin, Yu Shizi, Guoxiang Mudan, Shenzhou Qi, and Piaoyi, not only have beautiful foliage but also boast vibrant colors, fragrant blooms, and long flowering periods, perfectly suited to our aesthetic tastes. Many orchid enthusiasts have reported that these varieties are difficult to bloom. I believe the key is to cultivate them well and ensure they thrive. Besides proper watering, fertilization, light, humidity, and ventilation, special attention should be paid to temperature during the bud formation and flowering stages to meet their needs. My experience suggests that the temperature needs to be slightly higher during this period. For example, varieties like Datun Qilin and Tao Ji will not bloom well if the temperature remains around 10 degrees Celsius during bud formation and flowering. If nighttime temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius or even to zero, and daytime temperatures are only in the teens, their flower stalks will wither. Normal blooms are only visible when the minimum temperature is above 10 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures reach 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Some orchid enthusiasts say that these varieties don't bloom uniformly, and this is also the main issue. An orchid enthusiast in Anshan completely imitated the management methods used in Taiwan and Guangdong, achieving abundant blooms and lush foliage. Winters are very cold in Northeast China, but Cymbidium goeringii can grow normally in heated cellars or warm indoor environments. If a glass or plastic film planter (and other varieties can also be placed on a sunny side) is installed, the required temperature and humidity can be ensured. A clean, dust-free environment also promotes the orchids' growth. Currently, higher-end Cymbidium goeringii varieties mainly come from Guangdong, Taiwan, and parts of Fujian and Guangxi. Orchid enthusiasts like Chen Shaomin, Chen Shuyuan, and Zheng Guodong have been very helpful to me and are trustworthy friends among us Northeast orchid enthusiasts. We should not blindly buy "high-end" varieties from the free market; such opportunities are extremely rare. We should also not blindly trust anyone who sends money first and then flowers, as the result is often inferior quality flowers. A large orchid farm in Shiping, Yunnan, has deceived many orchid enthusiasts. We should seek support from respected orchid enthusiasts in orchid-producing areas, obtain genuine and excellent varieties through orchid publications, and exchange or visit successful orchid enthusiasts in the north.
The earliest orchid classic to directly refer to this orchid as "Mo Lan" (墨兰) is Qu Jinze's *Linghai Lanyan* (岭海兰言), written in the late Qing Dynasty by a native of Nanhai, Foshan. In this book, Qu divides Mo Lan into two main categories: "White Mo Lan" and "Black Mo Lan." The "White Mo Lan" category lists eight varieties: Qi Jia Bai Mo Su (企甲白墨素), Liu Ye Bai Mo Su (柳叶白墨素), Yu Ban Bai Mo Su (玉板白墨素), Ying Jian Bai Mo Su (硬剑白墨素), Ruan Jian Bai Mo Su (软剑白墨素), Duan Jian Bai Mo Su (短剑白墨素), Lü Mo Su (绿墨素), and Jin Si Bai Mo (金丝白墨). The "Black Mo Lan" category lists eleven varieties: Zhi Jian Xiang Mo (直剑香墨), Zhi Jian Xiao Mo (直剑小墨), Niu Jian Xiao Mo (扭剑小墨), Niu Jian Mo (扭剑墨), Xin Shan Mo (新山墨), Chang Jian Bang Mo (长剑榜墨), Duan Jian Bang Mo (短剑榜墨) (Bang Mo is Qiu Bang, and according to botanical taxonomists, Qiu Bang and Bao Sui Mo Lan have different ecologies), Ni Jin Su (泥金素), Jin Bian Mo (金边墨), Huang Jin Ta (黄金塔), and Zhu Sha Mo (朱砂墨). The author also mentions three other varieties of Cymbidium goeringii: "Ball Ink," "Iron Face and Ice Heart," and "Purple Phoenix Tail," but all of these are golden-edged (Taiwanese Cymbidium), not black. The sheer number of varieties demonstrates the popularity of Cymbidium goeringii in Guangdong during the late Qing Dynasty, suggesting that its appreciation likely began at least in the early to mid-Qing period. By the
late Qing Dynasty, Cymbidium goeringii commanded high prices. According to Qu Jinze's records, a single wild-collected plain-hearted Cymbidium goeringii was worth "two hundred coins," while a wild-collected golden-thread white Cymbidium goeringii was priced at "a thousand gold coins."
From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, and especially in recent decades, Cymbidium goeringii has seen significant development. First, a wave of Cymbidium goeringii leaf art emerged in Taiwan, represented by the Ruiyu variety. Then, a wave of rare Cymbidium goeringii flower art emerged, represented by the three rare varieties: Datun Qilin, Guoxiang Mudan, and Yu Shizi. Simultaneously, a series of red-flowered Cymbidium goeringii, represented by Tao Ji, and a series of dwarf foliage art, represented by Damo, also appeared. Next came the "Divine Continent Wonders" and "Elegant Wonders" from mainland China, the "Crystal Series" of Cymbidium goeringii represented by "Strange Crystal" and "Phoenix Comes to Court," and the "Plain Flower Line Art" represented by "White Jade Brocade," etc. These greatly broadened the aesthetic scope of Cymbidium goeringii, thus driving the subsequent discovery of other orchid varieties. Looking at Cymbidium goeringii today, it has the following characteristics in the orchid field:
1. Among all types of orchids, Cymbidium goeringii has the most cultivated horticultural varieties. There are hundreds of named and recognized varieties of single-leaf varietal series. The "Dharma Orchid" has the highest ornamental value, with dozens of varieties alone. Including other series of Cymbidium goeringii, the total number of cultivated horticultural varieties of Cymbidium goeringii today can reach thousands, which is unprecedented among other orchids.
2. Cymbidium goeringii is easy to cultivate, blooms easily, and is highly adaptable. It can be introduced from various places both domestically and internationally. With slight cold protection and proper cultivation, the survival rate, budding rate, and flowering rate are all high.
3. Cymbidium goeringii has multiple uses for display. It can be used not only for home decoration but also for exhibitions. For example, Cymbidium goeringii is sometimes placed in the center of the oval table at high-level meetings in Guangdong Province, and it has also been displayed in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Cymbidium goeringii can also be cultivated in rows, strips, or patches for landscaping purposes. In addition, the flower branches of Cymbidium goeringii are often used as cut flower decorations and to enhance fragrance. In short, the uses of Cymbidium goeringii are broader than those of other orchid species, but unfortunately, they have not yet been fully developed.
4. The export volume of Cymbidium goeringii is large. In recent years, the annual export volume of Cymbidium goeringii from Guangdong has often reached millions of acres.
In conclusion, Cymbidium goeringii still has great potential for development. As long as the general public has a better understanding of Cymbidium goeringii, it will enter thousands of households and become a more popular orchid.
The appreciation of Cymbidium goeringii today can be discussed from two aspects: traditional appreciation and contemporary appreciation.
1. Traditional appreciation of
Cymbidium goeringii: During the initial peak period of cultivation and appreciation in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, when orchid enthusiasts exchanged their experiences in cultivating orchids, they accumulated a considerable amount of theory and experience in its appreciation. Qu Jinze summarized this in his "Linghai Lanyan," laying the foundation for the understanding of traditional Cymbidium goeringii appreciation. Its three main arguments are:
First, praising the white orchid:
"The white orchid shoots its buds in September, blooms in January, and closes in February. From beginning to end, it takes half a year to mature. Moreover, its large reeds and broad leaves possess a profound and imposing presence, and its flower trellis is exceptionally large. Furthermore, at the beginning of the year, when all other flowers are dormant, it alone can accompany daffodils and winter plum blossoms as an elegant offering in the warm spring. It is not only adept at accumulating power but also at seizing the opportune moment."
"The flowers must rise above the leaves, the leaves must be glossy, and the fragrance must be subtle and far-reaching—these are its three perfections."
"The flowers are as white as snow, the leaves as green as oil, and from opening to closing, not a single petal turns back. Therefore, its color, leaves, and overall quality are all first-rate, truly a magnificent spectacle of orchids." Second, praising the black orchid:
"Black is not white, white is not black; black is its name, white is its reality. It is black yet self-reliant, pure while others are turbid. It is dyed black but not black, its fragrance is pure.
"
"Only the Cymbidium goeringii, with its tall flowers and large leaves, is extremely easy to cultivate and fearless. It is like a bronze pipa and iron clappers (the accompanying instruments for Su Dongpo's 'The Great River Flows East,' signifying a bold and majestic style, like a twelve-foot general singing 'The Great River Flows East!' The black Cymbidium goeringii blooms in early spring, at the same time as the white Cymbidium goeringii, and is commonly known as the New Year's orchid."
The general praise for Cymbidium goeringii is
that it is "not only remarkable for its color, but also valued for its quality."
Qu's family "planted hundreds of pots of orchids in their garden," "wealthy in poverty but rich in orchids," "not poor because of orchids," and "people may not be poor because of orchids." His "Linghai Orchid Talk" is a work "researched for ten years and revised three times." His views on appreciating Cymbidium goeringii should be considered classic discussions on appreciating traditional Cymbidium goeringii.
2. Contemporary Appreciation:
Modern society is developing rapidly, and social life is diverse and colorful. The aesthetic appreciation of flowers is also becoming more diversified, with multiple points of appreciation. It is developing in a direction that harmonizes with modern life and the mindset of modern people. In appreciating Cymbidium goeringii, in addition to inheriting traditional concepts, there are many new perspectives. We can understand this from the following aspects:
Appreciation of the Orchid Plant –
When appreciating Cymbidium goeringii, one generally begins with appreciating the overall feel of the plant. Cymbidium goeringii generally has large, fleshy leaves, giving a strong and distinct overall impression. Generally speaking, those with a majestic, elegant, graceful, abundant, robust, and wondrous overall feel are good, while those that are scattered, dry, coarse, or weak are inferior. For a vigorous and lush Cymbidium goeringii plant, various styles are desirable. Plants of superior quality and with refined style are more aesthetically pleasing, such as the majestic style of a white and black Cymbidium goeringii. The style of the iron-clad guardian of ink, the rich and colorful style of silver-edged gold-beaked cymbidium, the elegant and leisurely style of peach and cherry blossoms, the dragon-like style of Wenshan Jialong, the vigorous and powerful style of Damo, the fresh and elegant style of the imperial concubine, the magnificent and splendid style of Jinfengjin, etc., all represent the character and personality, and are worthy of appreciation.
Regarding the appreciation of foliage art—
in the flower world, ornamental plants are generally divided into flowering plants, foliage plants, and plants that are both flowering and ornamental. For Cymbidium sinense, people generally classify it as a flowering plant, or at most, a plant that is both flowering and ornamental. In fact, considering the diversity and complexity of the leaf patterns, the foliage art of Cymbidium sinense is arguably the best among all foliage plants. Ornamental plants primarily valued for their leaf patterns include variegated caladium (Araceae) and white-edged spider plant (Calathea). Compared to Cymbidium goeringii (Amaryllidaceae), the leaf variegation of other plants, such as Clivia miniata (Amaryllidaceae) with yellow-tinged variegation, appears monotonous and lacks variation. The sheer number of leaf variegation types and cultivated varieties of Cymbidium goeringii is unparalleled by any other foliage plant or orchid species. Take the Cymbidium goeringii 'Dharma' variety, for example; its variations are so numerous that they are difficult
to distinguish, including 'Dharma Claw', 'Dharma Crown', 'Dharma Yellow-tinged Variegated ... Variegated patterns include: Yellow-spotted orchids: Da Xun, Yi Xian Jin; White-spotted orchids: Song He Tu, A Fu Dou Zhong; Yellow-spotted orchids: Fu Rong Dian, Peng Lai Shan; Swaying orchids: Xu Huang, Kuwabara Huang; Dark blue orchids: Wan Rong, Fu Xing; Dark blue orchids: Da Shi Men, Hua Ying; Brocade orchids: Hua Shan Jin, Xu Huang Jin, Da Feng Jin; Yellow-covered orchids: Han Guang, Tang San Cai; White-covered orchids: Yin Bian Mo, Ri Xiang, Yin Tuo Mo; Green-covered orchids: Long Feng Cheng Xiang, Da Xue Yuan; Tiger-spotted orchids: Rui Bao, Huang Yu Zhi Hua; Pink-spotted orchids: Sheng Ji Guang, Shiranui; Dawn orchids: Da Xue Ling (Taiwanese Cymbidium).
The more distinct a particular variegation, the higher its aesthetic value. Variegated orchids often exhibit multiple variegations within a single plant, or even a single leaf. For example, Da Xun combines white claws and yellow-white with variegation, while Da Xue Yuan combines green-covered orchids and green-white with variegation. These orchids exhibit multiple leaf variegations and their expression... Those with vibrant and distinct leaf patterns have higher aesthetic value.
Among Cymbidium goeringii leaves, there are crystal patterns, amber patterns, and variegated patterns, which are vivid, prominent, and distinctive, thus possessing high ornamental value. For example, the "Strange Crystal" and "Phoenix Comes to Court" varieties of crystal Cymbidium goeringii have crystal-like, translucent, snow-white, and silvery-white leaves that are breathtakingly beautiful and considered top-grade.
Appreciation of Cymbidium goeringii leaf patterns should be combined with an appreciation of leaf quality, luster, shape, and overall appearance; the more perfect the pattern, the more popular it is.
As for flower appreciation—
Cymbidium goeringii flowers can be appreciated from three aspects: fragrance, color, and shape. The saying "Orchids are the fragrance of kings" also applies to Cymbidium goeringii. Varieties like White and Green Cymbidium goeringii have a delicate and long-lasting fragrance; some flowers, even after falling, do not rot for several days and still retain their fragrance. The fragrance of Cymbidium goeringii is mostly a strong, rich, and aromatic scent. Cymbidium goeringii blooms most profusely around the Spring Festival. The garden is filled with the fragrance of orchids, which has always been an important aspect of appreciating Cymbidium goeringii. Traditionally, the appreciation of Cymbidium goeringii's flower color has emphasized whether the flower is pure white, green, or yellow, valuing its elegance and purity. In recent years, the development of colored flowers has diversified, including red, multi-colored, and black/yellow series, with those exhibiting vibrant colors being particularly appreciated. For unusual and butterfly-shaped flowers, their colorful and abundant blooms are also sought after. The unusual and butterfly-shaped flowers of Cymbidium goeringii exhibit a richer variety of colors than other orchids, with more varieties available. The appreciation of Cymbidium goeringii's flower shape includes unusual flowers (multiple petals, multiple lip-like structures), butterfly-shaped flowers, and petal-shaped flowers. Cymbidium goeringii has many petal shapes, including peony, chrysanthemum, plum blossom, lotus, narcissus, and Michelia champaca petals, etc., which are reflected in the flower... This is quite rare among orchids. Generally, a flower has only one type of petal, but Cymbidium goeringii is different; many types of petal shapes can appear in its flowers, which is part of its charm. It's also worth mentioning the appreciation of the flower stalks. Cymbidium goeringii has tall and large flower stalks, very eye-catching, and good flower stalks are also valuable for appreciation. Flower stalks are also called flower spikes, flower stems, or flower scapes. Cymbidium goeringii flower stalks can be woody, bamboo-like, fleshy, or delicately fragrant. Woody stalks are thick and stiff, lacking the most beauty; bamboo-like stalks are next; fleshy stalks are pure and elegant, like those of imperial concubines, and are highly valued for appreciation; delicately fragrant stalks give a sense of slenderness, making the flowers appear even larger, creating a high contrast and highlighting the flowers, making them also good flower stalks. In short, Cymbidium goeringii, regardless of the flower stalk or the flower itself, is best when it is fragrant, graceful, and colorful. A combination of fragrance, color, and shape is important. The finest Cymbidium goeringii is one where the beauty and aesthetics complement each other perfectly.
It's difficult to count the exact number of cultivars of Cymbidium goeringii, as new varieties are constantly being developed—a phenomenon extremely rare in the floriculture world. This is because Cymbidium goeringii is insect-pollinated, and its flowering period often overlaps with other orchids, resulting in a high probability of natural hybridization and frequent discovery of new varieties. Although natural resources of Cymbidium goeringii are dwindling, making it increasingly difficult to find new varieties in nature, its inherent potential for natural hybridization remains. Even in home cultivation, mutations are occasionally discovered, leading to the development of new horticultural varieties. For example, the well-known Damo Orchid has continuously developed new varietals since its cultivation. This adds considerable charm to the appreciation of Cymbidium goeringii, allowing people to appreciate it with anticipation and anticipate its future.