How to Grow Dendrobium officinale (Purple-Skinned Shihu)? Detailed Explanation of Key Cultivation Techniques

SummarySite selection and land preparation: Dendrobium officinale (purple-skinned Shihu) is suited to growing in an environment with balanced light, temperature and humidity; the winter temperature should not fall below 0°C, and the soil needs to be plowed and disinfected. Division propagation: division propagation is the main method, and planting can be done around February 4 in early spring; select high-quality, disease-free stems, cut off the old stems, mix the seeds with farmyard manure, and then place them into the planting holes. Later management: ensure the soil stays moist, water by small-drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation, apply topdressing at the right time, and do a good job of disease prevention and control.

I. Site Selection and Land Preparation

1. When choosing the planting plot, it should be decided according to the conditions required for the growth of Dendrobium officinale (purple-skinned Shihu); Dendrobium officinale likes to grow in an environment with balanced light, temperature and humidity, and during this period it is necessary to ensure that the winter temperature does not fall below 0°C.

2. Of course, the growing environment can also be regulated artificially, as long as Dendrobium officinale is kept in a suitable growing environment. When planting, there need to be tall trees such as pear trees around it to shade Dendrobium officinale, and then the soil should be plowed and disinfected, which helps reduce pathogens in the soil and thereby lowers the incidence of disease in Dendrobium officinale.

II. Division Propagation

1. The propagation method of Dendrobium officinale is generally based mainly on division propagation, and the time can be chosen around February 4 in early spring for planting, because spring rainfall is relatively abundant, which helps promote the growth and development of Dendrobium officinale, and its planting survival rate will also be relatively high.

2. Then select high-quality, disease-free stems of Dendrobium officinale, cut off the old stems, and use the new stems for planting. Before propagation, make sure the stems are robust and disinfect them, then mix the stems with farmyard manure and place them into the planting holes.

III. Later Management

1. After successful planting, management work must be done well; the later management of Dendrobium officinale is very critical, and improper management will cause abnormal growth of Dendrobium officinale. Throughout the entire growth process of Dendrobium officinale, the soil must be kept moist, but the air humidity must not be too high either.

2. When watering, small-drip irrigation can be used, or sprinkler irrigation can be used, and topdressing should be applied according to soil fertility and the growth condition of Dendrobium officinale, ensuring that Dendrobium officinale has sufficient nutrients during the growth period. Later, prune appropriately according to the plant shape and the growth condition of branches and leaves, which helps improve field ventilation and light penetration and promotes the robust growth of Dendrobium officinale.

IV. Disease Prevention and Control

Dendrobium officinale may develop diseases at all growth stages, and there are many types of diseases, which will also cause varying degrees of harm to Dendrobium officinale. Therefore, during the growth period of Dendrobium officinale, field management should be strengthened, diseased and residual plant material should be removed in a timely manner, and the field should be disinfected regularly, which helps reduce the number of pathogens in the field, lower the incidence of disease, and prevent unnecessary losses.