How to Grow Cymbidium sinense: Cultivation Methods and Precautions

If orchids are compared to women, Cymbidium sinense is the noble and profound kind; it has seen the world and remains unshaken by wind and rain. So generally, those who like Cymbidium sinense are people of great thought and inner depth, but understanding Cymbidium sinense is one thing, and knowing how to grow Cymbidium sinense is another; one is communication of the soul, the other is nourishment of life, and sustaining life is the foundation for communicating with the soul.

How to Grow Cymbidium sinense

Cymbidium sinense likes a semi-shaded environment and dislikes strong light exposure. It likes a warm environment and dislikes severe cold, wind and snow. It likes a humid environment and dislikes dryness and stuffiness.

Cymbidium sinense Cultivation Methods and Precautions

1. Soil

The soil for growing Cymbidium sinense must be rich in humus, slightly acidic, loose and breathable, and also able to drain water and retain fertilizer. For example: leaf mold from forests, coarse sand from rivers, decayed tree bark, broken brick pieces, rice husks, sphagnum moss, spent mushroom substrate, etc.

2. Pots

Commonly used orchid pots include: clay pots, ceramic pots, glazed pots and plastic pots, suitable for balconies, rooftops and indoors.

However, when growing orchids at home, it is mostly for ornamental purposes, so it is best to choose purple clay pots or plastic pots. Special purple clay pots for orchids are mostly tall-footed and trumpet-shaped, with many holes along the bottom edge, draining water and allowing air through, and with distinctive shapes; plastic pots are deep, have many holes, are lightweight, neat, inexpensive, easy to move, and reduce the load on floors.

3. Light

Cymbidium sinense likes a semi-shaded environment. In winter the sunlight is weaker, and in spring the sunlight is soft, suitable for the growth of Cymbidium sinense, so it can receive sunlight all day. In summer and autumn the sunlight is strong, so appropriate shading is needed. The orchid pot can be placed under the eaves, receiving light only in the morning or evening, and it should not receive light after 9 a.m.

4. Temperature

The temperature for orchids to take root, sprout and grow normally is between 20-28°C. Below 20°C growth is slow, above 25°C growth is rapid, and above 30°C they enter a dormant state.

In winter, with daytime temperatures of 10°C-16°C and nighttime temperatures of 5°C-10°C, Cymbidium sinense can enter normal dormancy. When grown at home, orchids are mostly overwintered indoors, and no heating measures are needed in winter and spring for them to safely pass through the severe cold period. If overwintering in a sheltered spot in a courtyard or on a balcony, a temporary greenhouse can be built with plastic film.

5. Fertilizing

Fertilizing Cymbidium sinense should be “light rather than concentrated”, generally starting in late spring and stopping in late autumn.

Fertilizer can be applied when the temperature is 18-25°C, once every 20 days, and after fertilizing, spray a small amount of clean water to prevent the fertilizer solution from soiling the leaves.

6. Precautions

1. Avoid places with direct sunlight. Cymbidium sinense can be placed on east-facing, south-facing and west-facing balconies for management, among which east-facing and west-facing balconies give relatively better cultivation results, and on south-facing balconies areas with overly strong sunlight should be avoided. Because Cymbidium sinense is moderate in height, it can be placed anywhere.

2. Repot in time. Orchids also have a limit to their ornamental value; the best viewing period is 5-7 years after planting, and without repotting, the ornamental value will decline after 2 years, so they should be repotted and the soil changed in time.

How to Propagate Cymbidium sinense

Cymbidium sinense is mainly propagated by division, carried out in March each spring. The method is as follows:

1. When dividing, choose acidic soil rich in humus, and for the orchid pot it is best to use a purple clay pot or a plastic pot. Choose large plants that have already been grown for about three to five years as propagation material.

2. Do not water for several days before division, because when there is plenty of water the roots and leaves of the plant are relatively fragile, while when lacking water they wilt and become soft, making them less likely to be damaged and easier to handle.

3. After division, place the plant in tree shade or under the eaves, avoiding direct strong light. If some flower enthusiasts grow the plant on a building, if there are east and west balconies, place the plant on the east balcony; if there are north and south balconies, place the plant on the north balcony.

4. The suitable temperature for the growth of Cymbidium sinense is 20-28°C. If the temperature is below 20°C, Cymbidium sinense will grow slowly; if the temperature reaches 30°C, Cymbidium sinense will be forced into a dormant state. The low-temperature limit that Cymbidium sinense can tolerate is minus 2°C, so in winter the temperature must be kept above minus 2°C.

5. Cymbidium sinense grown at home generally overwinters indoors, so in the cold seasons of winter and spring no warming measures are needed for Cymbidium sinense to safely pass through the severe cold period. If some flower enthusiasts care for Cymbidium sinense in a sheltered spot on a balcony or in a courtyard, they can build a temporary greenhouse with plastic film.

Prevention and Control of Common Diseases and Pests of Cymbidium sinense

1. Southern blight: it is more likely to occur in relatively humid environments. Promptly clean away infected soil, promptly take the plant out of the pot to check the extent of rot, and cut off and disinfect the rotten parts.

2. Black spot: it mostly occurs in high-temperature and rainy seasons. If dark brown spots are found on the leaves, remove them promptly and strengthen ventilation.

Orchids have always been rather delicate, so growing them is not simple either. Therefore, when growing Cymbidium sinense, we must pay attention to every factor in the growing environment, so as to ensure the normal growth of Cymbidium sinense while maintaining its beautiful, noble appearance.