Cultivation Methods and Environmental Requirements for Dendrobium officinale

Dendrobium officinale is a very important traditional Chinese medicinal herb, with excellent therapeutic effects on many diseases, and it even has the alias "soul-returning grass." At the same time, Dendrobium officinale is also a very precious orchid, and high-quality Dendrobium officinale is very popular on the market. Therefore, cultivating Dendrobium officinale is also very profitable.

Cultivation Methods for Dendrobium officinale

1. Do a good job of preparing the cultivation bed

1. During harvest, prune away diseased stems, withered stems, weak stems, and overly dense stems in the bed to promote the growth of new shoots.

2. Add substrate: For beds with too little substrate, the supplement should be completed before and after the growth of new shoots to facilitate the growth of new roots.

2. Adjust moisture properly

If water adjustment is done too late in early spring, it will affect the timing of new shoot (branch) emergence. If the substrate is too dry, water should be adjusted in stages, that is, first spray to pre-moisten, then spray thoroughly; for ground planting, based on the drainage and permeability status of the substrate, pay attention to adjusting the substrate moisture content with small amounts and multiple applications, avoiding excessive spraying. While adjusting moisture, ventilation and air exchange should also be done well, and keeping the shed stuffy should be avoided.

3. Fertilize reasonably

1. Appropriately spray foliar fertilizer: For Dendrobium officinale that has suffered frost damage in winter, or plants that are rather small with yellowish leaves, a water-soluble fertilizer containing amino acids can be sprayed on the leaves, such as Guoguang Xishimei, Jinyunzhi, Green 668, etc. When spraying, pay attention to the concentration and weather changes; for those whose stems and leaves overwinter normally and safely, after the substrate moisture has been adjusted, a high-nitrogen compound fertilizer or potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus urea or a full-nutrition foliar fertilizer can be selected for spraying. Be careful not to make the concentration too high; it should be between 0.05—0.1%, generally sprayed once every 7—10 days, to promote the growth of new shoots.

2. Supplement long-acting organic fertilizer: For substrate lacking fertility, an appropriate amount of fermented sheep manure, rapeseed cake, and other organic fertilizers should be applied between rows, and this can also be done together with supplementing the substrate.

Growing Environment for Dendrobium

Dendrobium prefers to grow in warm, humid, semi-shaded and semi-sunny environments. It grows best in subtropical deep mountain forests with annual rainfall above 1000 mm, air humidity greater than 80%, and average January temperature above 8°C. It is not very strict about soil and fertilizer requirements. In the wild, it mostly grows on loose and thick bark or tree trunks, and some also grow in rock crevices. [2] Huoshan Dendrobium produced in Huoshan County, Anhui Province, is the finest among dendrobiums, but Huoshan Dendrobium has harsh growing conditions and scarce yield. On the market, only a few old brands such as Fulinmen Dendrobium officinale can buy genuine Huoshan Dendrobium.

Field Management of Dendrobium

1. Watering: If air humidity is too low in the later stage after planting Dendrobium, water frequently to maintain moisture, and a sprayer can be used to water in the form of mist.

2. Topdressing: During the growing season of Dendrobium, attention should be paid to topdressing. A mixture of decomposed peanut cake, rapeseed cake, superphosphate, etc. with river mud can be spread at the roots. In addition, 0.05—0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used for foliar topdressing.

3. Pruning: Before new shoots emerge each spring, while harvesting old stems, cut off withered stems within the clump, and remove diseased stems, weak stems, and diseased roots. After 6-8 years of planting, depending on the growth of the clump base, turn over the clump and divide it again for propagation.

Precautions for Cultivating Dendrobium officinale

In the high-temperature seasons of summer and autumn, moisture should be controlled as much as possible, with the substrate moisture content preferably at 40%~50%; after entering winter from November onward, temperatures gradually decrease, and when the temperature is below 10°C, Dendrobium officinale basically stops growing and enters a dormant state. At this time, its water requirements are very low, and the substrate moisture content should be controlled within 30%.

Once Dendrobium officinale is successfully cultivated, the profits can be very considerable, so before cultivating Dendrobium officinale, one must have an accurate grasp of the key technical points of cultivation and the growth requirements of Dendrobium. Only in this way can Dendrobium grow more smoothly and achieve better profit returns.