How to Grow Cymbidium sinense So It Thrives? A Full Guide to Care Techniques
Cymbidium sinense, also known as the New Year orchid, is a terrestrial plant of the genus Cymbidium in the orchid family. It grows under forest canopy, in shrubland, or beside stream valleys in moist but well-drained shaded spots. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Cymbidium sinense was cultivated in China as an ornamental plant, deeply loved by literati and masters. So how do you grow the “elegant flower” Cymbidium sinense so it thrives?
1. Provide appropriate shade
Many varieties of this flower are afraid of direct sunlight, so appropriate shading is needed. In early to mid-April, it can be exposed to more light; from late April, shading should begin. After October, when the weather turns cool, you can shade it only around midday.
2. Growing environment
A suitable location also helps it grow more vigorously. In seasons other than deep winter, it can be placed outdoors; in deep winter, it should be placed indoors. If outdoors, put it in an open, moist area; if indoors, it is best placed facing south. It needs enough light to grow well. It is best placed on a table, not directly on the ground.
3. Water at the right time
Too much water easily causes root rot. During the growing period, water a little more; when new shoots are emerging and when it is flowering, water less; during the period when growth pauses, water even less or not at all. If the pot it is planted in is relatively large but the plant is relatively small, you can water less. During the plum rain season, you should also not water or water less. In hot weather there are often showers, so help it drain the water, otherwise it will be damaged. If the sun comes out immediately after rain, give it shade, otherwise the rising heat will also affect it.
4. Pay attention to fertilizing
Whether it needs fertilizer depends on how it is growing. If your Cymbidium sinense is growing healthily and vigorously, you can fertilize with confidence; if it is growing thin and weak, add little or no fertilizer. In June and July, you can add liquid fertilizer once or twice; it is best not to use chemical fertilizer. As for whether to fertilize in hot weather, wait until August or September. You can judge whether fertilizer is needed by the leaf color: if the leaves are somewhat yellow and rather thin, fertilizer is needed; if the leaf tips are scorched and withered, too much fertilizer has been added, and you should stop fertilizing immediately.
5. Prune in time
During cultivation, it needs pruning from time to time to grow better. When leaves wither, you can remove them to help with ventilation. Scorched leaf tips also need to be removed. Leaves with pests or diseases especially need to be cut off to prevent infecting other leaves; then disinfect the scissors before pruning other leaves. If growth is poor, or if a stem has relatively few leaves, or if the Cymbidium sinense has poor roots, all of these require pinching out the growing tip.
The above is a brief introduction from Tuliu.com on how to grow Cymbidium sinense so it thrives. Cymbidium sinense likes shade and dislikes strong light, likes warmth and dislikes severe cold, likes moisture and dislikes dryness. In the process of growing Cymbidium sinense, you must do the five points mentioned above well, and only then can Cymbidium sinense grow vigorously and luxuriantly.