A detailed guide to traditional Cymbidium lianpan cultivation methods, easy for beginners to understand at a glance

The special geographical conditions have created the special climatic conditions that give Yunnan a great variety of wild orchid species. According to records, there are more than 50 species of Cymbidium plants worldwide, and more than 20 are distributed in China. The Cymbidium species in Yunnan include almost all recorded native Chinese Cymbidium plants, and some species are endemic to Yunnan, while Cymbidium lianpan is a specialty treasure of Yunnan.  

    Cymbidium lianpan is a variety with a long history of home cultivation and widespread influence in Yunnan (especially western Yunnan or northwestern Yunnan). The flowers of Cymbidium lianpan resemble lotus flowers, and the people of Yunnan call lotus flowers lianhua, hence the name. Among the Bai and Naxi peoples, Cymbidium lianpan is called "Xiaoxuelan", and in Taiwan, China orchid circles it is called "Beiyalan". Cymbidium lianpan is a typical member of the genus Cymbidium, a terrestrial orchid, with white, thick roots, 0.5cm-0.8cm in diameter and 20-30cm long, sometimes reaching more than 50cm, and the roots do not branch. The pseudobulb is relatively small, generally 0.8-1.2cm high and 0.6-1.0cm wide, forming an oval sphere. The leaves of Cymbidium lianpan are generally 5-8 in number, mostly 7, rarely more than 8, linear, 40-50cm long and 0.4-0.6cm wide, with a few more than 0.7cm, with serrated leaf margins, and the cross-section at the leaf base is "v"-shaped. The flowering period is from December to March, with 2-4 flowers per scape, flower diameter 5.5-6.0cm, and varieties in red, yellow, light green, white and plain-heart types, with a rich fragrance. Cymbidium lianpan varieties are easy to identify.  

Cymbidium lianpan mostly grows on mountain slopes between 1500-2500m in altitude, under pine trees, oak trees and shrub forests, and especially prefers growing on semi-mountain slopes with many oak trees, where there is mostly loose humus soil. From the wild environment of Cymbidium lianpan, it prefers a moist, ventilated, airy, nutrient-rich, moderately acidic-to-neutral, and partially shaded environment. In order to meet the above environmental requirements of Cymbidium lianpan, Yunnan's orchid-growing predecessors, through arduous exploration, finally summarized the experience of cultivating Cymbidium lianpan with humus soil. The ideal soil for cultivating orchids is one that contains a large amount of humus, is loose and airy, drains well, has moderate nutrients, is neutral in acidity and alkalinity, is free of pathogens, and is free of pests. It is generally divided into organic growing media, inorganic growing media, and soil-type growing media. Humus soil belongs to soil-type growing media and is widely used in Yunnan orchid cultivation. Humus soil is divided into humus soil and leaf mold, among which leaf mold is the best. The advantages of using leaf mold to grow orchids are that it is airy, drains well, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic, and easy to obtain. Yunnan orchid growers generally agree that leaf mold is the "housekeeping soil" for cultivating Yunnan orchids. Leaf mold is the easiest to obtain; wherever forest and grass are dense, there is leaf mold. There are many types of leaf mold, and in Yunnan the following are generally used:  

    The most commonly used is rotten oak leaf soil, which is divided into yellow oak leaf soil and white oak leaf soil. Yellow oak leaf soil is superior to white oak leaf soil. Yellow oak leaf soil contains yellow oak essence, and orchid growth most needs yellow oak essence. Yellow oak leaf soil has yellow leaf backs and green leaf surfaces, thick leaf texture, and hairy spines along the leaf edges. White oak leaf soil has green leaf backs and leaf surfaces, thin leaf texture, and no hairy spines along the leaf edges.  

    The next is shrub leaf mold. Shrub leaf mold is humus soil formed from fallen leaves in mixed miscellaneous wood forests after decomposition. This kind of leaf mold is a mixed type with comprehensive nutrition. Because shrub leaf mold is a mixed type, its degree of decomposition varies, and since the leaves are thin and fragile, it is easy to damage orchid roots during use. Due to its natural proportions, mixed humus soil drains less well than rotten oak leaf soil.  

    The next is rotten pine needle leaf soil. Rotten pine needle leaf soil is a slightly acidic growing medium, relatively beneficial to the growth of Cymbidium lianpan, but it must be decomposed to a soft and fluffy degree and must not prick the hand, to prevent piercing orchid roots, and its nutrition is also insufficient.  

    The fourth is other leaf mold. Such as rotten willow leaf soil, rotten grass leaf soil, rotten bamboo leaf soil, crushed leaf-type soil, etc. This type of soil is not easy to obtain and can only be made by artificial decomposition.  

    In Yunnan, the cultivation of Cymbidium lianpan is mainly based on yellow rotten oak leaf soil. Because leaf mold is produced in the natural environment, it has many pathogens and pests and many cases of physical damage, so special care should be taken when using it.  

    First, it should be tested for acidity and alkalinity; a pH value of 5.5-7.0 is most suitable for orchid growth. If it is too acidic, an appropriate amount of lime can be added; if it is too alkaline, ferrous sulfate, superphosphate, etc. can be added.  

    Second is disinfection treatment. Disinfection methods include: exposing it to sunlight for more than three days; steaming it with 100-degree steam for more than 1 hour; treating it at subzero low temperature for about a week, as well as chemical disinfection and other methods. After the above treatment, the leaf mold can be used to plant Cymbidium lianpan.  

    Cymbidium lianpan cultivated with leaf mold should also be managed and maintained with suitable methods. The main aspects are water management and fertilization management. Water management is the most important link in the entire orchid-growing process. The watering method varies according to conditions such as season, temperature, sunlight, pot type, and ventilation. Generally, a combination of full soaking and foliar spraying is used. When the leaf mold is completely dry, place the pot in water with the water surface about 3-4cm lower than the pot rim, and soak for 2-4 hours. At ordinary times, spray the leaves once every 3-4 days, preferably just enough to wet the leaf surface, and do not let water get into the leaf buds. Soaking in water should be done before sunrise in winter and spring, and after sunset in summer and autumn. As for fertilization management, for Cymbidium lianpan grown in leaf mold, it is not an important link. Because leaf mold has comprehensive and sufficient nutrition, it generally does not need separate fertilization. In Yunnan, generally changing the leaf mold once every 1-2 years is enough to supply the orchid with nutrients. If the goal is for home-grown orchids to be stronger, more beautiful, and longer-lasting than those growing naturally, fertilizers mainly based on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements can be applied, but fertilization must be light, because the leaf mold is rich in nutrients and Cymbidium lianpan does not need too much fertilizer.