Characteristics and Care Essentials of the Qijian Baimo Cymbidium sinense Variety
Qijian Baimo, of the genus Cymbidium in the orchid family, is mainly produced in the Pearl River Delta area and is one of the four traditional varieties of Cymbidium sinense. Its pseudobulbs are plump and oval-shaped; its leaves are emerald green, glossy, broad and upright, rather long, slightly drooping, and dark green; its flower stalks are tall, imposing and powerful, with a subtle, serene fragrance, and the flowers are jade white...
Qijian Baimo, of the genus Cymbidium in the orchid family, is mainly produced in the Pearl River Delta area and is one of the four traditional varieties of Cymbidium sinense. Its pseudobulbs are plump and oval-shaped; its leaves are emerald green, glossy, broad and upright, rather long, slightly drooping, and dark green; its flower stalks are tall, imposing and powerful, with a subtle, serene fragrance, and the flowers are plain jade-white, fragrant, on tall stems, with 7-17 flowers per stem.
Qijian Baimo has long had the saying, "The inky one is not white, the white one is not inky; the inky one is in name, the white one is in reality; inky yet able to be white, others turbid while I am clear," from which one can grasp the meaning of "keep good company and you shall be one of the good; keep bad company and you shall be one of the bad."
In the late Qing Dynasty, Ou Jinze wrote in his book Linghai Lanyan: "Our Guangdong is unmatched in the world for its white ink orchids. The flowers must rise above the leaves, the leaves must be lustrous and smooth, and the fragrance must be serene and far-reaching - these are its three supreme qualities."
