The cultivation and management of Xiaoxuesu is similar to that of Cymbidium goeringii (called Duoxiang in Yunnan), but it demands somewhat higher conditions. Its optimum growing temperature is 18-25°C, the minimum winter temperature should not fall below 6°C, and the summer high should not exceed 32°C. The day-night temperature difference should be relatively large, ideally 8-10°C; avoid air that is too dry. In summer, provide plenty of ventilation, especially in the evening. ...
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The cultivation and management of Xiaoxuesu is similar to that of Cymbidium goeringii (called Duoxiang in Yunnan), but it demands somewhat higher conditions. Its optimum growing temperature is 18-25°C, the minimum winter temperature should not fall below 6°C, and the summer high should not exceed 32°C. The day-night temperature difference should be relatively large, ideally 8-10°C; avoid air that is too dry. In summer, provide plenty of ventilation, especially in the evening. Other routine care such as watering and fertilizing is the same as for Cymbidium goeringii. In addition, Xiaoxuesu needs high humidity, ample water, and a little less sunlight. As for the potting medium, because local habits differ, the materials chosen also differ: in the Guangdong area, people like to use pond mud, that is, taking the bottom surface soil from fish ponds, drying it in the sun, and then breaking it up to plant orchids; the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region customarily uses humus soil, commonly known as "orchid mud." We in Yunnan also mostly use humus soil to grow orchids. Some orchid enthusiasts use materials such as brick granules, wood shavings (sawdust), and weathered rock, and can also achieve success. There are also Xiantu and Tangjishi on the market... all are good materials for planting orchids. No matter what kind of potting medium is mixed for planting Xiaoxuesu, it just needs to contain humus, be loose, drain well, and be slightly acidic. We generally use leaf mold plus fine-grained Tangjishi at 2:1, and add some local red soil (in places without red soil, adding unpolluted garden soil is also fine). As for the pot used for planting orchids, because Xiaoxuesu's roots are relatively long, it is better to use a tall-waisted pot, with crushed charcoal or broken brick pieces as the bottom layer. By the way, when planting, the roots can directly touch the drainage layer, and then medium is added up to the pot surface. From our experience, root rot rarely occurs, the roots grow relatively well, and some orchid roots even grow directly into the drainage layer. As for fertilizer, it is rarely used, because it is a plain-flowered type; just spray one-thousandth monopotassium phosphate during the peak growing season, and for water, simply use tap water that has been left to stand for a day with added vinegar.
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