Detailed Guide to the Latest Growing Environment of Wild Dendrobium officinale

Wild Dendrobium officinale is a perennial plant and a famous traditional Chinese medicinal herb; the wild ones are also nationally protected plants. Because natural reproduction is difficult and over-harvesting has occurred, resources are scarce. So now Dendrobium officinale is all cultivated artificially. Therefore, introducing the wild growing environment now is also for the purpose of artificially creating a better cultivation environment.

1. Environment

It mainly grows in the Dabie Mountains of Anhui, eastern Zhejiang, western Fujian, western Guangxi, the Sichuan region, and southeastern Yunnan. It generally grows on trees, on rocks, or in mid-altitude mountain areas, among light-permeable forests, on rocks in moist environments. Humid valleys are also very suitable for its growth. It is very suitable for growing on limestone soil.

2. Temperature

The growing temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees; above 30 degrees affects growth; in winter, maintaining 9 to 12 degrees is enough for safe overwintering. Under artificial cultivation, it can survive at minus 2 degrees, and cannot grow above 41 degrees. The temperature range in which it can grow is 10 to 35 degrees, and the most suitable is between 20 and 32 degrees. In summer, high temperatures must be shaded, and misting is also needed to lower the temperature. This can be adjusted in greenhouse cultivation.

3. Water

In the wild, it is found in places with annual rainfall of 1100 to 1500 mm, in damp and humid environments, with relative humidity between 60% and 75%. In artificial cultivation, the environment should be adjusted according to temperature; air humidity between 60% and 90% is acceptable. Generally, it is high temperature and high humidity, and low temperature and low humidity. However, during summer high temperature and high humidity, it is necessary to prevent infection by pathogens and pests. This affects quality. Use neutral water for irrigation.

4. Soil and Light

In the wild, it generally grows in the cracks of mountain rocks, cliffs, and precipices, and its roots do not enter the soil. For artificial cultivation, edible substrate cultivation is used, requiring breathable, well-draining, loose substrate. It cannot be too heavy, or it will not grow. In the wild, it grows in light-permeable forests, with a light transmittance of about 60%; in artificial cultivation, the shading level is between 50% and 70%.

Wild Dendrobium officinale has strict environmental requirements, and artificial cultivation can only create a similar environment as much as possible. The growing conditions in greenhouse cultivation can be appropriately relaxed.