Introduction and Appreciation of the Red Boy Cymbidium goeringii Variety

A red-flowered plum-petal variety of Cymbidium goeringii, originating from within Gulin County, Sichuan Province in 1992. It has a medium-wide upright leaf type, with the upper part of the leaves semi-drooping and a majestic leaf posture. Strong plants can have up to 7 leaves, with a leaf width of 0.8-1.4 cm and a leaf length of 25-40 cm. Easy to cultivate, with a high shoot production rate. The central leaf shows obvious red crystal, the bud tips have white peaks, and mature plants carry dark snake-skin variegation, making them extremely easy to identify. The petals are short, round and thick, with a ruddy flower color. The three outer petals have constricted bases, wide mid-sections, angled fronts, and tightly rolled petal edges, forming a tightly embracing posture of the outer petals; along the petal margins are dense red veins hanging with a translucent sheen, closely resembling cicada wings; the inner petals are moderately emulsified, and the small ru-yi tongue bears a single red dot, like Xi Shi dotting her lips, a beauty beyond description.

    This orchid has strong stress resistance, is easy to cultivate, and has a high shoot production rate; its leaf posture is majestic, and both flower form and flower color are excellent, making it easy to identify even when not in bloom. It is one of the most representative fine varieties among plum-petal Cymbidium goeringii flowers, and can be called a brilliant pearl among Sichuan Cymbidium goeringii.

There is only one species of the Sichuan-grown Cymbidium goeringii Red Boy. If anyone claims there are other species, they should be counterfeit. I have indeed seen so-called Red Boy in the gardens of several orchid enthusiasts, but the variety was incorrect. When I asked the owners, they said the person who sold them the plant at the time had said it was some Red Boy No. 2 or No. 3 and so on. In reality, they were fooling orchid-loving friends. I have cultivated Red Boy in my garden for many years and am quite familiar with its characteristics. I will now list the characteristics of this species as follows:

1. Regardless of whether the plant is strong or weak, the grass buds are all red, with very obvious white heads (white peaks) on the bud tips.

2. When the plant is strong, the emulsification phenomenon at the leaf tip of the central leaf of the new grass is obvious (this is also the reason the central leaf of Red Boy new plants has a relatively blunt tip after maturing), and even the leaf tips of several leaves show varying degrees of emulsification.

3. Strong plants have relatively broad and large leaves with good leaf form. The leaves of new plants carry obvious snake-skin variegation, but this variegation will gradually fade as the plant gradually grows and chlorophyll synthesis in the leaves gradually increases, though in the end it is still visible on old plants.