Cymbidium goeringii 'Xishenmei' details: How to grow roots well? With photos of its shortcomings

Also known as "Xichenmei", originally from Fenghua, Zhejiang, obtained by Rong Wenqing of Wuxi in 1911! Xishen is a plum-form narcissus-petal variety, easy to flower but not easy to propagate. When it first opens, the upper petals tend to open low, so it looks a bit dull; usually by the second day they spread out, and only then can its elegant posture be fully displayed. The stem of Xishen is not easy to stretch tall, the petals are rather thin and tend to curl back after being open a long time. To get a good flower form still requires some skill!

Xishen has three petals with flat edges, round tips, a large spreading lip, Guanyin-dou (Guanyin's hood) form, flat shoulders, and the most enchanting color and luster, with a charm that stands alone. "Xishenmei" leaves are about 25cm long and 0.8cm wide, belonging to the narrow, slender leaf type, with an obliquely drooping leaf posture. In every plant there is sure to be 1 leaf shaped like a bow, the leaf base tightly gathered, the foot sheath low, the leaf texture thick and glutinous with luster, the leaf groove V-shaped, the leaf teeth clearly rough, the leaf tip pointed, and on strong seedlings fine red streaks are seen on the leaf-stalk ring. Each growth has only 3--5 leaves, the leaves curving and drooping, interlaced attractively, the plant form beautiful. The leaves are bowed and drooping in varied poses, the plant form elegant and graceful, lazy in growth but easy to flower; the three petals are short, round and broad, opening and closing with measure, the tips of the petals appropriately edged in white, the large Liu Hai tongue (Liu Hai lip) spreading with grace, a single red spot incomparably brilliant, the stem tall and the color lovely, its spirit unmatched, long honored with the reputation of "supreme divine variety."

  History: In 1912 it was selected in Wuxi by Mr. Rong Wenqing of Wuxi, Jiangsu. It is said that in 1912, Rong Wenqing of Wuxi, Jiangsu selected a prized plum-form narcissus-petal Cymbidium goeringii, and named it "Xishenmei" after the ancient place name of Huishan in Wuxi. Rong Wenqing's home had very many famous orchids, but he cherished Xishenmei above all and cared for it especially. Unfortunately, in 1916 this orchid was stolen from his home by thieves. Rong Wenqing searched everywhere without finding it, and in desperation filed a complaint with the authorities. Rong Wenqing was a prominent Wuxi family at the time, so after receiving the complaint the authorities attached great importance to it and immediately sent people to search. Half a year later, fortunately it was found in the countryside of Wu County and returned to its rightful owner.

Later Rong Wenqing reluctantly parted with Xishenmei for ten gold bars to Yang Ganqing. Mr. Yang regarded it as a family treasure, enjoying it only himself and never showing it to outsiders. In Yang Ganqing's later years, knowing his allotted time was short, he instructed his son: "This orchid is my life's greatest love. Unfortunately you do not know how to care for it. After I die, you may give it to Mr. Shen Yuanru." His son accordingly honored the instruction and gave it away. After Shen Yuanru obtained Xishenmei, through careful care and propagation, it has been passed down to this day.

  Characteristics: The leaves are rather fine, no more than 0.8cm wide, 20-25cm long. Semi-drooping, with pointed tips, glossy. New shoots are purplish-red. The flower scape is slightly higher than the leaf surface, about 12~13cm tall, pale purple-brown. The sepals are broad, 1.2~1.5cm wide, 3~4cm long; the two side sepals extend flat or form a "door"-shaped shoulder, so the flower appears large. The petals have a shallow pouch, with straight flat edges, soft texture with a sense of transparency, light emerald green. The lip is small and round, neat, with vermilion spots. Some also consider Xishenmei to be a plum-form narcissus petal. "A Brief History of Orchids and Huilan" comments: Xishen "though called a plum, is in fact the supreme variety of the small narcissus class."

Another account: Xishenmei's new shoots are rose red, and the new leaves are verdant green and full of luster; the leaf tips are sharp, and the serrations on the leaf margins are very obvious, surpassing all others among Cymbidium goeringii. A mature growth needs only four leaves to produce flowers (generally Cymbidium goeringii usually needs more than five leaves to produce flowers). The leaf shapes are graceful and varied: some stand obliquely, some droop their heads, some bend at the waist, and almost every mature growth has one leaf shaped like a bow. All of this shows Xishenmei's unique style of leaf posture.

Xishenmei blooms brilliantly and with great flair. The flower scape is about 12-13cm long, slightly higher than the leaf surface; the bract leaves are mercury red with a sense of transparency, painted with purple lines, each one running clear to the top. The three outer petals are broad, reaching 1.2-1.5cm, and over 3cm long; the flower is large and imposing. The fan-shaped shallow-pouch petals are of a glutinous texture and pale yellow-green, guarding the column that releases waves of delicate fragrance - that column is like the golden-yellow nose of the descendants of Yan and Huang. The lip is the pure white and elegant Liu Hai tongue (somewhat larger than that of Songmei), full and slightly curled; on the surface of the tongue are set large, perfectly round red spots, just like a red sun bursting forth, full of delightful charm, striking viewers with admiration. Orchid circles particularly love this brilliant, brightly colored large red spot, which instantly enhances the value of this famous orchid.  Especially praiseworthy is that Xishenmei is noble but not arrogant, with vigorous growth and reproductive ability, and it flowers easily, making it a famous Cymbidium goeringii variety of considerable economic value, well worth cultivating.   Xishenmei not only has large flowers and thick petals, dignified and beautiful, but its fragrance is even more intense.

  Xishenmei is praised by people as the "supreme divine variety," and its wonder lies in its petals. According to traditional petal-form theory, if its petals went a little further it would be classed as a plum petal, and if it had no white edge it could only be an ordinary flower. Xishenmei's just-right petals and beautiful Liu Hai tongue form a perfect central structure, and paired with the outer petals it is truly magnificent! Viewing the flower of Xishenmei gives a feeling of elegance and sanctity.

   Xishenmei has relatively strong resistance, is not prone to disease, and flowers easily. Its shortcomings are that the shoot production rate is not high and its growth is not vigorous.