Sharing bits and pieces of experience on introducing orchids from other places (Wei Chang)

Bits and pieces of experience on introducing orchids from other places (Wei Chang) This is how I make my living, all yearroundI buy orchids everywhere, whether Guangxi, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Jiangsu...... and of course, there are also resold orchids from Japan and Taiwan, especially Taiwan orchids, which are even more numerous. I have more or less accumulated a bit ofcultivationand acclimatization experience, and I will share it with everyone; whether right or wrong, I sincerely welcome corrections.

OrchidsIn cultivation, every place has its own growing medium, and every person has their own management methods. None of that matters, and even if you wanted to understand it, you could not. Since you have bought it, that proves this flower caught your eye, so figuring out how to grow it well is the only real priority. For orchids I have introduced, I manage them according to these steps:

1. Washing: washing the root system, similar to Zhu Dayong's root rubbing, with the aim of washing away the fertilizer previously attached to the roots. Washing the pseudobulbs removes dried sheaths, rotten armor, and the pesticides, dust, and grime accumulated in the leaf sheaths;

2. Drying: no need to say much about this, everyone understands. Just make sure the root surface is just barely dry and then stop drying; if it gets too dry, the roots are done for;

3. Root trimming: trimming off broken roots, rotten roots, and black roots is something everyone also understands, but trimming off white, tender, plump, healthy roots is something most people probably cannot bring themselves to do. An overly vigorous root system isabsolutely not good fororchids; the rate of plant collapse is high, and even if they do not collapse, because the mother plant, grandfather plant, great-grandfather plant, and so on have strong, vigorous roots, the new shoots are pampered like young masters and will not rely on themselves to sprout new roots, becoming dependent on their elders.Cymbidium faberinutrition is said to be stored in the root system, and I also think this makes sense, sofor Cymbidium faberiroot trimming should be done cautiously. For other orchid types, I am quite heavy-handed; leaving 3~4 well-distributed good roots on each pseudobulb is enough.For Cymbidium faberi, however, the short, thin, small roots on the pseudobulbs should be trimmed off, so they do not press down on new shoots emerging below and cause smothered shoots.

4. Growing medium: using a clean, plain, well-draining medium is safe. Around here, we customarily use cobblestones, and as for growing roots, there is no need to say more.

5. Management: the focus of managing newly bought orchids is still watering. As long as it is not raining, I water every day, and only after new roots grow do I gradually shift to normal management. You do not need to unpot them to tell that new roots are growing; the orchid looks more and more vigorous, which means new roots have started growing. The speed of new root growth varies greatly depending on the season. In cold winter it takes three months, while in summer new roots grow fastest, starting within a week. If the new shoots have not yet grown, generally no fertilizer is given, or only a small amount, that is, just sprinkling a bit of Hyponex. After the new shoots emerge from the medium, place a few grains of Hyponex near the new shoots so the main roots of the new shoots can absorb it; the growth speed and sturdiness of the new shoots are clearly different from those without fertilizer. Generally after one full year, especially after passing through the dreaded gauntlet of high temperature and high humidity from April to June, this orchid is your own orchid. Do not rush to fertilize; keeping the orchid alive is the key.

One more thing I forgot to mention: for newly bought orchids, unless they are wild orchids just collected from the mountains, if they come from an orchid nursery, it is best not to divide the plants. However many shoots you bought, keep that many; do not divide them further.

I firmly believe in the saying from around here, "a dull knife makes a skillful hand," and reject "those who cannot sail blame the bend in the river." Only with this mindset can one's orchid skills improve day by day.