What are the characteristics of the orchid's ecological environment?

Orchidsmust grow within a certain natural environment; only with a suitable environment canorchidsgrow and develop. The subtropical monsoon climate is relatively suitable for the growth and development oforchids. The vast mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang were already rich in orchids in ancient times, and they still multiply there to this day. Adaptation to the natural environment is the most basic and also one of the most important conditions for orchid growth. Orchids grow in the shaded humus soil or weathered gravel soil with good drainage under forest in the mountains, in places with high air humidity and good ventilation. From the ecological habits oforchids, as seen in orchids growing in the natural environment of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, their climate requirements can be summarized as: they like warmth and fear frost; they like atmospheric humidity and fear damp waterlogging; they like clear weather and fear dry winds and sun exposure; they like gentle breezes and filtered sunlight and fear confinement and muggy heat. Their soil requirements are: they like loose, breathable, well-drained humus soil, and fear strongly acidic soil and clay soil. In the Yuan Dynasty, Kong Jingzhai summarized the habits oforchidsin sixteen characters: "They like clear weather and fear the sun, like shade and fear dampness, like seclusion and fear remoteness, like clustering and fear crowding." This is quite incisive. In the Ming Dynasty, Lu Tingweng's "Lan Yi Shi Er Yi" further summarized it as ten likings and ten fears: "They like the sun but fear heat, like wind but fear cold, like rain but fear flooding, like moisture but fear wetness, like dryness but fear soot, like soil but fear depth, like fertilizer but fear turbidity, like tree shade but fear tips, like warm air but fear smoke, like people but fear seclusion, like clustering together but fear separation from the mother, like cultivation but fear pampering. Jiangsu and Zhejiang have the natural climate and geographical environment most suitable for growing orchids, and are also the earliest birthplace oforchid growing.Orchidgrowing is most essentially about creating an environment similar to the orchid's natural one, based on its natural growth habits. Therefore, when artificiallycultivatingorchids, the following points must be grasped: 1. Likes cool shade Most orchids grow in mountain forests on the shady side, where lush, dense trees (or shrubs) block intense sunlight, letting only some scattered sunlight fall on the orchids, so the places where orchids grow are relatively cool and shaded. Conversely, direct strong light is not conducive to the growth oforchids, causing scorched spots on orchid leaves, or even yellowing and withering. 2. Tolerates dryness, avoids wetness Tolerating dryness definitely does not mean liking dryness, and avoiding wetness definitely does not mean not needing moisture; orchids, like other flowers, likewise need the nourishment of rain and dew. The places where orchids grow naturally all have fresh air, relatively high humidity, easy drainage, and moist soil; the key is smooth drainage with no water accumulation. Because rainfall is uneven throughout the fourseasonsof the year, the soil water content varies greatly, and the structures of the various parts of the orchid plant therefore show drought-tolerant characteristics; both the pseudobulbs and the fleshy roots can store water and absorb water. 3. Likes ventilation Orchids most fear damp stuffiness. Orchids grow beside mountain streams in the wild where valley winds blow in all directions, with loose soil and good air permeability. Orchid leaves sway with the wind in fresh air, which is very beneficial to the orchid's photosynthesis and respiration. 4. Afraid of pollution Orchids live in the mountain wilds, with fresh air, clear streams and springs, and a quiet environment, growing robustly; they most fear air pollution, soil pollution, and also the harm of dust, etc.