How to grow Cymbidium ensifolium? These care and management key points you need to master

Cymbidium ensifolium is a terrestrial plant and can also be grown in pots. Cultivating and managing Cymbidium ensifolium is not very difficult, but because its popularity is not high at present, there is not much introduction to its cultivation and care. The editor has compiled relevant information on the care and management of Cymbidium ensifolium for you. Friends who need it can learn about it together.

Cymbidium ensifolium

1. Preparation of the growing medium.The role of the growing medium is to anchor the plant and retain moisture; its nutrient content is not important. When choosing a growing medium, you must first understand its characteristics. Calcined pond mud, perlite, and volcanic soil are all very suitable as media; fully soak them before use, and the effect is even better if they absorb enough water. Organic materials such as rice hulls, peanut shells, and tree bark can also be used as media. Because they contain nutrients, they must be mixed with other inorganic materials, but the proportion must not be too high, generally not exceeding 30%; the effect is more ideal after carbonization treatment. Fine stones from riverbeds, hard clods of soil, or crushed stone from sand and gravel plants are also very ideal media. They not only drain well but also have high water retention and are cheap; however, the disadvantage is that they are too heavy, so they are generally mixed with organic media.

2. Cultivation facilities.Orchid cultivation can be divided into courtyard cultivation and large-area field cultivation. For ordinary home orchid growing, a balcony or rooftop can be used, or a small shed can be built on a windowsill. It is better to use orchid pots with a rough texture, no upper axle, many holes on the sides and bottom, and pot feet for planting orchids.

3. Growing environment.The original growing environment of Cymbidium ensifolium is virgin forest near the top of a mountain facing east or south with a little sunlight. There is abundant rainfall in summer, and in the dry winter there is also morning and evening mist and dew to supply what it needs for growth. If calculated by shading rate, using 80% plastic netting for shade can achieve the same effect. Because its vegetative growth requires high temperatures, while reproductive growth depends on the temperature difference between day and night, the ideal growing temperature is 15-30°C.

4. Water and fertilizer management.The nutrients required by Cymbidium ensifolium are the same as those of other plants. In addition to the carbohydrates needed for photosynthesis, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, and other trace elements are all indispensable. Cymbidium ensifolium has a strong reproduction rate and a high flowering rate, and is extremely suitable for cultivation in natural environments. Without rain shelter facilities, fertilizer loss is relatively serious. For base fertilizer, long-acting solid fertilizer is suitable, and for topdressing, quick-acting liquid fertilizer is suitable.

Quick-acting organic liquid fertilizer, namely the latest biotechnology sugar-vinegar liquid and microbial organic liquid fertilizer, is extremely convenient to use. It can be directly diluted with water and sprayed, and can also inhibit pests and diseases. Quick-acting chemical fertilizers include Huabao, Baidefei, Yifeidan, urea, and the like. As for the method of using liquid fertilizer, it is best to do it in the early morning, because most liquid fertilizers are quick-acting fertilizers and will not be absorbed and used by plants without photosynthesis. Do not water before fertilizing, otherwise more will be lost than absorbed. No matter what fertilizer is applied, it should be applied at the edge of the pot, and must never be applied on the orchid crown or near the orchid crown, so as to avoid burning and developing into soft rot. If fertilizer accidentally falls on the orchid crown, it should also be promptly washed off with clean water.

For watering, rainwater and tap water are best. In summer and autumn, morning and evening are best; in winter and spring, noon is suitable. During the peak growing season, water a little more appropriately; during the winter and spring dormancy period, water less, and keep the potting soil moist but slightly dry. Never give half-watering. As for the watering method, not only should water come out from the bottom of the pot, but the medium also needs to be completely soaked through. Uneven dryness and wetness can easily cause mold and lead to root rot. The frequency of watering should be considered according to pot size, medium water retention, humidity level, light intensity, temperature, and ventilation conditions.

Four key points of Cymbidium ensifolium care techniques

News from China Landscape Web on September 17: Cymbidium ensifolium is also known as Sijilan, Xiahui, Qiulan, Qiuhui, Jianhui, Xionglan, Junhelan, etc. It is mainly distributed in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and other provinces and regions. Cymbidium ensifolium has strong adaptability, and when planted and cared for properly, it can bloom and be fragrant in all parts of our country. Even so, daily care of Cymbidium ensifolium still requires attention to four aspects.

First, light must be sufficient. Wild Cymbidium ensifolium mostly grows in sunny places on forest edges, slopes, or in open forests at the top of mountains. Therefore, Cymbidium ensifolium is an orchid species that relatively likes sufficient light. In daily care, it can be placed in the most light-accessible place on the top of the orchid rack in the orchid room, and shaded as little as possible; otherwise, it is not easy to produce flowers. Some Cymbidium ensifolium varieties even need exposure to the sun in daily care to bloom.

Second, fertilization should be relatively frequent. Most Cymbidium ensifolium can bloom twice a year, with the flowering period from July to October, usually opening in two batches about one month apart. The first flowering period is in early July, and the full bloom period is in mid-July. The second flowering begins in early August, with mid-August as the full bloom period. In addition, one scape bearing many flowers consumes a lot of nutrients. Therefore, in care, one should follow the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, and fertilize relatively frequently, so that Cymbidium ensifolium grows robustly and blooms properly.

Third, pay attention to preventing pests during the flowering season. The flowering season of Cymbidium ensifolium is generally in the high-temperature season from July to September, when thrips and aphids are most likely to damage flower buds and flowers, causing buds not to grow, to turn brown, and to die, and causing flowers to be gnawed beyond recognition, seriously affecting ornamental value. Therefore, from bud emergence to full bloom, Cymbidium ensifolium should focus on prevention, combine prevention and control, and promptly spray pesticides for control, so as to avoid pest damage.

Fourth, pay attention to freeze protection. Wild Cymbidium ensifolium mostly grows in the warm and humid subtropical regions south of the Yangtze River, and there is rarely low-temperature weather below 0°C, so it is relatively afraid of freezing. When cultivated in areas north of the Yangtze River, it should be kept in a closed orchid room in winter, and the temperature must not be lower than 0°C; otherwise, freezing damage is likely to occur. (The author is an executive director of the Orchid Branch of the China Flower Association.)

Key points of Cymbidium ensifolium care techniques