How to grow Cymbidium sinense? A detailed guide to its growth habits and potted cultivation methods
Cymbidium sinense, also known as the New Year orchid, originates from China, Vietnam and Myanmar. The leaves are sword-shaped. Dark green, with a glossy sheen. The flower stem usually rises above the leaves, bearing 7-17 flowers, with small bracts and nectaries at the base, the lip is not distinctly three-lobed, with the tip drooping and curling back. The flowering period is from January to March, with many varieties, and a few varieties flower in autumn
Cymbidium sinense, also known as the New Year orchid, originates from China, Vietnam and Myanmar. The leaves are sword-shaped. Dark green, with a glossy sheen. The flower stem usually rises above the leaves, bearing 7-17 flowers, with small bracts and nectaries at the base, the lip is not distinctly three-lobed, with the tip drooping and curling back. The flowering period is from January to March, with many varieties, and a few varieties flower in autumn.
1. Growth habits of Cymbidium sinense
The suitable temperature for the growing period of Cymbidium sinense is 15°C-25°C. It requires abundant rainfall, with year-round relative air humidity of 70-80%. It grows well under shade with up to 90% shading. It requires deep soil that is loose and breathable, retains water well, is rich in humus, and slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5).
2. Cultivation substrate
The humus soil from the forest floor of the orchid's place of origin, rich in humus content, breathable, loose, slightly acidic and non-sticky, is an excellent potting soil for orchids. However, when cultivating orchids in the north, people generally mix their own potting soil. But after summarizing many experiments, the substrate used for growing orchids - coconut coir that has been treated with high-temperature sterilization and salt reduction - gives very good growth results, and it is sold in flower markets.
3. Cultivation management
Choose a good flower pot. Before planting, place a piece of broken tile at the bottom of the pot, spread a layer of coconut coir, then place the orchid plant in, with the root system distributed evenly and spread out. Then continue adding coconut coir up to the leaf base of the pseudobulb. When adding coconut coir, tap the pot while adding, so that the coconut coir comes into close contact with the root system. After planting, water immediately, ensuring thorough watering, then place it in a warm, humid, bright-indirect-light, well-ventilated environment for care. When fertilizing, note that "light is better than concentrated" - either organic or inorganic fertilizer is fine. During the growing season, fertilize once a week. In autumn and winter, Cymbidium sinense grows slowly, so fertilizer should be reduced, with once every 20 days being suitable.
4. Pest and disease control
Due to poor ventilation and high humidity, Cymbidium sinense is prone to black spot disease and mold disease. Black spot disease often damages new shoots, and in severe cases the entire plant dies. Besides improving ventilation and controlling air humidity, it can be sprayed with a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Mold disease can cause the rhizome of Cymbidium sinense to rot, and can be prevented and treated by spraying a 500-fold dilution of chloronitrobenzene phenol. The main pests are piercing-sucking scale insects and red spider mites, which can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
How to grow Cymbidium sinense: cultivation methods and precautions
Cymbidium sinense has a rich fragrance and varied flower colors, with beautiful flowers and a unique leaf shape - many friends cannot resist its allure. So when transplanting it into indoor pots, you may wonder: how do you grow Cymbidium sinense? Its cultivation methods have become a concern for many consumers. Below, the editor will combine Cymbidium sinense images to explain cultivation knowledge to everyone.
[Plant profile]
Chinese name: Cymbidium sinense (Chinese orchid)
Scientific name: Cymbidium sinensis Wild
Aliases: New Year orchid, Rusui orchid, broad-leaf orchid, Baocai orchid, Cuisheng orchid, Fa orchid, Fengcai orchid, Fengsui orchid, Sui orchid
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Cymbidium
Origin and distribution: Native to China, Vietnam and Myanmar. Mainly produced in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, China, Hunan, Guizhou
Growing environment: Often grows in mountain forests by streams, and is also found in evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed forests among grass clumps
Morphological characteristics: The pseudobulbs of common traditional cultivated varieties of Cymbidium sinense are elliptical, with thick and long roots, some branching in a deer-antler shape. Leaves grow in clumps, sword-shaped, with the upper half spreading upward and outward (some with upright leaves are called qijian, and some with semi-drooping or drooping leaves are called ruanjian). Leaves are 50-80 cm long and 2.7-4.2 cm wide, with entire or serrated margins, and a jade-green glossy sheen. The flower scape is upright, usually rising above the leaves (chujia). There are 7-20 flowers, with small bracts and nectaries at the base (flower nectar, orchid paste). The sepals are narrowly lanceolate, light brown with 5 purple veins. The petals are shorter and wider, extending forward, positioned above the column. The column is 1.2-1.6 cm long, with 4 pollinia. The lip is three-lobed but not distinctly so, with a drooping and curling tip, and 2 yellow callus ridges. The fruit is narrowly elliptical, 5-6 cm long. It contains hundreds of thousands of embryos inside.
How to grow Cymbidium sinense?
◆ Growth habits: Cymbidium sinense prefers shade and avoids strong light; prefers shade and avoids strong light; prefers warmth and avoids severe cold; prefers moisture and avoids dryness; prefers fertilizer and avoids turbidity.
◆ Soil: Cymbidium sinense prefers a slightly moist soil environment, and should not be subjected to drought. The water used should preferably be soft water.
◆ Fertilizing: Cymbidium sinense has low fertilizer requirements, and plants can grow well even without base fertilizer. Water each plant once with a dilute liquid fertilizer in spring and autumn each year, and stop top-dressing during the dormant period.
◆ Light: In summer, shade Cymbidium sinense, but ensure the plant receives appropriate direct sunlight, otherwise the plant will grow poorly and develop poorly. However, ensure the plant receives sunlight before 10 a.m. each day, avoiding direct sunlight at noon and in the afternoon, otherwise it is unfavorable for normal growth and development.
◆ Environment: Cymbidium sinense likes an environment with air circulation. When ventilating under conditions of low relative humidity, it is best to mist water at the same time, which helps increase air humidity and prevent leaf tip drying.
◆ Temperature: Cymbidium sinense prefers a warm environment, growing well within a temperature range of 16°C-28°C.
◆ Pest control: When exposed to excessive sunlight in summer, plants are prone to sunscald. Its symptoms are yellow spots appearing on the leaf surface, then gradually turning black, and in severe cases the entire leaf dries up and dies. The control method is: avoid prolonged direct sunlight and provide timely shading. In balcony cultivation, Cymbidium sinense is prone to root rot and is often attacked by scale insects, ants and other harmful animals.
How many times does Cymbidium sinense bloom in a year?
Cymbidium sinense and Cymbidium kanran bloom once a year, though the flowering period varies earlier or later depending on temperature. Cymbidium kanran blooms in September and also in November-December. Cymbidium sinense can bloom around the Spring Festival in Guangdong, while in Zhejiang it blooms together with Cymbidium goeringii
Cultivation methods and precautions for Cymbidium sinense
[Placement location] Cymbidium sinense can be placed on east-facing, south-facing and west-facing balconies for management, with east-facing and west-facing balconies giving better cultivation results. On south-facing balconies, avoid areas with excessively strong sunlight. Since it is moderate in height, it can be placed on various balconies of different sizes. During its vigorous growth stage, place the plant where it receives at least 1-2 hours of indirect sunlight daily. In summer, maintain a ventilated environment. Slightly low temperatures in winter are not a problem.
[Propagation method] Mainly by division, mostly carried out in March each spring. Since the seedlings are directly planted in place, the propagation substrate should be acidic loam containing humus, and the pot used is the planting pot. Use large plants that have already been grown for 3-5 years as propagation material. Do not water for several days before dividing, because the roots and leaves of the plant are more brittle when fully hydrated, and become limp and soft when lacking water, so they are less easily damaged and easier to handle. Seed sowing can also be used for seedling propagation.
[Planting lifespan] Cymbidium sinense is a perennial plant that grows very slowly, and the plant does not easily age. Its best ornamental period can reach 5-7 years or even longer after the seedlings are planted in place. Without repotting, continuous cultivation should not exceed 2 years.
Types of Cymbidium sinense
Today, besides traditional varieties such as Jinzui, Yinbian, Qihei, Baimo and Huizhou, there are many new and superior varieties on the market, such as Jinzui Cymbidium sinense, Yinbian Cymbidium sinense, Qihei Cymbidium sinense, Qijian Baimo, Shenzhou Qi, Piaoyi, Huaxi Hedie, Huangfei, Shengshi Zhonghua, and so on.
Uses of Cymbidium sinense
Cymbidium sinense has now become one of the more popular Chinese orchids in China. In Taiwan, China it has entered thousands of households, used to decorate indoor environments and as the main ceremonial potted flower for gifting relatives and friends. Flower branches are also used for flower arranging. If Cymbidium sinense is used as the main material, paired with azaleas, bridal wreath spirea, beautyberry, hydrangea and barnyard grass, it can display a vibrant picture.
"Conclusion: Chinese Cymbidium sinense has elegant leaves and flowers, refined flower posture, and a subtle, far-reaching fragrance, enjoying the reputation of 'the fragrance of kings' and 'the gentleman among flowers.' It can be said to have a uniquely charming appeal that no one can resist, and the urge to try growing it is unavoidable.
Cymbidium sinense Cymbidium sinensis Wild Illustrated guide: how to grow Cymbidium sinense / how to propagate Cymbidium sinense
Cymbidium sinense profileCymbidium sinense Cymbidium sinensis Wild
Cultivation methods and precautions for Cymbidium sinense: introduction to Cymbidium sinense
Cymbidium sinense, also known as the New Year orchid, originates from China, Vietnam and Myanmar. Leaves grow in clumps on elliptical pseudobulbs, sword-shaped. Dark green, with a glossy sheen. The flower stem usually rises above the leaves, and in the wild state can reach 80-100 cm, bearing 7-17 flowers, with small bracts and nectaries at the base. The sepals are lanceolate, light brown, with 5 purple-brown veins. The petals are short and wide, and the lip is not distinctly three-lobed, with the tip drooping and curling back. The flowering period is from January to March, with very many varieties, and a few bloom in autumn.
Morphological characteristics of Cymbidium sinense: the roots
The roots of Cymbidium sinense are a clustered fibrous root system. Roots grow from root points at the base of the pseudobulb. When young they are white; if exposed above the potting medium or outside the soil, they are dark green, and over time become dark gray. They are fleshy, containing abundant water and nutrients. The anatomical structure of the root is divided into three layers. The innermost layer is a yellow-white fibrous core about 0.1 cm in diameter, tough and not easily broken. Its main function is to support the orchid plant and transport water. The outermost layer is the epidermal cells. It covers the entire root and mainly serves absorption and protection functions. Inside the epidermis (the middle layer) is the cortical tissue. Among the cortical cells, some contain needle-like crystalline substances, while others harbor orchid mycorrhizal fungi living within them. These fungi and the orchid plant mutually benefit each other. The orchid root cells provide a living place for the fungi, and the fungi are continuously dissolved and digested and absorbed as nutrients by the orchid root cells during their reproduction. They are mutually causal: when the fungi grow well, the orchid plant grows vigorously. If the living environment of the orchid roots lacks oxygen and is airless, the fungi will die, which in turn leads to the death of the orchid plant. Therefore, the soil or growing medium for orchids must never be compacted or waterlogged, and unfermented organic fertilizer should not be applied, because unfermented organic fertilizer will consume the oxygen in the soil and growing medium during fermentation, causing oxygen deficiency in the soil and medium, leading to the death of the fungi and orchid roots.
The stem of Cymbidium sinense
The stems of Cymbidium sinense are mostly oval, arrowhead-shaped or water-chestnut-shaped, with a few being spindle-shaped. In the past, it was customary to call the stems of terrestrial orchids pseudobulbs, but Professor Pan Ruichi, after examining them from physiological and morphological perspectives, believed they should be called pseudobulbs (jiaqiujing). The outside of the orchid stem is wrapped in a very thick cuticle layer, so water is not easily lost - a drought-tolerant physiological structure. Inside the cuticle are epidermal cells. Vascular bundles are scattered within the stem, and each vascular bundle is surrounded by many fine fibers. The orchid stem stores nutrients and water, and is the organ that nurtures orchid leaves, roots, tiller buds and flowers. The internodes at the base of the stem are compact, with each node bearing a scale-like leaf (commonly called a sheath). The internodes in the middle and upper parts of the stem are slightly more spaced, with each node bearing a lanceolate leaf blade (also called a true leaf). The node positions of the pseudobulb are where new roots, new shoots and flower stems (scapes) sprout. In dissecting hybrid offspring orchid seedlings of Cymbidium sinense, the author observed that new shoots (tiller shoots) all sprout from the third to fifth nodes where scale-like leaves are borne and the first to fifth nodes where true leaves are borne, while the first and second nodes of the mother plant bearing true leaves are the positions where flower stems sprout.
The leaves of Cymbidium sinense
The leaves of Cymbidium sinense are generally linear-lanceolate leaves whose length is more than three to five times the width, leathery, with a glossy sheen. The leaf blade is composed of three parts: the upper epidermis, the lower epidermis and the mesophyll cells. The mesophyll cells contain chlorophyll and are important organs that carry out photosynthesis to produce nutrients.
The epidermal cells are small, rectangular cells, with the long walls of the cells arranged longitudinally parallel to the long axis of the leaf blade. Outside the cell walls there is a relatively thick leathery layer and wax, giving the leaf blade a glossy sheen and a protective function for drought tolerance. The epidermal cells do not contain chlorophyll and are transparent and colorless. The upper epidermis has no stomata, while the lower epidermis has stomata, with a density of about 100-130 per sq mm. The epidermal cells adjacent to the stomata are slightly sunken, and the guard cells of the stomata have round or oval stomatal covers. The stomata are the channels that regulate water transpiration and the entry and exit of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases. The leaf veins of Cymbidium sinense are arranged in parallel. The main vein in the middle of the leaf is relatively thick, called the midrib, and is the support that keeps the leaf blade open and upright. The leaf veins are the channels for the exchange and transport of nutrients and water between the leaf blade and the organs and tissues of various parts of the orchid plant.
Differences in the amount and strength of fibers within the leaf blade cause orchid leaves to display various leaf postures such as "upright," "semi-upright" and "drooping," and different leaf postures create various forms of beauty in the orchid plant. Besides the ornamental quality of leaf posture, changes in leaf shape and variations in leaf color (such as yellow, white, transparent, etc.) are even more important characteristics pursued by people for ornamental and commercial value.
The flowers of Cymbidium sinense
Although the flowers of Cymbidium sinense, like the flowers of general flowering plants, have floral organs such as sepals, petals, stamens, pistils and ovary, their structure has notable characteristics. First, its sepals have become petal-like, and among the three petals one has become lip-shaped, called the lip. The lip is the most gorgeous part of the orchid, and is also a highly specialized petal. The lip is distinctly or not very distinctly three-lobed, and may even be multi-lobed. The front end of the lip is called the front lobe or middle lobe, and generally curls downward; the lobes on both sides behind the front lobe are called side lobes, and the middle part between the two side lobes is called the lip disc. In the center of the lip disc there are two parallel, longitudinally arranged callus ridges. The petals generally have several red-brown stripes, while the lip has brilliant red spots. In some varieties the entire flower is green, yellow or white. The flower of Cymbidium sinense also has a most special structure, namely that the male and female organs are fused together on a columnar structure called the column. This is the most important feature distinguishing orchids from other plants, and is also the main marker for orchid classification.
At the top of the column there is a cap-like structure called the anther cap. Below the anther cap there are two anthers, and each anther cap contains two pollinia. Immediately below the anthers there is a sunken area containing viscous fluid - this is the female organ, called the stigma.
Below the perianth (the collective term for floral organs such as sepals and petals) is the ovary. The ovary of Cymbidium sinense is an organ with three ridged edges, club-shaped, nurturing seed embryos. When the orchid opens, the ovary twists 180 degrees. A normal Cymbidium sinense flower has one ovary below the perianth, but in mutated orchid plants, the ovary below the perianth shows branching and segmentation. For example, the ovary of 'Shenzhou Qi' undergoes multi-branched variation, with each branching position bearing perianth, forming flowers upon flowers, and the entire flower spike becomes a spectacular compound raceme. In 'Datun Qilin,' the top of the ovary undergoes compact segmentation variation, with each segment also bearing perianth, forming the peculiar spectacle of flowers within flowers (from a distance the flower looks like a multi-petaled exotic flower). Systematic scientific research results on the flowering physiology of Cymbidium sinense have not yet been reported, and knowledge about its flowering is still very limited. At present it is only roughly known that the pseudobulb must grow large enough (generally growing for two years), and the external temperature must remain below 15°C for a period, for the flower scape to grow out. It can bloom smoothly at temperatures below 30°C; if the temperature is too high, the flower scape will quickly yellow, wither and fade. The fragrance of Chinese orchids is subtle and far-reaching. According to analysis by experts from the South China Botanical Garden using gas chromatography, Cymbidium sinense has 56 aromatic components, which are emitted from the stomatal zone at the base of the column, generally around 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Cymbidium ensifolium generally emits from late night to early morning).
Mr. Wei Yabo and Mr. Wang Jingju, through cytological and embryological observations, confirmed that the front edge of the petals of pouch-petal type orchids has two anther sac structures. The anther sacs are composed of the epidermal layer, fibrous layer and felt layer, and within the sac cells there are tetrad pollen grains (tetraspores) densely packed. The two gentlemen believed that this petal staminization helps increase the chance of self-pollination in orchids.
Ecological habits of Cymbidium sinense
(1) Prefers shade and avoids strong light.
According to many field investigations, Cymbidium sinense mostly grows in sunny dense forests. According to experiments by the Chinese Orchid Research Center of South China Normal University and the Department of Botany of the National University of Singapore, the light compensation point of Cymbidium sinense photosynthesis is about half of spring morning light, and the light saturation point is about 10%-15% of the light intensity at noon in summer. This fully confirms that Cymbidium sinense is a typical shade plant. Excessive sunlight can easily cause sunscald damage. Therefore, in winter and spring there should be 60%-70% shading density; in summer and autumn there should be 85%-90% shading density.
(2) Prefers warmth and avoids severe cold.
The suitable growth temperature for Cymbidium sinense is 25-28°C, and the suitable temperature during the dormant period is 12-15°C during the day and 8-12°C at night. It cannot tolerate low temperatures below 3°C, and even a brief low temperature below 2°C will cause cold damage.
(3) Prefers moisture and avoids dryness.
Cymbidium sinense is native to the rain-rich forests of the south, preferring moisture and avoiding dryness. During the growing period it needs 75%-80% relative air humidity, and in winter it needs more than 50% relative air humidity. When the substrate surface becomes somewhat dry, water it as soon as possible, and never let it stay dry for too long.
(4) Prefers fertilizer and avoids turbidity.
According to measurements by relevant departments, the leaves and pseudobulbs of Cymbidium sinense both contain large amounts of phosphorus, and its old roots also have a very strong ability to absorb phosphorus, so Cymbidium sinense requires relatively little phosphorus; Cymbidium sinense has thick plants and broad leaves, so its demand for nitrogen is relatively large. Cymbidium sinense has broad leaves and needs more potassium nutrition, so that the lignin and cellulose of the plant and leaves can effectively increase and strengthen the support of the plant and leaves, preventing them from being weak and unsupported. Therefore, the suitable ratio of the three major fertilizer elements for Cymbidium sinense is nitrogen 35% : 20% : 45%.
Although Cymbidium sinense likes fertilizer, it must not be given high-concentration fertilizer or frequent fertilization. Instead, it requires chemical fertilizer at 0.1%, organic liquid fertilizer at 0.1%-0.2%, applied once every 15-20 days.
Cultivation techniques for Cymbidium sinense
1. Cultivation substrate
Traditional Chinese potted orchids mostly use the humus soil from the forest floor of their place of origin, which local people call "orchid mud." This soil is rich in humus, loose and non-sticky, often slightly acidic, and is an excellent potting soil for cultivating orchids. When cultivating orchids in the north, people generally use a mixture of 5 parts leaf mold soil and 1 part sandy soil. Some also use a mixture of 4 parts humus soil, 2 parts peat soil, 2 parts furnace slag and 2 parts river sand.
2. Dividing seedlings and disinfection.
When dividing pots, first grasp the base of the orchid seedling with the five fingers of the left hand, turn the pot upside down, and gently tap around the pot to separate the pot from the potting soil, then carefully pat the soil ball gently to shake off the soil. Carefully clean the orchid roots, cut off rotten roots, broken roots, dead leaves and dried pseudobulbs, then rinse clean with water, and place the orchid roots into a 1000-fold dilution of thiophanate or an 800-fold dilution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Kill the pathogens near the wounds.
3. Potting.
After choosing the pot, before planting, first cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with a large piece of broken tile, and lay window screen on top, then spread coarse mountain soil particles, and then place the orchid plant in (the root system should be evenly distributed and spread out, not touching the pot wall), then fill the pot with humus soil up to the leaf base of the pseudobulb. Then cover the soil surface with a layer of white stones or Selaginella uncinata, which is both attractive and helps keep the surface soil moist. Then use the bottom-soaking method to make the soil thoroughly wet, take it out, rinse the soil off the leaf surfaces with a watering can, place it in a shaded place to recover, and after one week transfer to normal management.
4. Management.
Cymbidium sinense is a semi-shade plant, requiring environmental conditions of "warmth, humidity, indirect light and ventilation." Whether it grows well depends entirely on care and management. The cultivation site requires good ventilation and shade facilities. The water requirements of Cymbidium sinense mainly depend on temperature, light intensity and plant growth. Gao Lian of the Ming Dynasty, in the appendix "Four Precepts for Cultivating Orchids" of his Lan Pu (Orchid Manual), said: "Do not take them out in spring, do not expose them to the sun in summer, do not let them dry in autumn, do not keep them wet in winter." These twelve characters are indeed the experience of growing orchids. For watering Cymbidium sinense, rainwater or snow water is best. If tap water must be used to water orchids, it must be exposed to the sun for a day before use. Use a watering can for watering, and do not spray water into the flower buds, to avoid causing rot. In summer, never let rain showers wash over them; plastic film must be used to block rain.
Watering time: in summer and autumn, around sunset, with leaf surfaces drying before nightfall being ideal. In winter and spring, watering around sunrise is best, and misting should also be done to increase air humidity to benefit the growth of Cymbidium sinense.
5. Fertilizing.
Fertilizing Cymbidium sinense should be "light rather than concentrated," generally starting in late spring and stopping in late autumn. When fertilizing, a temperature of 18-25°C is suitable, and fertilization should not be done on cloudy or rainy days. As for fertilizer types, either organic or inorganic fertilizer is fine. During the growing season, fertilize once a week. In autumn and winter, Cymbidium sinense grows slowly, so fertilizer should be reduced, applying once every 20 days. After fertilizing, spray a small amount of clean water to prevent the fertilizer liquid from staining the leaves. Fertilization must be carried out on clear evenings; fertilizing on cloudy days risks root rot.
Variety classification of Cymbidium sinense
Perennial herb. 4-5 leaves, clustered on elliptical pseudobulbs, leaves sword-shaped, dark green. The flower stem is upright, rising above the leaves, bearing 7-17 flowers. Common varieties include 'Qiubang,' 'Qiuxiang,' 'Xiaomo,' 'Huizhou Mo,' 'Jinbian Molan,' 'Yinbian Molan.' In Taiwan, China there are 'Fugui Mingsan,' 'Yutao,' 'Datun Qilin,' 'Guoxiang Mudan,' 'Qihua Lüyun,' 'Shiba Jiao,' 'Taoji' and a wide variety of artistic-leaf Cymbidium sinense such as 'Baizhongtou,' 'Zhongban,' 'Damuo He,' 'Damuo Yanwei,' etc.
Disease control of Cymbidium sinense
The main diseases of orchids include: mold disease, also known as white silk disease. It mostly occurs in the moldy-rain season. At first, white mycelium appears on the soil surface and at the base of the leaves, causing the pseudobulb to rot.
Control method: remove the infected soil and spray with a 500-fold dilution of quintozene powder. Black spot disease, also known as anthracnose. It often occurs in hot, rainy summers. At first, brown spots appear on the leaves, and they enlarge and increase, becoming black spots. It mostly damages new shoots, and in severe cases the entire plant dies. Control method: pull out diseased plants, improve ventilation, reduce humidity; use a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb powder or an 800-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim for control. Apply once every half month, for 3 consecutive times. When humidity is relatively high and ventilation is poor, scale insect damage often occurs. Scale insects, commonly known as orchid lice, are very difficult to eradicate. They can be controlled with a 500-800-fold dilution of 20% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
Landscape uses of Cymbidium sinense
Cymbidium sinense has now become one of the more popular Chinese orchids in China. In Taiwan, China it has entered thousands of households, used to decorate indoor environments and as the main ceremonial potted flower for gifting relatives and friends. Flower branches are also used for flower arranging. If Cymbidium sinense is used as the main material, paired with azaleas, bridal wreath spirea, beautyberry, hydrangea and barnyard grass, it can display a vibrant picture.
Distribution range of Cymbidium sinense
Cymbidium sinense is a broad-leaf orchid, also called the New Year orchid in Taiwan, China. The reason Cymbidium sinense is called the broad-leaf orchid is to distinguish it from fine-leaf orchids (Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium tortisepalum, Cymbidium goeringii var. longibracteatum, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium kanran, Songchun, Duoxiang, etc.). Its producing areas are Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Taiwan, China and Yunnan in southwestern China; Vietnam and Myanmar also produce it. Among Cymbidium sinense from various places, those produced in Guangdong have upright leaf posture and good leaf quality; those produced in Guangxi have thin leaves and a drooping shape; those produced in Fujian have green, thick leaves, often with serrated margins; those produced in Hainan are tall and rugged; those produced in Taiwan, China have thick leaves, good shape, pointed tips, many serrations and lack gloss; those produced in Yunnan have lighter leaf color and are mostly early-blooming autumn varieties; those produced in Vietnam and Myanmar are similar to those from Guangxi and Yunnan. The above is only the basic situation, and not always so. From this we can see that Cymbidium sinense has a vast distribution range, and with the recent northward movement of southern varieties, it has been introduced almost all over the country, including severe cold regions, where it can grow normally in greenhouses and homes; moreover, because Cymbidium sinense has broad leaves, the various artistic forms of linear-leaf variegation and patterned-leaf variegation can be most fully and perfectly expressed on its leaves. Also, because the basic theories of linear-leaf and patterned-leaf variegation have already been established for Cymbidium sinense, this has greatly enriched the connotation of orchid art, which no fine-leaf orchid can compare with; furthermore, Cymbidium sinense is imposing and majestic, full of a great man's bearing, which no other orchid species possesses. In summary, I believe that among the large family of Chinese orchids, Cymbidium sinense can be called the most distinctive and important branch, and should occupy a prominent position.
Propagation methods of Cymbidium sinense (1) Division propagation.
This method is simple and reliable to operate, blooms quickly after division, and can preserve the original characteristics of the variety.
It is a propagation method that divides the pseudobulbs of clustered orchids into single ones or groups of 2-3, planting them independently to achieve the purpose of multiplication. Division propagation of orchids is best carried out during the dormant period, that is, before new shoots emerge from the soil and before new roots grow, or during the dormant period after flowering. The divided orchid plants should be inspected, and rotten roots and dead leaves cut off.
For the disinfection method, a 800-1000-fold solution of 70% thiophanate-methyl can be used to soak the orchid plant roots for 10-15 min. After soaking, let them dry slightly, then replant. Although division propagation is simple and easy, and can maintain the inherent characteristics of the variety, preserving many precious varieties, division nevertheless has a small propagation coefficient and can hardly meet the needs of large-scale production and the market. Therefore, we must explore more scientific and more advanced propagation methods. Tissue culture propagation of orchids is a more advanced propagation method that can meet production and market needs.
(2) Tissue culture.
Tissue culture is an advanced science and technology developed on the basis of cell theory and the theory of plant cell totipotency. At present it is being continuously promoted in forest tree propagation. According to relevant statistical data analysis, tissue culture propagation of herbaceous plants is easier than that of woody plants, and the success rate is also greater. Orchid tissue culture propagation is an advanced method of propagating orchids using advanced equipment and modern science and technology. Tissue-cultured orchids have strong resistance, fewer pests and diseases, and a high survival rate, and can be produced in batches. Over the past 20 years, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Kunming, the South China Botanical Garden, the Shanghai Botanical Garden, the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and other domestic research institutions have carried out this work, achieving progress to varying degrees and obtaining clonal asexual seedlings of Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium sinense, etc. In Taiwan, China, tropical orchids have reached scale in automated control, factory production, tissue culture rapid propagation and new variety selection and breeding.
Research shows that Cymbidium sinense can absolutely be used for creating new varieties through hybridization.
First, there are no obstacles to hybridization among the various varieties within the species of Cymbidium sinense, and it is very easy to obtain large numbers of hybrid embryos; hybridization of Cymbidium sinense with Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi and Cymbidium kanran is also very easy to succeed, and the amount of hybrid embryos is also very large; although hybridization between Cymbidium sinense and other species within the genus Cymbidium yields fewer hybrid embryos, the hybridization success rate is very high. Hybridization of Cymbidium sinense with orchids outside the genus Cymbidium is relatively difficult, but can still succeed, and we have already obtained hybrid embryos from combinations such as Cymbidium sinense and Phalaenopsis.
Second, although the germination of Cymbidium sinense hybrid embryos is more difficult than that of tropical orchids, our research found that the difficulty of germination of Cymbidium sinense hybrid embryos is related to the hybrid parents. For example, the germination rate of hybrid embryos of Cymbidium sinense and Cymbidium hybridum can reach 100%, the embryos germinate quickly, and after germination form protocorms, easily producing hybrid plants.
Therefore, hybrid breeding of Cymbidium sinense can first begin by utilizing these resources. When Cymbidium sinense is hybridized with other species or varieties of Chinese orchids, the resulting embryo germination rates vary greatly. Within 3 months, germination rates range from 0 to 70%, but because the amount of hybrid seeds is large, such a germination rate is already sufficient to meet breeding needs, and as long as appropriate seed collection timing, extended germination time and other measures are adopted, more embryos can be made to germinate. The vast majority of Cymbidium sinense hybrid embryos germinate to form rhizomes. Although regenerating plants from rhizomes is more difficult than with tropical orchids, current technology can already guarantee the production of enough hybrid plants for selection and breeding.
Polyploid breeding is another important method of orchid breeding.
Using orchid protocorms or rhizomes as material, polyploids can be produced after treatment with colchicine or radiation. Polyploid orchids have thick, substantial leaves and neatly symmetrical flower shapes, and have a certain ornamental value in themselves, but more importantly, after hybridization of polyploids and diploids, odd-ploid or aneuploid orchid plants can be produced. These plants have peculiar flower shapes and bright flower colors, and are highly ornamental. In recent years, many new varieties of tropical orchids have been bred using this method. In the past few years, we have also used this method to conduct polyploid induction research on Cymbidium sinense, and have currently obtained some tetraploid materials. These materials have dark green, thick and substantial leaves, and the whole plant is relatively large, and chromosome number identification is currently underway.
In addition to the above methods, Cymbidium sinense breeding can also use modern biotechnology, such as transgenics, for improvement. We believe that with the development of the orchid industry, the above breeding methods will surely be valued by orchid growers and breeders, and become important methods for Cymbidium sinense breeding.
Cultural background of Cymbidium sinense
One theory is inferred based on a poem by Chancellor Zhang Jiuling of the mid-Tang Dynasty. Zhang Jiuling's "Gan Yu, No. 10" was written when Zhang retired and returned to his hometown (Shixing, Guangdong). The poem says: "...Purple orchids bloom on the empty path, bright dew steals the secluded color, fragrance as the year nears its end, sighing how deep the feeling is. White clouds over the southern mountain, at dusk a long sigh." The southern mountain mentioned in the poem is Zhang's hometown of Shixing Nan Shan (in the area of the southeastern suburbs of present-day Shaoguan, Guangdong). According to "Guangdong Tongzhi: Qujiang Historical Sites," it is recorded: "Chancellor Zhang's garden is below the southern mountain in the south of the city." This area has always produced Cymbidium sinense. From the line "fragrance as the year nears its end," it seems very much like a description of Cymbidium sinense. From this it is inferred that Guangdong had already begun cultivating ornamental Cymbidium sinense in the Tang Dynasty. But one or two lines of poetry cannot yet confirm it. Moreover, as a retired official poet, Zhang's writing about orchids in poetry was mostly, like Qu Yuan, using fragrant plants to symbolize his integrity and virtue and to express his feelings of unrecognized talent, and not necessarily actually describing any particular orchid.
Another theory is inferred based on descriptions of several orchids in "Jinzhang Lanpu" by Yue Shigeng at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty. Its entry on "Wu Lan" says: "The color is deep purple, with fifteen sepals, the stem purple and the flowers red; when well cultivated it branches and grows, reaching as many as twenty sepals. The flower head is somewhat large, its color catches the eye, like soaring luan and rising phoenix, in a thousand forms and myriad shapes. The leaves are tall, large, firm and vigorous with strong joints, dark and lovely." Similar varieties include Chen Mengliang, Pan Hua, Zhao Shisi and He Lan, all bearing purple flowers. In the later text of "Jinzhang Lanpu," this type of flower is collectively called purple flower. On page 77 of "Orchids" compiled by Wu Yingxiang and Wu Hanzhu, it states that the purple orchids in the "Jinzhang Lanpu" of the Song Dynasty mostly refer to today's Cymbidium sinense. Also, in the Cymbidium sinense entry on page 90 of "Complete Book of Chinese Orchids" compiled by Chen Xinqi and Ji Zhanhe, it says: "Cymbidium sinense is also called the New Year orchid, and is also a traditionally appreciated orchid in China. As early as the Southern Song Dynasty there were records of varieties." Jinzhang is located in southern Fujian, and this place has always been rich in Cymbidium sinense, so the above statement is not without reason. Unfortunately, "Jinzhang Lanpu" only has simple textual descriptions of various orchids, with no illustrations, and the original species have been lost. Its text also does not contain words such as Cymbidium sinense or New Year orchid, but collectively calls them purple orchids. Based merely on statements such as deep purple flowers, purple stem and red flowers, and tall and large leaves, it is very difficult to confirm, because certain large-leaf Cymbidium ensifolium and large-leaf Cymbidium kanran produced locally also have similar plant morphology. Nevertheless, the possibility that certain ancient purple orchids were today's Cymbidium sinense is still very great.
Similarly without illustrations and with only textual descriptions of variety plant morphology, but written more specifically and more closely matching Cymbidium sinense, should be Volume 52 of "Guangdong Tongzhi" in the Siku Quanshu of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. In the "Flowers" section of that volume there is the description: "Orchids grow in secluded valleys, with broad and tough leaves, one to two chi long, evergreen throughout the four seasons. The stem is purple and the joints red, and they bloom only when four to five chi tall; below the flower it is yellow with purple spots within." This content is taken from the "Luofu Zhi" of "Guangdong Tongzhi." Luofu Mountain is east of Guangzhou, and it has been commonly known since ancient and modern times to be rich in Cymbidium sinense. "The stem is purple and the joints red, and they bloom only when four to five chi tall" - this is clearly Cymbidium sinense, as other Chinese orchids rarely show this plant form. The orchid classic that directly records this orchid under the name "Cymbidium sinense" should be "Linghai Lanyan" by Ou Jince, a native of Nanhai Foshan at the end of the Qing Dynasty. This book divides Cymbidium sinense into two major categories, "white Cymbidium sinense species" and "black Cymbidium sinense species," totaling 19 varieties. Among its "white Cymbidium sinense species" are listed the varieties Qijia Baimosu, Liuye Baimosu, Yuban Baimosu, Yingjian Baimosu, Ruanjian Baimosu, Duanjian Baimosu, Lümousu and Jinsi Baimo, 8 in total. Among its "black Cymbidium sinense species" are listed the varieties Zhijian Xiangmo, Zhijian Xiaomo, Liujian Xiaomo, Niujian Mo, Xinshan Mo, Changjian Bangmo, Duanjian Bangmo (Bangmo is the autumn bang that blooms in autumn. In ancient times the imperial examinations posted results in autumn to announce good news; this flower blooms in autumn, hence the name), Nijinsu, Jinbian Mo, Huangjinta and Zhushamo, 11 in total. After this item the author also mentions three more, Qiumo, Tiemian Bingxin (that is, white-tongue Qiumo) and Zi Fengwei, but from their descriptions they should belong to the Jinlengbian (Xiaomifeng Lan) category in current orchid classification, and do not belong to Cymbidium sinense. With so many Cymbidium sinense varieties, it can be seen that by the end of the Qing Dynasty the fashion of enjoying Cymbidium sinense in Guangdong was already flourishing.
To understand the history of cultivation and appreciation of Cymbidium sinense more clearly, surveying the historical facts, we can roughly divide it into four periods:
First period
Before the mid-Qing, this was the initial period of cultivation and appreciation of Cymbidium sinense. During this period, Cymbidium sinense was mostly cultivated and appreciated only among a few high officials, nobles and literati in the Cymbidium sinense producing areas, and its spread was not wide, but it was already regarded as an elegant flower, and its cultural connotations had already been integrated into China's rich orchid culture.
Second period
From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China period, this was the early flourishing period of cultivation and appreciation of Cymbidium sinense. According to "Linghai Lanyan," the orchid gardens that could be named at that time included, for example, "Daliang Dantong, famous for orchid cultivation, with as many as a thousand pots and nearly a hundred varieties, was the villa of Minister Luo"; "Sihui Supu, the garden of Jiang Gui, had the most flourishing orchids"; "Foshan Shakeng Zhou Airi Tong was also well known"; "Among those in the provincial capital known for orchid cultivation was Ren Laosan, whose name is forgotten, who lived in Henan (that is, present-day Haizhu District, Guangzhou), and was known as a gathering place of orchids. After his death, several hundred pots of fine varieties were sold off separately by his concubine, bringing in more than a thousand gold." It can be seen that at that time large orchid gardens had already appeared throughout the Pearl River Delta region, and these orchid gardens mostly grew Cymbidium sinense, and orchid prices were not low: "A pot of orchids with more than ten scapes, the expensive ones reaching over a hundred gold," with each expensive scape roughly equal to more than a thousand yuan in present-day RMB. Legend also has it that an Anhui tea merchant used Cymbidium sinense produced in Fujian as a gift to cater to the tastes of Guangdong tea merchants. This is today's Huizhou Mo, a traditional variety of Cymbidium sinense today. According to Chaoshan local records, the then great Chaoshan bureaucrat Fang Yao (a native of Hongyang, Puning) once presented large Ruanjian Baimosu to Empress Dowager Cixi as tribute. It can be seen that in this period Chinese Cymbidium sinense had entered the early flourishing period of cultivation and appreciation.
Third period
From the late Republic of China period to the 1970s, the cultivation and appreciation of Cymbidium sinense (Chinese orchid) was partially lost in mainland China and flourished in Taiwan, China. During the eight-year War of Resistance Against Japan and the three-year Liberation War, there could be no development in the cultivation and appreciation of Cymbidium sinense. In the early years after the founding of the People's Republic, Committee Member Zhu De, who loved orchids, visited Guangdong and Fujian many times and also concerned himself with orchids in various places in his spare time. At his initiative, in 1958 the Guangzhou Orchid Garden was built on Jiefang North Road in Guangzhou as an orchid park in the bustling city, extensively collecting various orchids, many of which were traditional Cymbidium sinense varieties. This greatly promoted Guangdong's Cymbidium sinense. To this day, the Guangzhou Orchid Garden remains a fine place for visitors to rest and appreciate orchids. But the subsequent three years of economic hardship and the Cultural Revolution, with criticism of the feudal, capitalist and revisionist, meant that the Cymbidium sinense industry, like other flower industries, suffered severe damage, and some varieties were thereby lost or nearly lost. At this time, Taiwan, China, under the influence of certain Japanese orchid enthusiasts in earlier years and driven by economic development in the 1960s and 1970s, used its unique resource advantage of abundant Cymbidium sinense to make the cultivation, appreciation and trade of Cymbidium sinense flourish there. Its flourishing process can be divided into several stages: First, the gestation period of flourishing. Before the 1960s, Taiwan was originally a province rich in Cymbidium sinense, and in addition its frequent exchanges with neighbouring Fujian Province (a province with a long history of cultivating and appreciating Cymbidium sinense) had long influenced Taiwan's hobby of Cymbidium sinense, and some Cymbidium sinense varieties were also passed over from Fujian. In addition, during the period of Japanese occupation of Taiwan, Japanese orchid enthusiasts came to Taiwan to buy orchids, stimulating the development of Taiwan's orchid industry (including Cymbidium sinense). Against this background, the flourishing of Taiwan's Cymbidium sinense was brewing. Second, the rise period of variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense. Variegated-leaf orchids began in Japan; as early as 200 years ago, a variegated-leaf orchid craze appeared in Japan. The first variegated-leaf orchid variety at that time was called Jiaye Wu (meaning blacksmith's home), cultivated by a blacksmith, and was a variety of Cymbidium ensifolium. By 1904, Mr. Toyokichi Okouchi of Japan discovered in a bamboo grove in front of the Sanyi Station in Taiwan where he worked (today's Sanyi Station) a Cymbidium sinense with a deep dark-green cap and white-centred striped lines (what Taiwanese call Baosui Orchid). At that time the orchid world unanimously agreed that this orchid, whether in leaf posture or in the changes of variegation, was much better than Japan's previous Cymbidium ensifolium variegation, and it was immediately sold in Taipei for 300 yuan (equivalent to three or four years of Mr. Toyokichi Okouchi's wages). This orchid later spread to Japan and was named "Zhenhe" (True Crane). Thereafter a variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense craze arose in Taiwan, and various variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense were discovered one after another, presenting a rich and colourful scene. Half a century later, in 1957, Jinyu Mantang (discovered by Luo Atong, named by Zhou Deyi) was discovered in Jiadong, Fenglin, Hualien County, Taiwan, China, respectively. These two variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense had rich variations in variegation direction, until Jinyu Mantang Crown and Longfeng Crown appeared, pushing Taiwan's variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense craze to a climax and opening up a new world for the appreciation of Cymbidium sinense. Third, the flourishing period of Cymbidium sinense Damo. By 1973, Taiwanese people discovered beside the Damo Ancestral Temple in the Hualien mountain area a variegated-leaf Cymbidium sinense with a short plant type, broad fleshy and wrinkled leaves, and blunt rounded leaf tips. This orchid was easy to cultivate, and its leaf variegation changed endlessly, forming a series of its own, and for a time it swept Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Macao, China and even Japan. In the 1990s, the highest-grade form reached the highest price for a single orchid plant, about 1 million to 2 million yuan RMB. Driven by Damo Orchid, in 1974 new varieties such as Wenshan Jialong with vigorous dragon-like leaf postures were discovered, and subsequently dwarf Tian, Jiuzhi, Wuzhi and others appeared, opening up another new world for the development of Cymbidium sinense. Fourth, the rise of the Cymbidium sinense strange-flower series. Its starting variety was Datun Qilin. This species was discovered in 1977 by Guo Juncheng on Datun Mountain in Taiwan, China. Its flower shape is large, different from ordinary orchids, being a nest-type strange petal, with the main and secondary petals in double layers and multiple petals, the first layer being willow-leaf petals and the second layer being narcissus petals; the lip is double-layered and three-lobed, with a rolled tongue bearing bright red spots. Similar strange flowers also include Yu Shizi discovered in 1974, Fucui discovered in 1979, and Guoxiang Mudan discovered in 1980, together known as Taiwan's four great strange flowers of Cymbidium sinense. Also rising in the same period were the butterfly-flower types of Cymbidium sinense, such as Wenshan Qidie, Wenhan Qidie, Qiankun Die, Huaguang Die and so on. Fifth, the excavation of the coloured-flower series and petal-type flower series of Cymbidium sinense. Ordinary flowers of Cymbidium sinense that excel in colour or petal type can also become points of appreciation. Discovered in 1963 and registered in 1982, named by Mr. Peng Shuangshong, Cymbidium sinense Taoji (representative of the red-flower series) was loved for its bright flower colour, delicate pink beauty, and elegant and refined leaf posture. Driven by Taoji, Yingji, Fenghuang, Yangming Jin, Xinniang, Laba Ji and other Cymbidium sinense appeared, forming for a time the red-flower series of Cymbidium sinense. Chinese people regard red as an expression of festivity, and such flowers bloom around the Spring Festival, forming a selling point and also becoming popular. Among petal-type flowers appeared Qinghe, Longmei, Shiba Jiao Mei, Cailong and so on. By the 1960s and 1970s, Taiwan, China's Cymbidium sinense had already formed an unprecedentedly lively situation with many points of appreciation, and in addition to exports to Japan and Korea, its trade volume also increased greatly. At its peak, Taiwan, China had more than 200,000 orchid-growing households across the island, and orchid-growing techniques also advanced daily along with the refinement of the province's agriculture. Orchid seedlings, planting media, pots, fertilizers, pesticides, frames, sprayers, shade nets, and even alarms, anti-theft nets, wolfhound guards and other orchid-related supplies and items were all available, forming a fairly large-scale orchid industry. Orchid association organizations and orchid exhibitions in various places were also dazzling. This was the flourishing period of Cymbidium sinense in Taiwan, China.
The Fourth Period
After the 1970s, driven by mainland China's reform and opening up, cross-Strait exchanges suddenly became frequent. Through the interaction of orchid growers on both sides of the Strait, an all-round development period of Chinese Cymbidium sinense appeared. With mainland China's reform and opening up and economic prosperity, various healthy national essences had opportunities for considerable development, and Cymbidium sinense again became popular in Shunde, Nanhai and other places in the Pearl River Delta with its long cultivation history. Orchid growers and orchid merchants from Taiwan, China came in droves. They found that Taiwan was small in area and its various orchid resources had been almost fully developed; while mainland China is vast, and most of the Cymbidium sinense variety resources and consumer markets in the production areas had not yet been developed. Here there were both orchid opportunities and business opportunities. They brought new varieties of Cymbidium sinense, as well as rich experience in developing the Cymbidium sinense market and advanced orchid-growing techniques. In just a few years, an upsurge of seeking and growing orchids was set off in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. Led by Guangdong's Pearl River Delta and Chaoshan region, over one or two decades they successively developed flagship varieties such as the Cymbidium sinense strange flowers Shenzhou Qi, Piaoyi, Foshou and Zhuhai Yunu, as well as the Cymbidium sinense crystal series and multi-art varieties such as Cymbidium sinense Yinhua and Baiyu Sujin with white flowers and leaf variegation; and petal-type flower varieties of Cymbidium sinense such as Lingnan Damei, Nanhai Mei, Guihe and Nanguo Shuixian. They greatly enriched the horticultural varieties and strains of Cymbidium sinense and drove the development of Cymbidium sinense in other production areas such as Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hainan. The domestic sales and foreign trade volume of Cymbidium sinense also surged accordingly. Now Cymbidium sinense is not only cultivated and appreciated in production areas; even in China's non-production areas for Cymbidium sinense such as East China, Central China, Northeast China and Northwest China, there are people who appreciate and grow Cymbidium sinense, and it has spread to Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and other countries around the world. With its extremely rich varieties and ornamental value, and with its strong geographical adaptability, Cymbidium sinense has moved toward audiences at home and abroad, producing a situation of all-round development of Cymbidium sinense. Cymbidium sinense can be said to have a long history of cultivation and appreciation and far-reaching influence. In addition to integrating into traditional Chinese orchid culture, and moreover appreciating its subtle fragrance, noble purity, elegance and refinement, using it to symbolize virtuous people, gentlemen and moral integrity, and sublimating it into a cultural symbol, it also has its own unique cultural expressions. For example, in Chinese painting of orchids in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and even in modern and contemporary times, very few works take Cymbidium sinense as their subject, and most take Cymbidium ensifolium and Cymbidium goeringii. In modern and contemporary times, because the Cymbidium sinense production areas of Guangdong and Fujian were more influenced by Western culture, there were often those who painted Cymbidium sinense in oil painting, watercolour and gouache, which is extremely rare in paintings of Cymbidium ensifolium and Cymbidium goeringii. The architectural decoration and wood carvings of Guangzhou, the Pearl River Delta and the Chaoshan region also often use Cymbidium sinense as a motif. It is worth mentioning the orchid pots for Cymbidium sinense. Over the past two or three hundred years, because different places cultivated different orchid varieties differently, various distinctive pot vessels were formed, such as the urn-jars of Yunnan and Guizhou, the bucket pots of Sichuan, and the open-mouthed medium-short pots of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and so on. But the most imposing and most exquisite are the Cymbidium sinense orchid pots fired by the famous folk kiln, the Foshan Shiwan Kiln. These orchid pots come in many styles, mostly ceramic-bodied, glazed-imitation coloured open-mouthed large pots. Some pot bodies have melon-rib patterns, some have polychrome reserved-panel appliqué sculpture, and some have pot mouths with lotus-leaf wavy edges; and the most popular kind is a light green open-mouthed melon-rib pot. This kind of open-mouthed large pot is very suitable for cultivating tall, strong and vigorous traditional Cymbidium sinense varieties, and when placed in the pavilions, corridors, terraces and chambers of Lingnan gardens it appears very generous and elegant.
As for publications, among the books and periodicals related to Chinese orchids published over the past half century (including those published in mainland China, Taiwan, China, Japan and South Korea), reports on Cymbidium sinense are the most numerous. The most beautiful images are also mostly of Cymbidium sinense. This is related to the fact that most Cymbidium sinense plants are large, with thick leaves, striking leaf variegation, tall flower stems and flowers, and rich flower colours, which better display photographic effects.
Appreciation of the Work
Liangzi's "Cymbidium sinense" is selected from Liangzi's rhyme collection "Return from the Forbidden City" and is one of the pieces in Liangzi's "Four Gentlemen" rhyme set.
The style of the rhyme piece is very similar to "Wan Ju". The whole rhyme unfolds its description around a painting of Cymbidium sinense, combining the characteristics of Liangzi's rhyme music such as beauty of artistic conception, and turning the painting of Cymbidium sinense into groups of text. There is also time travel, also the classical, also Jiangnan, also the fragrance of ink. It is a classical rhyme. Published on February 17, 2011 (Lantern Festival), word count: 253 characters.
Green waves hidden at the head,
The painted boat is old,
Stepping outside the window, a chord enters the wind and still feels shy,
Fine water flows long,
Star shadows like eyes,
A little tune of pipa passes through the boudoir,
Crossing the river, ferrying a lone boat.
Green ink and cinnabar makeup hang from the brush, inscribing a fingertip of parting sorrow,
Ten thousand scrolls of cottage smoke, willing to smell the elegant flavour, self-appreciating as writing falls among the silver clumps.
Revisiting the spring bridge, missing the fragrant rain that comes late and is dyed as before,
The fragrance of the qin drifts over, beauty fades, flowers bloom and wither, how do they fall.
Memories of my hometown, yellow paper freehand brushwork, remnant stamens and lingering fragrance winding around the hand,
Wild geese fly past, orchid-like threads of feeling pull through the ink realm to meet again. Waiting for your thoughts, yet on paper the ending is painted in a chapter, leaning and wrinkled,
Leaving me to walk in vain, rustling, extremely drunk, resting a while below the evening pavilion.
In the front courtyard,
Flowers lean by the chamber entrance,
Willows send them off,
Separated by mist like three autumns;
One stroke of rhyme,
The melody walks out from the painting,
Dusk grows thin,
Seeking you, I see the ink countenance.
Time flies like a shuttle,
Two worlds in time and space,
Hidden in the ink, that clump of orchid grass fragrance fills the west tower,
The small inkstone remains as before,
Do you know how deep the memory is?
Lingering by the spring river, waiting,
The lone orchid, ink deeply serene.
Appreciation and Analysis
The whole rhyme comes from the author's inspiration while appreciating the painting; because the night scene is quiet, it describes the entire scene of the painted boat on the green waves incisively and vividly. The author first appreciates the painting, then sighs over the painting, then sends the painting off (returns it to the paper), and finally remembers the painting. A painting of Cymbidium sinense is compared to a beauty. That soft and beautiful passage: "Memories of my hometown, yellow paper freehand brushwork, remnant stamens and lingering fragrance winding around the hand, wild geese fly past, orchid-like threads of feeling pull through the ink realm to meet again. Waiting for your thoughts, yet on paper the ending is painted in a chapter, leaning and wrinkled, leaving me to walk in vain, rustling, extremely drunk, resting a while below the evening pavilion." It writes out the orchid's fragrance and the ancient scent of ink, savouring the elegant flavour of ancient ink's vicissitudes, and knowing the passing of a single orchid plant.
Allusions
1. Painted boat: an ornately decorated pleasure boat. Fang means boat, and is often used broadly to refer to small boats. A painted boat is an ornately decorated small boat, generally used for drifting and playing on the water, convenient for viewing the scenery in the water and on both banks, and sometimes also used for banquets and drinking. Sometimes a painted boat also refers to a building built on the water surface of a garden imitating the shape of a boat. The method is fairly similar to a real painted boat, but the lower hull is made of stone, so it looks like a boat but cannot move, and is generally fixed by a relatively open bank, also called a moored boat.
2. Cinnabar: in ancient times cinnabar was also called dansha or zhusha. Many ancient women directly took "cinnabar" as their name; that touch of bright red seems to condense five thousand years of China's long sorrow, very beautiful, but probably few people know that cinnabar, when used to grind ink, can grind out coloured ink, much like a girl's changeable inner heart, hiding a feeling of outer hardness and inner softness.
3. Silver clumps: refers to clumps of orchid grass.
4. Three autumns: means nine months. One autumn is three months, so three autumns are nine months. "Book of Songs, Wang Feng, Cai Ge": "One day apart is like three autumns." Kong Yingda's subcommentary: "A year has four seasons, each season three months; three autumns means nine months." One theory says it refers to three years. See Qing dynasty Yu Yue's "Examples of Doubtful Meanings in Ancient Books: Substituting the Great Name with the Small Name". Lu Ji of Jin dynasty, one of the "Elegies": "Three autumns are still enough to harvest, how can ten thousand generations be pondered!" Li Mixun of Song dynasty, "Shui Diao Ge Tou: Matching Xiang Bogong Xianglin's Sent Message": "Not seeing the hidden gentleman, one month compares to three autumns." "Yanshan Waishi", volume 2: "The chamber is near but the person is far, often cutting the feeling of three autumns."
5. Ink hidden: dark ink traces.
Fine Lines
①. Green ink and cinnabar makeup hang from the brush, inscribing a fingertip of parting sorrow, ten thousand scrolls of cottage smoke, willing to smell the elegant flavour, self-appreciating as writing falls among the silver clumps.
②. Memories of my hometown, yellow paper freehand brushwork, remnant stamens and lingering fragrance winding around the hand, wild geese fly past, orchid-like threads of feeling pull through the ink realm to meet again.
③. Waiting for your thoughts, yet on paper the ending is painted in a chapter, leaning and wrinkled, leaving me to walk in vain, rustling, extremely drunk, resting a while below the evening pavilion.
④. In the front courtyard, flowers lean by the chamber entrance, willows send them off, separated by mist like three autumns; one stroke of rhyme, the melody walks out from the painting, dusk grows thin, seeking you, I see the ink countenance.
⑤. The small inkstone remains as before, do you know how deep the memory is? Lingering by the spring river, waiting, the lone orchid, ink deeply serene.
Liangzi's "Four Gentlemen" Rhyme Set
Liangzi's "Four Gentlemen" rhyme set was created in rhyme form after combining predecessors' understanding of "plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum". They are respectively [Shu Mei] [Cymbidium sinense] [Ya Zhu] [Wan Ju].
Drunk smearing and sober daubing are always spring, on the branches of a hundred flowers embellishing spirit.
Since painting the Xiang orchid, I no longer casually inscribe it for others.
Cymbidium sinense image