Korean wind orchids are an excellent variety among exotic orchids.
The Korean wind orchid is a collective term for large-leaf wind orchids, small-leaf wind orchids and other wind orchids introduced from Korea in recent years. It has characteristics such as a "mini" plant shape, unusual form and unique floral fragrance, and is increasingly favored by people, with great market development value. Its biological characteristics and cultivation management measures are as follows:
The Korean wind orchid is mainly produced in Korea and Japan, and is relatively easy to cultivate. The leaves of the large-leaf wind orchid resemble those of the Phalaenopsis, but are slightly narrower, with leaves about 10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide; the inflorescence is 18 cm long and bears more than 10 beautiful, fragrant flowers; the flowers are greenish-white, slightly tinged with yellow, and the flowering period is in summer. The small-leaf wind orchid is shorter and smaller, only 10 cm tall, with small, flat, fleshy, rather hard leathery leaves and hard, pointed leaf tips. In July, inflorescences are drawn out from the leaf axils, with 4-5 white flowers, extremely fragrant, with a two-lobed lip and a slender spur. The small-leaf wind orchid is also called rich noble orchid in Japan and is very popular.
The Korean wind orchid is a typical epiphytic orchid. The cultivation substrate is moss, bark chunks, etc., and it especially requires the root zone to be loose and breathable, otherwise root rot easily occurs. It prefers warmth, humidity and semi-shade, and requires a minimum temperature of no less than 5°C. It belongs to the low-temperature type among exotic orchids and is suitable for cultivation in winter-warm greenhouses in the north. In summer, 60% shading is needed, especially because the large-leaf wind orchid has a thin cuticle and soft leaves and is afraid of strong sunlight. Cultivation management measures such as fertilizing, watering and pest and disease control are similar to those for Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, etc.
The Korean wind orchid has strong epiphytic characteristics, so it can be planted on the surface of wooden stakes and oddly shaped stones, becoming an orchid-wood epiphyte or stone epiphyte (a novel and distinctive form of bonsai), which is very attractive and quite popular in the market.
The propagation of the Korean wind orchid is mainly through tissue culture. Its cultivated varieties include many types and many cultivars, such as large-leaf, medium-leaf, small-leaf, upright-leaf, pendulous-leaf and variegated-leaf.