Orchids are also known as Chinese orchids. What are the common varieties? Only by growing them this way can they thrive

The orchid is a flower with a distinctive style, and its ornamental value is very high. The flower colors of orchids are elegant and subdued, with tender green and yellow-green being the most common, but those with plain-colored centers are especially prized. So do you know what the common varieties of orchids are? How should you grow them so they thrive?

I. What are the common varieties of orchids

1. Cymbidium goeringii

Cymbidium goeringii is also called grass orchid, mountain orchid, and flower orchid, or simply orchid, and the ancients called it weak-foot. Villagers in orchid-producing mountain areas call it small orchid.

Cymbidium goeringii is the orchid with the widest distribution among Chinese orchids, the richest resources, a relatively long history of cultivation, and the largest number of selected and bred horticultural cultivars. Its plant body is small, its leaves are relatively narrow, its flower stalk is upright, about 6—25 cm high, and it bears l flower, and the ancients called one stem with one flower an orchid. The few that bear double flowers are called twin orchids, meaning good fortune. Although the plant of Cymbidium goeringii is small, its flowers are rather large, with the flower spread diameter generally 4—6 cm, and the largest diameter can reach 8 cm. The flower colors are usually mainly green and yellow-green, with purplish-red stripes or spots on the tepals. The flowering period is about one month (mid-February to mid-March). Most Cymbidium goeringii are fragrant, known as a delicate fragrance.

Cymbidium goeringii has different characteristics depending on the place of origin and can be divided into major groups such as Jiangsu-Zhejiang Cymbidium goeringii, Henan Cymbidium goeringii, Hubei Cymbidium goeringii, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan inland Cymbidium goeringii, and southern Cymbidium goeringii.

2. Spring sword

The main resource areas of spring sword are in Sichuan and Guizhou. The spring sword plant is tall, with leaf width 1—2.2 cm, leaf length 40-100 cm, leaf texture similar to Cymbidium goeringii, and a majestic leaf shape. Its flowering period is also the same as that of Cymbidium goeringii, with 2 to 5 flowers on one stalk, flower spread diameter 4—8 cm, rich and varied flower colors, relatively thin petal texture, obvious hidden veins on the petals, and a fairly good delicate fragrance. Strong plants generally have 5—10 leaves. The root system is thick and strong. Traditional famous varieties include “Dahong Zhusha”, “Yingan Su”, “Longchang Su”, “Xishu Daoguang”, and others. In recent years, a large number of new varieties have been selected, forming the characteristics of Sichuan orchids.

3. Lotus-petal orchid

Also called small snow orchid and Beiya orchid. Its distribution area is very narrow, with native species only in western Yunnan, China, and the high mountain areas of Taiwan, China.

The lotus-petal orchid has narrow leaves, with leaf length 50—80 cm and leaf width 0.5—1.2 cm. The leaves grow in clusters of 6—9, the pseudobulb is small, generally only about 1 cm in diameter, but the roots are thick, with a diameter of about 0.5 cm. The flower stalk is upright, slender, round, and straight, bearing 2—3 flowers, the petals are relatively thin, the hidden stripes on the tepals are obvious, and the flower spread diameter is about 3.5—6 cm. The sepals are lanceolate, the petals are long ovate, and the lip hangs down and curls back. The flowering period is from January to March, when the flowers open, the fragrance is rich and yet elegant. Representative varieties include “Daxue Su” and “Xiaoxue Su”. The flower color of the lotus-petal orchid is known for being white as snow, forming a striking color contrast with the bright green leaves.

4. Huihua

Also called nine-flower orchid, nine-node orchid, and nine-child orchid, and villagers in orchid-producing mountain areas call it tall orchid, large orchid, cow orchid, and superior orchid. The ancients called one stem with nine flowers hui, and also called it huihua rather than huilan. A few areas call it summer orchid or sending-off-spring.

The huihua plant is generally taller, with 5-13 leaves, leaf length about 35—80 cm, leaf width 0.5—1.5 cm, leaf veins thick, numerous, and obvious, leaf margin serrations obvious and relatively coarse, and pseudobulb not obvious. The flower stalk is upright, with the thick stalk 1 cm in diameter and the thin ones like incense sticks, standing tall level with the leaf frame or above the leaf frame, generally about 35—80 cm high. It bears 5—30 flowers. The flower spread diameter is about 3.5—8 cm. The flower colors are mostly yellow-green or emerald green, and the lip has green velvet moss, decorated with many purplish-red dots and patches. The flowering period in the place of origin is April to early May, and occasionally it blooms once more in autumn. Huihua is widely distributed, and there is also distribution north of the Qinling Mountains. Its native habitat is at a higher altitude than that of Cymbidium goeringii, and it is relatively cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and sun-loving.

Huihua from different places has slight differences in leaf shape and flower quality, and based on place of origin it is divided into Jiangsu-Zhejiang huihua, western Anhui and Hubei huihua, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan inland huihua, and southern huihua, and so on.

5. Cymbidium sinense

Also called reporting-the-year orchid, greeting-the-year orchid, and abundant-year orchid. Cymbidium sinense has broad leaves, generally 2—4.2 cm wide and about 25—80 cm long. 2—5 leaves grow on the pseudobulb. The pseudobulb is relatively large, with a diameter of 1.5-2.5 cm. The leaves are glossy, with a cross-section in a shallow “y” shape or with a flat leaf surface, and the leaf margin is usually without serrations. The flower stalk is upright and generally stands above the leaf frame. It is a raceme, bearing 5-20 or more flowers, with the flower spread diameter about 2.5—5 cm. The sepals and petals are usually narrowly lanceolate, and the lip hangs down and curls back. The flower colors are mostly pale purplish-brown, marked with dark purplish-brown stripes. The flowering period is from late autumn to February of the following year, with a sweet fragrance.

Cymbidium sinense grows in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, China, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Hainan, Sichuan, and southern Guizhou and other places south of 26° north latitude in China. Cymbidium sinense from different places has its own characteristics, and based on its characteristics it can be divided into Taiwan, China reporting-the-year orchid, Daming lineage Cymbidium sinense, Guangdong Cymbidium sinense, Yunnan Cymbidium sinense, Jiangxi Cymbidium sinense, and so on.

6. Dendrobium orchid

Among the many orchid varieties, the dendrobium orchid has a strong nature and a gentle, amiable temperament, and is praised as the “flower of fathers”. Dendrobium orchids mostly grow attached to tree trunks or in tree holes. Their flower colors are varied, but mainly white and purple. Dendrobium orchids bloom in spring and have relatively strong cold resistance. They have effects on the human body such as dispelling deficiency heat and benefiting essence and strengthening yin.

7. Tiger orchid

The leaves of the tiger orchid are thick and leathery, dark green on the upper side and light green on the back, alternate in two rows, strap-shaped, 20-25 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm wide, with the apex unequally 2-lobed and the base decurrent into a stem-clasping sheath. Its flowering period is from March to May each year. The tiger orchid is native to Taiwan, China and often grows in low-altitude mountain forests. Nowadays it is also cultivated in Japan and the Philippines. It is a very rare orchid variety.

II. How to grow orchids so they thrive

1. Fertilizer

Although orchid soil is needed for planting at the beginning, in the long run the nutrients are still insufficient and fertilizer is needed to supplement them. The requirements for fertilizing are relatively strict: too much is not good, and too little is not enough. First, when the shoots and leaves have just grown, one application of fertilizer mainly based on the N element is needed. Next comes the vigorous growth period, specifically from May to the Beginning of Autumn, when nitrogen fertilizer should be used once every two weeks or half a month. After that, application can be stopped. However, during that period, after the flowers fade, one supplementary application is needed. In addition, attention should also be paid to the specific time, and it is best to do it at night.

2. Water

Perhaps some friends have heard a saying: “dry orchid, wet chrysanthemum”. Therefore, water naturally cannot be too much. A small amount of water can make it grow vigorously, but too much is not good. Generally speaking, controlling it at two-tenths dry and eight-tenths wet is best. It can both meet its need for water and not cause harm. Note: do not water at noon.

3. Light

Although this plant is shade-loving, being too shady for a long time will also prevent it from thriving. In spring and summer, appropriate shading is fine. However, in autumn and winter, it is best to place it outside to bask in the sun for half a day. This helps the plant become more vigorous. Moreover, in order to let all sides receive light evenly, it is best to adjust its orientation every so often to avoid differences in growth.

4. Temperature

This aspect is very simple: keeping it within an appropriate range is best. Specifically, it is twenty to twenty-five degrees, which helps it grow vigorously.