An Introduction to the Characteristics and Everyday Care of the Lan'er Orchid
Lan'er is the name of a horticultural variety among Chinese orchids (guolan), referring to an ornamental plant of the genus Cymbidium in the family Orchidaceae that has been selected and bred by orchid growers over many years and fixed under this name. Chinese orchid varieties are mostly named for flower color, petal shape or place of origin, and a friendly-sounding name like Lan'er likewise reflects the affection growers feel for the variety. It has an elegant plant form with slender leaves, and usually carries a delicate fragrance when in bloom, making it well suited to indoor pot cultivation.
In terms of groups, Chinese orchids commonly include Chunlan (Cymbidium goeringii), Huilan (Cymbidium faberi), Lianbanlan (Cymbidium tortisepalum), Jianlan (Cymbidium ensifolium), Molan (Cymbidium sinense) and Hanlan (Cymbidium kanran), and the variety resources of every producing area are abundant. The same variety name sometimes appears repeatedly across different groups, so when introducing Lan'er it is best to confirm with the seller which group it belongs to and what its leaf form and flower characteristics are, to avoid confusion with varieties of the same name. Choose vigorous orchid seedlings, pot them up and place them in a cool, ventilated spot to recover for a period before moving them into normal management, and the chances of survival will be better.
As for care, the first principle for the growing medium is that it must be loose and airy; a mix of bark chunks, Kanuma soil, tree-fern fiber and the like is commonly used, and it is safer to disinfect or otherwise treat it a second time before use. Watering should follow the rule of letting the medium dry out before watering again; in orchid circles it is often said that watering takes three years to master, which shows that judging the right amount takes accumulated experience. Place the plant day to day in a well-ventilated spot with diffused light, apply dilute fertilizer frequently during the growing season, provide shade in summer, and simply keep the temperature from dropping too low in winter.
For an ordinary household, Chinese orchid varieties like Lan'er are suitable for placing in the living room, study and similar spots; they both adorn the setting and carry the gentlemanly symbolism of the orchid in traditional culture. As long as the basics of medium, water and fertilizer, and ventilation are done solidly, beginners can gradually grow them into good condition and enjoy their flowers and fragrance year after year.
