Orchids mostly originate from the mountainous areas of southern China, with clear differences between the production regions of different varieties

Orchid production regions usually refer to areas where wild orchid resources are concentrated and where orchid cultivation is relatively well developed. China has a great many orchid species; the common Chinese cymbidium types such as Chunlan (Cymbidium goeringii), Huilan (Cymbidium faberi), Jianlan (Cymbidium ensifolium), Molan (Cymbidium sinense), Hanlan (Cymbidium kanran), Chunjian and Lianbilan are mostly found in the warm, humid southern regions with rich mountain and forest resources.

Different orchid varieties have their own particular production regions. Chunlan and Huilan are mostly produced in the mountainous and hilly areas of the Yangtze River basin, with relatively abundant resources in the Jiangnan and central China areas; Jianlan and Molan prefer warmth and are mainly distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Taiwan, China; Chunjian is mostly seen in Sichuan and the surrounding mountains, while Lianbilan has Yunnan as its main production region; Hanlan is distributed from Jiangnan all the way to southern China.

As for the growing environment of these production regions, orchids mostly grow in mountain forests at moderate altitude with abundant rainfall. These areas are rich in humus, with loose, breathable, well-drained soil, mainly soft diffused light, and a fairly pronounced day-night temperature difference, which fits perfectly with the orchid's habit of preferring shade and moisture and fearing waterlogging.

Understanding orchid production regions is helpful both for introducing plants and for day-to-day care. When introducing plants, it is best to choose strong seedlings adapted to the local climate; wild-collected seedlings must go through acclimatisation, wound cleaning, and treatment of the potting medium to reduce the risk of pathogens; in the hot, humid summer season, ventilation must also be strengthened to prevent stem rot and root rot, so that orchids are more likely to settle in and survive.