New Jipin is a traditional famous plum-petal cultivar of Cymbidium faberi (Faber's cymbidium): variety characteristics and care guide

New Jipin is a traditional famous cultivar among Cymbidium faberi (Faber's cymbidium), belonging to the plum-petal flower category. It has long been circulated among orchid growers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and is often mentioned alongside cultivars such as Old Jipin and Jiangnan New Jipin. Its plant form is upright and dignified; when in bloom, the flower scape rises above the leaves, and the flowers are spaced openly along the scape, giving an overall elegant and generous appearance. It is a cultivar that attracts considerable attention in orchid shows and orchid collections.

As a plum-petal cultivar, New Jipin has outer three petals with contracted bases and flared corners, rounded petal tips, and thick, glutinous petal texture; the two side petals (holding petals) clasp the column, while the lip is short and round without rolling backward, and the central section is compact and rounded. The flower color is mostly jade-green tinged with yellow, and it does not easily lose shape even after being open a long time. Combined with the uniquely delicate fragrance of Cymbidium faberi, its ornamental period is relatively long. The leaves mostly present a semi-arching posture, and the leaf texture is rather thick and glossy, so even without flowers the plant form remains quite ornamental.

For care, New Jipin prefers a warm, humid, well-ventilated environment, and should be grown in loose, breathable, fast-draining granular potting mix, such as bark and Kanuma soil (plant jinshi) combined with a small amount of humus soil. During the growing season, keep the potting medium slightly moist but not waterlogged; light should mainly be bright, indirect light, with appropriate shading in summer. Giving it a period of low-temperature vernalization in winter helps the flower scape grow taller the following year and the flowers open properly. Fertilize with dilute fertilizer applied frequently; supplementing with phosphorus- and potassium-based fertilizer before flowering can promote bud formation and blooming.

Many orchid growers easily confuse New Jipin with Old Jipin and Jiangnan New Jipin. All three belong to the plum-petal system of Cymbidium faberi, but they differ slightly in petal width, the softness or firmness of the holding petals, the depth of flower color, and leaf posture. Generally, it is easier to distinguish them during full bloom by comparing the central section and the outer petal forms. When purchasing, it is recommended to buy plants in flower and observe the open blooms on site, to avoid hastily judging the cultivar based only on the condition of the seedlings.