The cultivation method of Cymbidium 'Songmei'
This article provides a detailed introduction to the knowledge of growing Cymbidium in the home, focusing on the cultivation method of Cymbidium 'Songmei'. Let's learn about it together.
Cymbidium 'Songmei' is known to have a cultivation history of over two hundred years. Over time, through cultivation and breeding, it has developed several flower forms, making it a typical representative of the plum-petal flowers and recognized as the "King of the Four Greats" in the orchid community. Each orchid variety has its own unique characteristics, differing in seedling emergence, flowering, growth, disease resistance, and propagation. Therefore, it is necessary to tailor care to each variety, advocating a method of caring for orchids with one method per variety.
In terms of 'Songmei', under the natural conditions of the northern part of Henan, it blooms in mid-February every year, and seedlings emerge in mid-April, forming a basic pattern. It has many advantages such as robust plant growth, strong disease resistance, high seedling emergence rate, and easy flowering. Let's talk about the cultivation issues based on its characteristics.
I. Potting mix and pot: A nutritious potting mix is essential for promoting healthy growth and flowering of 'Songmei'. The mix should focus on breathability, drainage, and complete nutrients, combining traditional and modern methods. The formula I use for the potting mix is: washed peat 25%,植金石 20%, miraculous soil 15%, willow bark 10%, snake wood 15%, wheat stone 5%, brick particles 10%. Using this mix, the orchids adapt quickly, grow healthily, produce good flowers, and have a strong fragrance. The best pots to use are fired high桶 mud pots or Yixing's sesame sand high桶 pots. The pot should not be too large, just enough for the orchid roots to spread out. It is most suitable to grow about 6 seedlings per pot, with a combination of old, middle, and young plants, ensuring flowers every year. Remember to soak new pots in water (deglaze) for more than 2 days, and clean and disinfect old pots before reuse.
II. Lighting: Morning sunlight is most beneficial for the growth of 'Songmei', the earlier the better. It's best to have the first light of dawn shine on the orchid plants. Morning light is a major factor affecting orchid growth and flowering, with the most active photosynthesis occurring before 10 am. Therefore, it's best to place 'Songmei' where it can receive morning light for 2-3 hours a day, which is very beneficial for growth and ensures flowers every year.
III. Ventilation: A good ventilation environment is necessary for successfully growing 'Songmei'. It's important to place 'Songmei' in a well-ventilated area, especially during the hot and humid summer weather. In the northern part of Henan, as long as it can safely endure the heat, growing orchids can be considered half successful. Good ventilation provides fresh air for the orchid plants, accelerates photosynthesis, reduces the occurrence of diseases and pests, and promotes healthy growth.
IV. Watering: Watering is the key to successfully growing 'Songmei'. As the saying goes: "Water the plants with heart, and water the flowers at the roots." "Orchids like rain but fear accumulation, enjoy moisture but dislike humidity, prefer dryness but not drought." I have four watering methods in my cultivation: First, determine the amount of watering based on the size of the pot, the growth condition of the orchid plants, the quality of ventilation, the fineness of the potting mix, and the temperature. Second, do not fix the watering time, but regularly observe the dryness and wetness of the potting mix to master the watering timing. Third, the temperature of the water used for watering should be as close as possible to the temperature inside the pot, especially during summer and winter. Fourth, always use clean rainwater for watering, preferably not tap water, and strictly avoid polluted water.
V. Fertilization: When fertilizing orchids, I坚持 using my own brewed fertilizer. I do not fertilize during the winter (December, January) and summer (July, August), and during other months, I add a small amount of self-brewed liquid fertilizer to the watering. Every late autumn, I burn a concentrated amount of rice hulls and scatter the ash on the surface of the orchid pot. This has two benefits: one is to increase potassium fertilizer, which helps the growth of orchid roots, and the other is to prevent and treat diseases and pests. The cultivated orchids have beautiful posture, shiny leaves, fragrant flowers, and healthy plants.
VI. Disease and pest control: Most orchid diseases are caused by excessive fertilizing and watering, rough planting methods, and improper potting mix. Disease control should focus on prevention, applying fungicides and disinfectants every half month, and sprinkling a little furan丹 on the pot surface every half year. Use a variety of drugs and do not use just one type. Always follow the instructions for dosage. The above are some of my immature views on growing 'Songmei'. Please offer more guidance, and I hope that through the media of online magazines, we can promote more orchid care knowledge and the character of orchid enthusiasts, allowing the elegant and noble orchids to thrive and become even better from generation to generation.
The above is [] about the cultivation method of Cymbidium 'Songmei' for reference by green plant enthusiasts, hoping to solve your problems in green plant and flower management.