The Cymbidium goeringii, also known as the Spring Orchid, Ground Orchid, Subtle Orchid, Fragrant Blossom, and Grass Orchid, is a terrestrial plant of the Orchidaceae family and Orchid genus.
It is one of the orchid types that people quite favor. Generally, Spring Orchid plants are small, with fleshy roots and bulbous pseudobulbs. The leaves grow in clusters and are tough, about 20-25cm long, narrow and pointed, with coarse edges.
The pseudobulbs are small and ovate; there are 4-6 leaves clustered together, 20-60cm long, with fine serrated edges. The flowers, usually single or in pairs, grow on upright inflorescences.
The flowers are predominantly green or pale brownish-yellow, subtly fragrant, and bloom from January to March.
The Spring Orchid Cymbidium goeringii is a terrestrial plant of the Orchidaceae family. The pseudobulbs are small and ovate, 1-2.5cm long and 1-1.5cm wide, hidden within the leaf base.
There are 4-7 leaves, strap-shaped. The inflorescence grows out of the axils of the outer leaves at the base of the pseudobulb, standing upright, 3-15(-20)cm long, rarely higher, noticeably shorter than the leaves.
The fruit is a narrow elliptical capsule, 6-8cm long and 2-3cm wide. The blooming period is from January to March.
It is distributed in Japan, the southern end of the Korean Peninsula, and the northeast of India. It grows on stony slopes, forest edges, and light-filled spots in the forest at altitudes of 300-2200 meters.
It is often potted for indoor ornamental use. When in bloom, it emits a particularly elegant fragrance, making it an excellent choice for interior decoration. Its roots, leaves, and flowers can all be used medicinally.
It is used to treat nervous weakness, yin deficiency; lung tuberculosis with blood in sputum; chronic cough; bloody urine; falls, injuries, pain, and swelling; leucorrhea in women; fatigue-induced cough; fever in the palms and soles; and to darken hair.
Spring Orchids have diverse varieties that can be divided into five petal types according to the form of their tepals. These include the Plum Blossom, Daffodil, Lotus, Deformed, and Bamboo Leaf.
The sepals are short and round, slightly inward-curved, resembling the petals of a plum blossom. There are over 100 varieties of this type. Its main varieties are: Song Mei, West God Plum, Ten Thousand Characters, Outstanding Product, and Gathering Circle.
Gathering Circle
Characteristics: The outer three petals are rooted in a circle, hence the name. The flower color is slightly yellow-green with flat shoulders and thick petals. The plant is vigorous, easy to flower, and reproduces quickly, making it one of the most widely spread varieties of Spring Orchids.
West Lake Plum
Characteristics: Short and round petals, thick leaves. The bud leaves are light purple.
Tian Xing Mei
Characteristics: Short-stalked and round-headed petals with a broad width, green color, flat shoulders, and large tongue. The leaves are shiny, with blunt tips and purple-red bud leaves.
There are over 10 varieties of this type. The main varieties are: Dragon Character, Wang Character, and First-Class Spring.
First-Class Spring
Characteristics: Long-lasting flowers with deep purple bud leaves, diagonally straight old leaves, and slightly blunt leaf tips.
Dragon Character
Characteristics: Round and pointed petals, bright and tender green color. The bud leaves are rose-red, with a slender and upright leaf shape, thin and narrow at the base, and sharp at the tip.
Wang Character
Characteristics: Long-stalked and round-headed petals with a yellow-green color. This variety is the most resilient among Daffodil petal types and one of the most widely spread in Spring Orchids.
The main varieties include: Zheng Tong Lotus, Green Cloud, and Jade Lotus.
Zheng Tong Lotus
Characteristics: Long and wide petals with a clean green color and glossy look.
Jade Lotus
Characteristics: Short and round petals, with a short stature, generally only about three centimeters high.
Green Cloud
Characteristics: Short and round petals, large and wide. The bud leaves are green, with short and robust leaves, blunt tips, and a glossy appearance.
The common “Butterfly Petal” falls under this category. Other varieties include: Four Happiness Butterfly, Harmony Butterfly, and Pistil Butterfly.
Wild orchids usually fall into this type, with long and narrow sepals and petals that resemble bamboo leaves. There are also many excellent varieties of this type.
These plants thrive at altitudes between 300-2200 meters (up to 3000 meters in Taiwan) on rocky slopes, forest edges, and places with filtered sunlight within the forests.
hey prefer warm, moist, semi-shaded environments and can tolerate slight cold, but not extreme heat, dryness or direct sunlight. They grow well at temperatures between 15-25℃, and can still grow normally at around 6℃ in winter.
Short-term exposure to 0℃ does not hinder the flower buds’ winter dormancy. From October to February of the following year, they require temperatures below 10℃ to bloom normally.
In summer, they require shading of 70% and ample sunlight in winter. They thrive in rich, loose, humus soil that is well-draining, retains water and has a pH of 5.5-6.5.
These plants can be found in Japan, the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, and northeastern India.
These terrestrial plants have a small pseudobulb, ovate in shape, 1-2.5 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide, concealed within the leaf base.
They have 4-7 leaves that are band-shaped, usually on the shorter side, 20-40 cm (up to 60 cm) long, and 5-9 mm wide. The lower part often folds into a V-shape, with the edges either toothless or finely toothed.
The flower stem springs from the axil of the external leaf at the base of the pseudobulb. It stands upright, 3-15 cm (up to 20 cm) tall, rarely taller, and is noticeably shorter than the leaves.
The inflorescence usually has a single flower, rarely two. The floral bracts are long and wide, generally 4-5 cm long, partially enveloping the ovary. The pedicel and ovary are 2-4 cm long.
The color of the flower varies greatly, usually green or light brownish-yellow with purple-brown veins, and it is fragrant. The sepals are nearly oblong to ovate, 2.5-4 cm long and 8-12 mm wide.
The petals are ovate to elliptical or oblong-ovate, 1.7-3 cm long, about the same width as the sepals, and they either spread out or partially envelop the column. The labellum is nearly ovate, 1.4-2.8 cm long, and not clearly three-lobed.
The lateral lobes are upright with small protuberances and each has a thick, pleated fold near the longitudinal fold. The middle lobe is larger, strongly deflexed and also has protuberances, with the edges slightly wavy.
The two longitudinal folds on the lip disc extend from above the base to above the base of the middle lobe, inclining inward and converging, somewhat forming a short tube. The column is 1.2-1.8 cm long with relatively wide wings on both sides.
There are four pollinia, arranged in two pairs. The capsules are narrow and elliptical, 6-8 cm long, and 2-3 cm wide. The flowering period is from January to March.
Planting of Spring Orchids is best done at the end of autumn. Prior to planting, it is advisable to use a new clay pot that has been soaked in clean water for several hours. When using a ceramic or plastic pot, pay attention to drainage.
The size of the pot should be appropriate for the roots to spread comfortably. Orchid clay is the most ideal potting soil, or use a mixture of peat soil and sandy loam. Alkaline soil should be avoided.
First, place a tile over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, then add a layer of broken stones or slag, which should occupy about one-fifth of the pot. Cover this with a layer of coarse sand, then add the potting soil.
Place the orchid seedling in the pot, straighten the roots, and let them spread naturally. Fill half the pot with soil, gently lift the seedling while shaking the pot to ensure a tight connection between the roots and the soil.
Continue filling soil up to the rim of the pot and press firmly. Leave about 3 centimeters at the top for fertilization and watering.
After potting, soak the pot and place it in a shaded area. Keep it indoors during early spring and winter, and under a shade for the rest of the time. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
in the summer, the pot should be shaded with a light-blocking rate of about 90%. During spring and autumn, a shading rate of 70-80% is sufficient.
Spring Orchids have a thick cuticle and submerged stomata, which makes them drought-tolerant, hence they do not require much water. The soil should be kept “seven parts dry and three parts moist”.
Generally, water once every 2-3 days in spring, keep the soil slightly dry after flowering, and maintain a slightly moist potting soil after April. In the summer, when the temperature is high, water once a day; in autumn, water when the soil is dry; water sparingly in winter.
During the bud formation period of Spring Orchids, keep the soil moist but not overly wet. In dry and hot seasons, spray mist around the pot in the evening to increase air humidity.
Spring Orchids should not be heavily fertilized. Newly planted Spring Orchids should not be fertilized in the first year, and only after 1-2 years of cultivation when new roots are vigorously growing.
Generally, from April to early autumn, apply a thin layer of fully decomposed cake fertilizer water every 15-20 days; stop fertilizing during the hot summer. Fertilize in the evening to avoid contaminating leaves with the fertilizer solution.
After budding, it is advisable to keep only the best-developed and most aesthetically pleasing bud, remove all others. This ensures the flower is beautifully colored and fragrant.
About 10-14 days after the Spring Orchid blooms, cut away the flowers along with the flower stem. Do not wait for the flowers to fall off naturally, doing this reduces nutrient waste and promotes blooming in the following year.
Spring orchids can be propagated by division, sowing, and tissue culture.
Division propagation is often combined with repotting, and this method is commonly used for home propagation. It is best done every two to three years, preferably in March and September.
The orchid plant is removed from the pot, and the roots are washed clean and allowed to dry. When the roots are slightly soft, the plant can be divided. Each section should keep 2-3 sprouts, and the cut should be coated with wood ash or sulfur powder to prevent rotting.
The soil for the pot can be made of compost or peat, mixed with coarse sand and charcoal. When planting, the plant should be near the edge of the pot, with old grass on the side and new grass towards the center.
The depth should be just enough to bury the pseudobulb in the soil, leaving about 2 cm around the rim. After watering thoroughly, the plant should be placed in a shaded area for 15 days to recover, after which it can be looked after as usual.
Spring orchid seed propagation requires certain equipment and techniques. The seeds of spring orchids are small with underdeveloped embryos, making germination difficult.
Mature, uncracked capsules are used, and their surfaces are disinfected with 75% alcohol. The seeds are then extracted under sterile conditions. The seeds are wrapped in white cloth and soaked in a 10% sodium hypochlorite solution for 5-10 minutes.
They are then sown into test tubes with a culture medium, typically White’s medium supplemented with coconut milk and activated charcoal. The tubes are placed in a constant temperature and humidity incubator, at 25°C±3°C and 60-70% humidity.
When the seeds germinate into white granules, they are moved into a 2000 lux light for cultivation. After swelling and turning green, they form protocorms. The subsequent planting method is the same as tissue culture. From sowing to transplanting, it takes about half a year to a year.
Tissue culture is often done using an MS medium (pH 5.0-6.0) supplemented with vitamins and hormones. Different types of spring orchids require different components in the medium.
The apical bud of a young stem of the orchid is used as an explant, and after inoculation, it is cultured under weak light at 25°C±3°C. When protocorms form, they are moved into a light culture room with a light intensity of 1000-2000 lux.
The protocorms of spring orchids grow in clusters, and at this stage, they can be further divided and re-cultured to obtain a large number of protocorms in a short time.
Then, the protocorms are transferred into a liquid medium for slow rotary cultivation, at 1-2 rotations per minute, changing the medium every 15 days. When the protocorms grow large, they are transferred into a differentiation medium for bud and root culture.
When the seedlings are 10-12 cm high and have 2-3 roots, they can be removed from the test tubes for planting. From inoculation to transplantation, it takes about 1.5-2 years.
Before transplantation, the test tube plugs are opened for 3-4 days to acclimate the plants to their new environment. The tube seedlings are then removed, and the culture medium is washed off with tap water.
The plants are planted on a substrate of perlite, sphagnum moss, or peat mixed with charcoal, and thoroughly watered after 3-4 days. They are then cultivated under weak light, at a temperature of 20-25°C, 80% humidity, and good ventilation.
Once they have taken root, they are moved into a greenhouse for normal cultivation. Blooming can be expected after 3-5 years.
Mold Disease: Also known as White Silk Disease, it often occurs during the damp rainy season. Initially, white fungal hyphae appear on the soil surface and at the base of the leaves, causing pseudobulbs to rot.
Prevention methods: Remove fungus-infected soil and spray with 500 times diluted quintozene fungicide powder.
Black Spot Disease: Also known as Anthracnose, it often occurs in hot and rainy summers. Initially, brown spots appear on the leaves, which grow larger and more numerous, turning into black spots. It often harms new sprouts, and in severe cases, the entire plant dies.
Prevention methods: Remove diseased plants, improve ventilation, lower temperature; use 5% Daisen zinc powder solution diluted 600 times or 50% Carbendazim solution diluted 800 times. Apply once every half month, for three times in total.
Scale Insects: Commonly known as orchid lice, they often occur when humidity is high and ventilation is poor. It’s hard to eradicate them completely. A solution of 20% Phoxim emulsifiable concentrate diluted 500-800 times can be used for prevention.
Ornamental: Spring orchids are often potted for indoor ornamental purposes. They emit a particularly elegant fragrance when in bloom, making them excellent for interior decoration.
Medicinal: Its roots, leaves, and flowers can all be used for medicinal purposes. They are used to treat neurasthenia, Yin deficiency, tuberculosis, chronic cough, hematuria, injuries, pain and swelling, leukorrhea in women, exhaustion-induced cough, fever in hands and feet, and for promoting black hair.
Spring Orchid Culture
Spring orchids are renowned for their nobility, elegance, and subtle fragrance, with beautiful leaves and far-reaching flower fragrance. They have had a significant impact on social life and cultural arts.
Spring Orchid Flower Language
Peggie was once a high school mathematics teacher, but she set aside her chalkboard and textbooks to follow her lifelong passion for flowers. After years of dedication and learning, she not only established a thriving flower shop but also founded this blog, “Flowers Library”. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about flowers, feel free to contact Peggie.
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