Cymbidium kanran
Also known as: The Cold Growing Cymbidium or Cymbidium kanran h.f. album Cymbidium kanran h.f. atropurpureum Cymbidium linearisepalum Cymbidium linearisepalum var. atropurpureum Cymbidium sinokanran var. atropurpureum Cymbidium linearisepalum var. atrovirens Cymbidium kanran f. viridescens Cymbidium kanran h.v. atrovirens Cymbidium linearisepalum f. atrovirens Cymbidium kanran var. latifolium Cymbidium sinokanran Cymbidium oreophilum Cymbidium purpureohiemale Cymbidium kanran var. purpureohiemale Cymbidium nigrovenium Cymbidium linearisepalum f. atropurpureum Cymbidium tosyaense Cymbidium kanran f. purpurascens Cymbidium purpureo-hiemale In Japan - Kanran in the subfamily: Epidendroideae
Native to: Anhui - China Fujian - China Guangdong - China Hunan - China Okinawa - Japan
General Information
The Cold Growing Cymbidium is a sympodial cool to warm growing epiphytic or terrestrial orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to China and Japan.
Plant Description
Sympodial. Grows to 0.5-0.7cm. Each new growth has numerous arching leaves that grow to 0.9-70cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 1-4cm
Flowers
Numerous fragrant blossoms appear
Fragrance
The orchid is fragrant.
Substrate(s)
- Coarse
- Medium
- Small
- Fine
- Bark
- Charcoal
- Treefern
- Spaghnum Moss
- Perlite
- Sand
Care Notes
These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.
These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.
Fragrant:- IsFragrant
Climate
The orchids are well adapted for hot weather, accompanied by sporadic, unpredictable rainfall and a generally dry climate. They can tolerate a lot of neglect as they are quite used to it, however they can be prone to underwatering and may collapse in cold, wet weather.
For this reason it's best to dedicate a sheltered, protected area for them where the watering can be controlled, such as a corner of a greenhouse or in a sheltered balcony. They can also do well hung near the roof of a shadehouse or sheltered greenhouse where they receive the extra heat but not as much water as other plants.
Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 10mm to 224mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 54% to 83%, highest in August and lowest in April. Temperature ranges from 4C to 28C, highest in May (19C to 28C) and lowest in January (4C to 17C).Fertiliser
Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.
Use balanced fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.Potting
This orchid prefers a fine, well draining media. Avoid commercial potting mixes as they may have 'wetting agents' that retain water for too long. A simple mix made up of 20% sand, 50% peat or moss, with the remaining 30% made up of decomposed bark and leaf litter would be adequate. Adding some charcoal to the mix will also help it last longer.
Repotting depends on how wet the media is usually. Every 2-3 years would suffice, or whenever the media shows signs of clumping, staying wet for too long, or smells foul.
Repotting is best done annually.
