Cultivating orchids and appreciating orchids

Author: Jin Bo et al
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2007-04-01
Features: Flowers are the essence of nature, and modern cities and rural areas cannot be without the adornment of flowers. Among the myriad colorful gardens, the magnificent orchids are indispensable. As a traditional famous flower in China, orchids are renowned for their fragrance when in bloom—just one branch in a room can fill the entire space, earning them the titles of "Ancestor's Fragrance," "Fragrance," and "National Fragrance." When not in bloom, their elegant and graceful forms are equally captivating. The Song Dynasty scholar Wang Guixue wrote: "Bamboo has joints but lacks flowers, plum blossoms have flowers but lack leaves, pines have leaves but lack fragrance—only the orchid possesses all three."
Within the category of "exotic orchids," the Cattleya is known as the king of orchids. The Phalaenopsis, or butterfly orchid, is called the queen, with its large, vibrant, and delicate flowers, as well as its noble quality, making it highly favored by people. Blending the elegance of "national orchids" with the beauty of "exotic orchids," they can both grace grand halls and fill quiet, fragrant rooms. The interplay of "exotic" and "national" orchids undoubtedly promotes the exchange of Eastern and Western cultures.
China is exceptionally rich in orchid resources, with 173 genera and over 1,200 species known to date. In recent years, with the adjustment and development of the national economy, orchids have emerged as a promising new industry, transitioning from small-scale cultivation of "national orchids" to modern production of "exotic orchids." As a result, books about orchids have become increasingly popular in the market, though those written in a Q&A format remain relatively rare. At the publisher's invitation, I wrote this small booklet of orchid-related Q&As. The text is concise and accompanied by over 80 exquisite color photographs, making it easy for readers to understand and identify the orchids.