Production Strategies and Management Practices for Cymbidium Cut Flower Orchids
摘要
Nepal is renowned for its diverse range of orchids, with over 500 species, and they are distributed from the Terai to the mountains, stretching from east to west across the country. Many types of orchids, such as Cymbidium, Cypripedium, and Dendrobium, are commercially grown in Nepal. However, the most preferred orchid plants and flowers are mainly hybrids of Cymbidium. Cymbidium, the cool-loving orchid, has been commercially cultivated in Nepal for the last 35 years. The main region of its commercial production is the Godavari region in Lalitpur district of Nepal, which is located in the Kathmandu valley. Although Cymbidium prefers 20 °C and RH of 70% for its ideal growth, the main growing area in Nepal does not provide these conditions most of the time of the year. In Nepal, Cymbidiums are cultivated in a greenhouse/net house with 50% shade placed on a planting bench in various types of containers (clay or plastic and in different sizes) and in various types of media (sphagnum moss or FYM mixed with leaf litter and soil, pine barks, etc.). Different cultivars of Cymbidium are cultivated in Nepal and mainly propagated by tissue culture technique with limited use of plant division. The market trend of Cymbidium is also changing, with the selling of potted flowering plants being more popular than selling cut flowers. Information on the production system of Cymbidium is highlighted with important activities such as planting material selection, planting, irrigation, nutrition management, plant management, plant protection, preharvest care, and postharvest handling.