Superior environment for the growth of Chunlan in Shaoxing

Author: Ma Xingyuan, Feng Yangcheng, Ruan Qingxiang, Zhu Mingshui, Yang Deli, Sun Shengli, Qian Maozhu

Shaoxing is located in the southeast of the Qiantang River in Zhejiang Province. In ancient times, it was called Huiji and Yuezhou. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was named Shaoxing House. Although the area under its jurisdiction has changed from generation to generation, it generally refers to the area as far as Cixi County of Ningbo Prefecture in the east, Qiantang River in the northwest, Dongyang and Yiwu County in Jinhua Prefecture in the south, and Tiantai County in Taizhou in the southeast. Relying on the river and the sea, the water is clear and the mountains are beautiful. The area has continuous mountains, dense forests, deciduous trees and weeds, gurgling streams, often foggy dew, ground covered with dead leaves, soil moist, warm, loose, good drainage, rich in humus and slightly acidic soil. It is an ideal place for orchids to grow.

The geomorphology of Shaoxing belongs to the Quaternary sedimentary area with complex geomorphological types, with Cao'e River in the east and Puyang River in the west, forming three major river systems with Jianhu Lake. South of Huaiji Mountain, it is connected with Siming Mountain and Tiantai Mountain. Hangzhou Bay is bordered to the north. The whole city of Shaoxing enjoys the victory of both plains, mountains and seas. The terrain is low in the northwest, with plains and hills, and high in the southeast. Most of them are high mountains. Huiji Mountain is a mountain with a height of about 500m. Siming Mountain has an average elevation of more than 500m. The main peak is in Dongkeng, Shengxian County, Shaoxing City, with the highest elevation of 1021 meters.

The orchids of Shaoxing are vertically distributed. The altitudes of spring orchids, cymbidium and cold orchids are 300,400,800 and 100,500 meters respectively, and many of them are symbiotic. Due to the influence of altitude, light and wind direction in the growing area, Shaoxing orchids have obvious differences in plant size, strong and weak, flower color and flower shape, and even form "variation".

The climate of Shaoxing belongs to the subtropical humid monsoon climate zone, with four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall and mild climate. The southern mountain area has a warm and humid climate, sufficient light, good coordination of light, heat and water, the annual average temperature is about 16.4 ℃, the summer weather is hotter, July is the hottest, the monthly average temperature is 28.9 ℃, the highest temperature is 40 ℃, the coldest in January, the average temperature is 3.4 ℃, and the lowest temperature is 10 ℃ below zero. The annual average relative humidity is 81%. The mountain streams babble and often flow endlessly. The annual precipitation is 1350mm to 1450mm. The frost-free period for the whole year is generally about 240 days. Such climatic conditions are most suitable for the growth of orchids, so orchid resources are all over Shaoxing mountain area. Shaoxing orchids are more fragrant than orchids in other regions, which is determined by the specific climate of Shaoxing. Shaoxing orchid is pregnant in summer and grows in autumn. The Beginning of Winter dormant after dormancy. The dormant buds go through a cold process of about 0 ℃. The flowers are strong and fragrant after spring. Because of this growth characteristic of orchids, sometimes it is not easy to bloom in Shaoxing when it is warm in winter, or the buds that have been pregnant stop developing; if it is too cold in winter, it is easy to frostbite into stiff flowers. Therefore, it is not easy for Shaoxing orchids to blossom when they are moved to the south and planted in the north.

The soil in Shaoxing is mainly yellow loam and cinnamon soil. The soil is fertile, with semi-humid forest soil and scrub meadow soil. Most of the soil is weakly acidic, with a PH value between 5 and 6. This kind of soil is most suitable for the growth of orchids. Shaoxing people call it "orchid mud". It is said that the mud used to grow orchids in the imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty was transported from Shaoxing. The soil used to grow orchids in Zhongshan Park in modern Beijing was also specially transported from Shaoxing. These "orchid mud" are mainly collected in Qixianqiao Village, Fuquan Township, Lizhu District, which is rich in Chunlan, and Zhujiawu Village in Tangdi Township. According to the determination, the PH value of orchid mud is 5.0. it belongs to acidic soil, organic matter 6.08%, nitrogen D.266%, available phosphorus 231PPm, available reduced to 2PPm, available potassium 109PPm.

Wuhua Tianbao, Jiahui all over the mountain, Shaoxing orchids are generated, multiplied and evolved in such a natural environment, and can be preserved and developed. Shaoxing, the birthplace of Chunlan, is rich in orchid resources because of its unique natural conditions. In particular, as early as the Spring and Autumn and warring States period, the people in the mountainous areas around the Orchid Mountains, who have made a living of orchids, planting orchids and selling orchids since ancient times, have sold orchids all over the provinces and regions of the country, and there are many "orchid families". Shaoxing orchids are everywhere at home and abroad, and are favored by orchid lovers and orchid art circles, so in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and many northern provinces and regions, Lan Hui is called "Shaoxing orchid."