5th Flora Filipina Expo and Conference 2019

        Once again, the Philippine Orchid Society, together with the country’s major horticultural organizations and corporations, the Quezon City Government, Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture, Del Monte Philippines, Manila Bulletin and Villar Sipag, will be hosting the 5th Flora Filipina International Expo at the Quezon City Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City (Facing the East Avenue side) from February 24 to March 5, 2019. The theme of the this year’s event is “Discover the Philippine Greening Economy”.

      The previous Flora Filipina Expo was held last 2015. The expo will be one of this year’s prominent gardening and plant event in Southeast Asia, together with other major horticultural event in other neighboring countries. The Flora Filipina Expo will gathered under one single international gardening event horticulturists, flower and plant connoisseurs, collectors or rare plants, traders, suppliers, landscapers, architects, manufacturers and traders of gardening tools, fertilizers, pesticides, garden equipment, environmental government and non-government organizations, private and government universities and colleges, government departments and agencies, foreign embassies, including local and foreign visitors.

     During the said date, the Quezon Memorial Circle area will transformed into a garden paradise, with colorful pocket gardens of orchids, bromeliads, tillandsias, ferns, annuals, aroids, bonsai and cacti. It was a wonderful site for taking pictures, learning about plants and landscaping and for strolling and admiring the beauty of local plants.

      There will be plant competitions which ranges from orchids, flowering plants, ferns, palms, cycads, bromeliads, aroids, flowering vines, annuals and perennials, and other ornamental plants. There will also be a landscape booth competition, flower arranging competition and oil painting and art competition. The said event is intended to foster camaraderie and to enhance the competitive spirits among local and international plant growers, in the same way promote related products and services such as agricultural produce, books, magazines, plant related items, fertilizers, garden accessories, landscaping services, floral fashion accessories, and herbal and organic products.

        The Expo will be highlighted by a grand Opening Ceremony on February 23, 2019 (Open to members and invited guests only), and will be followed by a 3-day scientific conference with the theme “Achieving Global Competency in Floriculture” from February 24 to 26 at the Brentwood Suites,Brentwood Suites, #6 Dr. G. Garcia Street, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City 1003 Philippines.  Three main groups of the exhibition and conference includes the Bonsai and Suiseki, Boungainvillea and the Floriculture Industry

       The conference will tackle various topics on the current trends and prospects of the Philippine and Southeast Asian ornamental plant industry, from the Philippines’ respected authorities and resource speakers, including a few foreign guest speakers. A field trip to various horticultural farms and nurseries will be arranged for both foreign and local guests. (Please see details below). There will be a horticultural exposition or trade show during the whole duration at the Quezon Memorial Circle, which will also include a daily lecture series at the show site around 2:00pm to 5:00pm on various plant topics.

The Conference:

A free lecture series is also regularly available at the Expo's exhibit area at Flower Garden area at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road corner East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

FREE DAILY LECTURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:  Time 2:00PM AT THE FLOWER GARDEN, QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE

Feb. 27 (Wed)                       Basic Orchid Growing                                                      Mr. Andres Golamco, Jr.

Feb. 28 (Thu)                       Basic Care for Cactus & Succulent for Beginners         Mr. Lino Rom

Mar. 1 (Fri)                           Introduction to Philippine Native Trees                         Ms. Cel Tungol

Mar. 2 (Sat)                          New Trends in Flower Arranging                                    Floral Designers’ Circle

Mar. 3 (Sun)                         Fern Gardening in the Philippines                                  Mr. Anthony Arbias

Mar. 4 (Mon)                        Controlling Pest & Diseases in Orchids                          Mr. Norby Bautista

Mar. 5 (Tue)                      Sowing and planting Enchanting Flowers in pots          Allied Botanical Corp.

There will be a minimal entrance fees of PhP 50.00 for the general public and PhP 40.00 for students, senior citizens and PWD. Kindly bookmark this blog and visit again for updates.

For inquiries, especially other related upcoming events, kindly contact the Philippine Orchid Society at telephone : Ms. Jenny F. Rivera or Mr. Jiffy Alegre (Philippine Orchid Society Secretariat)
(+63) 917-8485468 / (+632) 929-44-25 / (+632) 957-35-24
Email: philorchidsociety@gmail.com

Office Address1: Quezon City Hall Orchidarium / Lagoon Area Garden, East Avenue corner Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

Office Address 2: Unit 209 Delsa Mansion, 44 Scout Borromeo corner Scout Torrillo Streets, Barangay South Triangle 1103 Quezon City.

A Display of Phalaenopsis Orchids

Major Sponsors of Flora Filipina Expo :

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Harbest Agribusiness Corporation

The 72nd Philippine Orchid Society Midyear Show

Even though we experienced these torrential monsoon rains for the past weeks, The Philippine Orchid Society in partnership with Quezon City government, Quezon Memorial Circle administration, Villar Sipag Foundation  have successfully staged  this season’s 72nd mid-year orchid and garden show from August 31, to September 10, 2018 at the Quezon Memorial Circle (at the Flower Garden area), Elliptical Road (facing East Avenue) in Diliman, Quezon City Philippines.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by special guests which included Quezon City’s Vice-Mayor Hon. Joy Belmonte, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Department of Agriculture Evelyn Lavina,  the author of the classic book Orchidiana Philippiniana – Dr. Helen Valmayor,  The Board of Directors of  the Philippine Orchid Society, members of the society and also representatives of the other garden clubs.

The rainy months of August and September are the blooming season of the world famous ‘Waling- Waling or scientifically known as the Vanda sanderiana. And because of this very special orchid, it has become the logo of one of the oldest garden organization of the country, the Philippine Orchid Society.

                                             The Midyear Orchid Show Poster with lectures

This event was intended to gather again plant hobbyists and enthusiasts, under one roof.   The show is an orchid exhibit, trade fair, and an educational venue with free lectures rolled in one. The exhibit was intended to showcase this season’s beautiful orchids that we have in the country, which were meticulously cultured and flowered by our very own orchid connoisseurs. Blooming orchids was  displayed in beautifully landscaped exhibits and also through flower arrangement displays.

One may ask, why give so much importance to Vanda sanderiana or the Waling Waling orchid? This unique orchid has been popular worldwide due to the fact that it has a unique genetic trait which provides the large flowered and nearly flat and full rounded petal arrangement to most modern vandaceous orchids. Because of this, this Filipino orchid species was renowned worldwide as the ‘Queen of all Orchids’ because it has greatly influenced the breeding of modern day orchids that are very popular in the orchid cut-flower and potted orchid industry. And it is just proper for us Filipinos to give value to this unique and beautiful orchid species, as it has now become critically threatened as it has been heavily gathered from the wild. It is nowadays being mass produced in laboratories to provide us with seedlings for future generations.

                                           Vanda sanderiana   (Photo by: Ramon Calado)

                                                                Vanda sanderiana alba


The typical Vanda sanderiana having the brown maroon petal, while the “alba” having the yellow green petal. (Photo by Ramon Calado.)

And in celebration of its 72nd Anniversary this coming August 31 to September 10, 2018, the POS have showed off the lovely blooms of the ‘Queen of all Orchids’ in this Mid-year Orchid and Garden Show. The society is still active in its orchid and plant conservation efforts and this can only be done through promotion of gardening, propagation and the love for plants and nature study.

The show aimed to promote the country’s horticultural industry, hoping to make it sustainable and progressive. The garden show's objectives  are to encourage more people to go into orchid growing, either as a hobby or as a business. Furthermore, the POS is continuing its mandate of promoting not just orchids, but also gardening as a whole and the appreciation of nature. Year after year, it has facilitated the promotion and dissemination of technical information for both orchids and other ornamental plants through these events. This is due to the fact that aside from providing aesthetic beauty, orchids are also efficient carbon dioxide sinks (being a CAM plant) and is regarded as one of the gratifying and socially-fulfilling hobbies of most housewives and plant enthusiasts due to the plant’s exotic and diversified flower types.

                                  Inspecting orchid flowers and discussing good qualities for judging.

Some of  the other landscape exhibits  .....

Daily lectures on orchid and plant culture were held for free and a plant bazaar selling orchids and ornamentals at farm gate prices were at the site.  They were as follows:

August 31 (Friday) – Art and Science of Bonsai Cultivation by Master Ho Jan Lee and Maestro Angel Uyehara

September 1 (Saturday) – Tillandsia ( the lazy gardener’s plant ) Mrs. Maria Dolores Alarcon

September 2 (Sunday) – Choosing Quality Orchids- Mr. Kelvin Niel Manubay

September 3 (Monday) – Philippine Orchid Species – Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion-Conde

September 4 (Tuesday) – Growing Vandas and Phalaenopsis ( Monopodial Orchids) Mr. JM Lacandula

September 5 (Wednesday) – Landscaping with Orchids- Mr. Fred Salud

September 6 (Thursday) – Production of Annual Bedding Plants -Allied Botanical Corporation representative

September 7 (Friday) – Flower arrangements for all occasions – Floral Designers Circle

September 8 (Saturday) – Growing Cattleyas, Dendrobiums and Oncidiums ( Sympodial Orchids)- Ms. Vangie Go

September 9 (Sunday) – Growing Orchids- Rafting Techniques – Mr. Andres Golamco Jr.


Note: The lectures/ talk starts at around 2:00 pm . Those attending the orchid show- Entrance fees is Php 30 for the genera public and Php 20 for students, senior citizens and person with disabilities.

For inquiries, kindly contact the Philippine Orchid Society at:  Mobile 09178485468 or landline 9573524 ;  email philorchidsociety@gmail.com or website: http://www.philippineorchidsociety.com  and The POS Facebook account.

Growing and Cultural Tips for the Vanda sanderiana

                                                    A typical brown-red Waling Waling 

Euanthe sanderiana is only known from the island of Mindanao, and populations have been recorded from the provinces of Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga. It grows as an epiphyte on the trunks and large branches of old-growth forest trees at elevations up to 500 meters. Due to the destruction of the original rainforest. It is highly doubtful if there are any wild populations remaining of this most wonderful Philippine orchid species.

An albino form of the Waling Waling.

Last February 4th 2013, the Philippine Senate made Euanthe sanderiana the “National Flower of the Philippines.” Along with the Sampaguita, The Waling-Waling is one of the most fitting tribute to one of the most wonderful Philippine orchid species. This orchid is also known as the Queen of all Orchids.

                          Another variation of the species,  now with brown red, and abbino forms


Due to over collection, and the rapidly disappearing forests in the lowlands, Euanthe sanderiana is in extreme danger of going extinct in its natural habitats if it is not already). We strongly advise orchid growing enthusiasts to obtain their plants from respectable orchid nurseries, which have grown their plants from seed. You will find that plants grown from seed will adapt more easily to cultivation.

The Waling Waling is actually easy to cultivate. Here are some of its basic requirements.

Light. Plants will require a semi-shaded area, and will benefit from a net house with 2-3 layers of shade net. Plants are usually hung or established on wire, plastic baskets or on driftwoods.

Watering. Waling-waling prefers and tolerates a little bit drier condition. Water the plant once a day or even less, like once every other day, and keep the surroundings and companion plants moist to provide high humidity.

Ventilation. Provide the plant with a slightly breezy location, but protected from very strong winds. Air movement will prevent the plant from rotting specially during the rainy season.

Potting Media & Potting Technique. Vanda sanderiana can be potted on plastic or hardwood baskets (hanging), tree fern slabs, or in drift woods, with their root well exposed and dangling down. They can also be grown in coarse brick and charcoal mixtures in pots, on benches, or hanging, in which case they can also be grown in hardwood baskets with little or no potting mixture. The roots are thick and will grow out of the pot or other container; hanging plants often develop a mass of pendent aerial roots. Such plants do well, but must be kept moist. This can mean misting the plants several times daily, since without potting material to retain moisture, the plants will dry out rather quickly. They will not tolerate wet roots, but do well when hung over wet rather than dry ground.

Fertilization. Use orchid foliar fertilizer, and spray recommended dose once every week usually after watering, or more often as long as the dosage is reduced. A teaspoon of balanced orchid foliar fertilizer in a gallon of water and sprayed once a week, especially in the morning is sufficient.

Pest & Diseases Management. Waling-waling plants are susceptible to sucking insects like mites, aphids and scales. Spray a dilute solution of Perla soap to protect the plant from insects or spray Lannate or Sevin insecticide if heavy infestation occurs. During rainy season, spray plants with dilute solution of Captan or Dithane fungicide to protect plants from rotting due to water-borne fungal diseases.

Propagation. This plant can be propagated by top cutting. Sterilize all cutting instruments first by washing with soap and water and squabbling with isopropyl alcohol before using to prevent transfer of viruses. Top-cuts are repotted on plastic or wooden baskets or clay pots with charcoal. Seal wounds with fungicide paste and do not water top cuttings for 3 days to prevent rotting. Water afterwards to induce establishment of roots. New shoots will usually sprout from the severed stem. Fertilized with foliar fertilizer to make plants healthy. It can also be propagated by seeds. Flowering season is August-September, and with this, flowers can be pollinated in order to produce fruit capsules with seeds which will usually be ready for harvest at about 5 months after pollination. Seeds from fruit capsules can be sown inside the laboratory, in sterile artificial nutrient media, using embryo culture techniques. Selected forms can also be micropropagated using meristem cultured or culture of young inflorescence.

September and October is the flowering season of the Vanda sanderiana, and with this, the Philippine Orchid Society regularly schedule its Midyear Orchid Show during this time, to celebrate the blooming of this unique orchid.  Aside from the POS, Davao also has its Kadayawan festival to celebrate the same.

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The 71st Philippine Orchid Society Midyear Show

Albino form of the Vanda sanderiana

(photo by Rommel Arriola)

Once again, the onset of the rainy season, especially the almost 2- week-long continuous rain or “siyam-siyam, is the mark of season of the most awaited midyear orchid show here in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.  During this time, most true orchid enthusiasts are very excited as it is the climatic requirement for the flowering of one of the grandest and important Philippine orchid species, the Waling-Waling or the Vanda sanderiana.

The common Vanda sanderiana 

(photo by Rommel Arriola)

For some, the Waling-Waling can also be scientifically identified as Euanthe sanderiana (its synonym) due to its peculiar spurless labellum in its flower, as most Vanda has a spur. This magnificent and beautiful orchid is now being used as a parent for the breeding of modern vandaceous orchids, in order to acquire the flatness and roundness of standard cut-flower vanda orchids.

Euanthe sanderiana is only known from the island of Mindanao, and populations have been recorded from the provinces of Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga. It grows as an epiphyte on the trunks and large branches of old-growth forest trees at elevations up to 500 meters. Due to the destruction of the original rainforest. It is highly doubtful if there are any wild populations remaining of this most wonderful Philippine orchid species. Last February 4th 2013, the Philippine Senate made Euanthe sanderiana the “National Flower of the Philippines.” Along with the Sampaguita, The Waling-Waling is one of the most fitting tribute to one of the most wonderful Philippine orchid species. This orchid is also known as the Queen of all Orchids.

Due to over collection, and the rapidly disappearing forests in the lowlands, Euanthe sanderiana is in extreme danger of going extinct in its natural habitats if it is not already). We strongly advise orchid growing enthusiasts to obtain their plants from respectable orchid nurseries, which have grown their plants from seed. You will find that plants grown from seed will adapt more easily to cultivation.

The Waling Waling is actually easy to cultivate. Here are some of its basic requirements.

Light. Plants will require a semi-shaded area, and will benefit from a net house with 2-3 layers of shade net. Plants are usually hung or established on wire, plastic baskets or on driftwoods.

Watering. Waling-waling prefers and tolerates a little bit drier condition. Water the plant once a day or even less, like once every other day, and keep the surroundings and companion plants moist to provide high humidity.

Ventilation. Provide the plant with a slightly breezy location, but protected from very strong winds. Air movement will prevent the plant from rotting specially during the rainy season.

Potting Media & Potting Technique. Vanda sanderiana can be potted on plastic or hardwood baskets (hanging), tree fern slabs, or in drift woods, with their root well exposed and dangling down. They can also be grown in coarse brick and charcoal mixtures in pots, on benches, or hanging, in which case they can also be grown in hardwood baskets with little or no potting mixture. The roots are thick and will grow out of the pot or other container; hanging plants often develop a mass of pendent aerial roots. Such plants do well, but must be kept moist. This can mean misting the plants several times daily, since without potting material to retain moisture, the plants will dry out rather quickly. They will not tolerate wet roots, but do well when hung over wet rather than dry ground.

Fertilization. Use orchid foliar fertilizer, and spray recommended dose once every week usually after watering, or more often as long as the dosage is reduced. A teaspoon of balanced orchid foliar fertilizer in a gallon of water and sprayed once a week, especially in the morning is sufficient.

Pest & Diseases Management. Waling-waling plants are susceptible to sucking insects like mites, aphids and scales. Spray a dilute solution of Perla soap to protect the plant from insects or spray Lannate or Sevin insecticide if heavy infestation occurs. During rainy season, spray plants with dilute solution of Captan or Dithane fungicide to protect plants from rotting due to water-borne fungal diseases.

Propagation. This plant can be propagated by top cutting. Sterilize all cutting instruments first by washing with soap and water and squabbling with isopropyl alcohol before using to prevent transfer of viruses. Top-cuts are repotted on plastic or wooden baskets or clay pots with charcoal. Seal wounds with fungicide paste and do not water top cuttings for 3 days to prevent rotting. Water afterwards to induce establishment of roots. New shoots will usually sprout from the severed stem. Fertilized with foliar fertilizer to make plants healthy. It can also be propagated by seeds. Flowering season is August-September, andwith this, flowers can be pollinated in order to produce fruit capsules with seeds which will usually be ready for harvest at about 5 months after pollination. Seeds from fruit capsules can be sown inside the laboratory, in sterile artificial nutrient media, using embryo culture techniques. Selected forms can also be micropropagated using meristemcultured or culture of young inflorescence.

September and October is the flowering season of the Vanda sanderiana, and with this, the Philippine Orchid Society regularly schedule its Midyear Orchid Show during this time, to celebrate the blooming of this unique orchid. Aside from the POS, Davao also has its Kadayawan festival to celebrate the same.

In celebration of its 71st anniversary The Philippine Orchid Society featured its Midyear show from September 2 to 16, 2017, showing off the lovely orchid blooms of the Queen of all Orchids in its finest.   


Historically, the plant was discovered by a European, Mr. Cari Roebelin, in July 14 1880. He worked as a plant collector for Frederick Sander, who had the largest orchid plant nursery in Europe, during that time. Heinrich G. Reichenbach described this orchid species in 1882, in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, and he gave it the name of Vanda sanderiana in tribute to Mr. Sander.

The normal Waling-Waling has pale pink dorsal sepals and petals with some dark spotting toward the center, the lateral sepals are greenish brown with darker brown tessellations. However, the rare alba form has yellowish green lateral sepals instead of the usual greenish brown. The alba-form plant commands a higher price compared to the usual pinkish maroon Waling Waling.

Philippine Orchid Ribbon cutting: L-R: DENR ASEC Nonita S. Caguioa, Hon. Sen. Cynthia Villar, Ms. Vangie Go (POS President) & Sensei Ryugetsu Nakagawa cut the ribbon cutting.

This show, which is being held in cooperation with the Quezon City government, will be held at the Flower Garden of the Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical road in Quezon City. Together with the sought after waling-waling, the show will feature the best orchid collections of the country’s best orchid growers set in exquisite landscapes. Lectures on orchid and plant culture will be held daily for free and a plant bazaar selling orchids, ornamentals, bonsai, fertilizers, pots, and many more at farm gate prices will be on site.



Free daily lectures begins at 2:00 in the afternoon:

here are some of the featured pictures...

The 70th Philippine Orchid Society’s Annual Orchid and Garden Show

The cool months of December, January and February are the blooming season of the orchids Phalaenopsis, together with cool temperature respondent orchids like the Cattleya, Grammatophyllum, Dendrobium and some Vanda species.   The blooming season of this gorgeous plants marks the opening celebration of the Philippine Orchid Society, or commonly known as “POS” during the first quarter of the year.  The date chosen was February 25 to March 7, 2016 at the iconic Quezon Memorial Circle (at the Flower Garden area), in Diliman, Quezon City.  Aside from orchids, other plant types like cacti, bonsai, bromeliads, ferns, tree seedlings, fruit trees, garden accessories, pots and fertilizers will also be displayed as well.

Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the orchid groups in bloom during this season.

With the theme: “Bridging Bridges Through Orchids”, the event intends to gather plant hobbyists and enthusiasts, under roof.   Its actually a garden exhibit,  trade fair,  and an educational venue with free lectures rolled in one.  The exhibit intends to showcase the beautiful orchids that we have in the country, which were meticulously cultured and flowered by our very own orchid connoisseurs.  Blooming orchids will be displayed in landscaped exhibits and also through flower arrangements.  On the other hand, the society have also included an animal and pets area which will showcase small birds, insects, and small mammals  on exhibit in addition to plants.

The fragrant Philippine species Dendrobium anosmum or "Sanggumay" is also one of 

the species in bloom during this season.

Here are the list of Free Lecture Series for this season;

The show aims to promote the country’s horticultural industry, hoping to make it sustainable and progressive.  The POS is continuing its mandate of promoting not just orchids, but also gardening as a whole and the appreciation of nature. Year after year, it has facilitated the promotion and dissemination of technical information for both orchids and other ornamental plants through these events.  This is due to the fact that aside from providing aesthetic beauty, orchids are also efficient carbon dioxide absorbers and is regarded as one of the gratifying and socially-fulfilling hobbies of most housewives and plant enthusiasts due to the plant’s exotic and diversified flower types.

 

Students and Teachers in Biology and Botany are some of the usual visitors in the garden shows, aside from the orchid enthusiasts, plant-loving housewives and plant collectors.

Daily lectures on orchid and plant culture will be held for free and a plant bazaar selling orchids and ornamentals at farm gate prices will be on site.

Here are sample exhibits from previous events at the orchid show, just a glimpse of what to see and expect at the site.

For more information you may call the POS Secretariat at telephone numbers 929-4425 or 09178485468 or email at philorchidsociety@gmail.com.  Orchids and animal pets are certainly colorful and interesting.  So, why not come and visit and see for yourself? Come and bring along your family, and do not forget your cameras.

An beautiful and majestic orchid display exhibit
 made by Ms. Vangie Go

Come and visit us at the 70th Philippine Orchid Society's Annual Orchid Show.  Also you might want to join as a member of the Philippine Orchid Society.  See you there! Don't forget your cameras and bring friends and family.

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Article by: Norberto R. Bautista

For inquiries, kindly email me at

norby.bautista@gmail.com

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The Exotic and Popular Phalaenopsis amabilis

       The Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid, which is commonly known as the moth orchid, or in Filipino, the ‘Mariposa” orchid is a gorgeous Philippine orchid species very important in producing today’s modern standard Phalaenopsis orchid hybrids.  Its flower shape is like large moths or butterflies flying in the air.

       Taxonomically, the species was first discovered on a small island off the east coast of New Guinea by botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius in 1653 but named it Angraecum album majus. It remained undiscovered until 1825 when Karl Ludwig Blume discovered the same species and gave it the name it is presently known. This species is usually found in the eastern to southeastern regions of Asia, including the Philippines,

       Phalaenopsis amabilis plants have a uniform structure that makes the species easy to  identify by novice botanists. This orchid species, like most Phalaenopsis, has a short stem. The rooting of Phalaenopsis amabilis is usually unbranched except if the roots are damaged or if the individual plant has gotten old in age. The fleshy leaves of P. amabilis vary from oblong to elliptic at the base and obtuse, minutely, at the tip or apex and measures at 50 × 10 cm. The orchid's flowers are showy, membranous, white, the lip or labellum are three-lobed, and the callus have a variety of yellow and red markings. The species usually blooms during the first quarter of the year, as it responds to the cold temperature, and is able to bloom for a long period of time, about 1 to 1-1/2 months long and can grow up to 10 cm in diameter.

           Phalaenopsis amabilis reproduces sexually by producing a seed pod filled with dust-like seeds when flowers are pollinated.  Its flower are usually pollinated by large bees from the genus Xylocopa. For this particular species the pollination frequency is very high, usually 50%, and produces thousands of seeds.

            The plant is easy to grow but needs to be protected from direct sunlight and long periods of rain.  Cultivated plants are usually established in clay pots, plastic pots, in driftwoods, flat deadwoods, tree fern roots or slabs, or coconut husks. Plants can be attached and established in live trees, and coconut palms or the Manila or MacArthur palms.

            Phalaenopsis orchids prefer a semi-shaded or 50% shaded location, and should not be exposed to areas with continous rains, especially during the monsoon months.  Plants needs to be water once every day as they do not have pseudobulbs which can store water.  It is recommended to weekly spray plants with a dilute complete orchid foliar fertilizer for optimum growth.

            Like all Phalaenopsis, its succulent leaves needs to be protected from sucking insects like thrips, mites, aphids, and also from caterpillars which tend to chew on its tender leaves and young inflorescences.  For insect infestation, plants are preferably sprayed with a recommended dose of systemic insecticides like Lannate and Sevin and also a weekly spray of dilute fungicide like Captan and Dithane during the rainy season to prevent rotting.  Spider mites can be controlled by a dilute concoction of soapy water solution or commercially by a miticide like Ascend or Omite.

            Floral stems are is usually cut when withered or when the blooming season has completed.  The plant is propagated by removing the plantlets which have developed from the old floral stems.  Commercially, plants are mass produced through seeds, usually in a laboratory using orchid embryo culture technique.

            The Mariposa orchid is a popular orchid plant among common and specialized orchid enthusiasts, due to its ease of growing and its seasonal show of magnificent white flowers.  This orchid has been used both in landscaping and also in garden shows as a specimen plant.  The species is also used as a breeding stock in the development of modern Phalaenopsis hybrids of today.  The Mariposa orchid is nowadays mass propagated in Taiwan, but also found in the Philippines, in the United States of America and a favorite among European countries.   The plant is used both as a home and office decoration, and often given as exotic gifts for the plant symbolizes the qualities of refinement, friendship, perfection, numerous progeny, all things feminine, noble, and elegant.

            If you would like to see this orchid types, and other orchid hybrids, they will be used as landscaping materials in the upcoming 70^th Annual Orchid and Garden Show of the Philippine Orchid Society from February 25 to March 7, 2016 at the Flower Garden Area, East Avenue Gate, Quezon Memorial Circle, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City.  For further details, you could contact the POS Secretariat Ms. Jenny Rivera at 0917-8485468, Landline 957-3524 or email philorchidsociety@gmail.com

Contact us at: 

The Philippine Orchid Society, Inc.

Unit 209 Delsa Mansion, Brgy. South Triangle

Quezon City, Philippines

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