Orchids, succulents & other highlights at Flora Filipina

It was a few months ago when Baby Spowart asked me to speak about cacti and succulents at the Flora Filipina 2009, the Philippine Orchid Society’s international horticultural and garden show. I agreed, though I was absolutely sure I wouldn’t be able to cover even an nth of that topic in the allotted time of 30 minutes. As the actual event approached, I found myself wracking my brains to figure out what would be a relevant sub-topic to discuss that would interest the international audience expected for this major horticultural show. At last, I decided on the topic “Growing Cacti and Succulents in the Tropics.” I thought this would be relevant since most of the literature on this subject is written in the West under temperate climate conditions. 

As has been my (sad) experience, simply following the cultural regimen from these really nice Western publications has often resulted in the demise of my wards. Growing cacti and succulents in our humid tropical conditions requires a different recipe for success. Anyway, I will share my presentation in the next couple of columns. For now, let me relate my general experience at the Flora Filipina 2009.

February 6 was my presentation day at the Bureau of Soils along the Elliptical Circle. It was surprisingly a drab day with overcast conditions and rain practically the whole day. Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect. As it turned out, the lecture series was quite well attended with most of the seats occupied in the expansive auditorium. The audience was composed of local and international personalities interested not just in orchids but all other types of flora, including bromeliads, various ornamentals, and cacti and succulents. I was really glad to be a part of this important event.

After my talk, I proceeded to the Orchidarium Park in Quezon City Hall to check out the commercial booths. I had been wanting to purchase a few (non-succulent) plants for my home at Tagaytay Highlands. I was most interested in purchasing some lycopodiums and other tassel ferns and other ornamentals that I was planning to hang in my indoor garden. In the end, I obtained a few nice specimens of these, and also ended up buying some tillandsias or air plants (a bromeliad group that is gaining popularity worldwide) from my friend and fellow Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines’ (CSSP) member Sally Obien. I also purchased a very nice bonsai of the succulent Euphorbia rossii from another of my CSSP buddies, Cesar Cheng. I am just amazed at how Cesar is able to culture these succulents into extraordinary bonsai specimens. 

There were many other very interesting commercial booths, including the cacti and succulent booth of those famous Benguet growers. Another booth that caught my eye was the one selling all sorts of carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and the infamous Venus flytrap. I was tempted to make a purchase here, but resisted pending further study on growing these highly interesting flora. One of these days, I’ll probably take the plunge on a small scale.

I visited the show again a few days later. This time, it was nice and sunny and a good day to visit the actual exhibits. I must say the individual exhibits are very showy and impressive indeed. There are exhibits that showcased all sorts of plants, not just orchids. The flowering orchid species and hybrids on display are especially quite memorable…such beauty, texture and variation…truly the most beautiful flowers God created (though I will take a flowering Ariocarpus or Copiapoa to an exotic orchid flower any day, but that’s just me). There was a nice exhibit of bonsai specimens. The Ikebana Society also had a room with some artfully designed and executed pieces. And, of course, there are very nice exhibits of cacti and succulents, one by Cora and Anna Purificacion, the other by the CSSP and executed by our architect and interior designer in-residence, Bimbo Vergara. Serapion Metilla, CSSP co-founder, also had some nice succulents to complement his exhibits. 

In terms of actual succulent specimens, I was most impressed by Dorie Bernabe’s huge and beautiful Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum cv. Kikko, a very special cultivar painstakingly grown by the Japanese succulent masters. The scalloped ridges on each of this plant’s ribs are deep and bold (the normal growing form does not have any of these ridges on its ribs). In its size, form, and condition, this plant was, for me, the best of class.

There are other very memorable plants at the exhibition, from orchids to flowering ornamentals to magnificent sanseverias and bromeliads. The show is still ongoing until Feb. 16. If you have the time this weekend, visit Flora Filipina 2009 at the Orchidarium Park in Quezon City Hall. You won’t be disappointed. I must thank Baby Spowart again for inviting me to this most prestigious event.

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E-mail the author at succulentophile@yahoo.com.