Orchid conservation for the hobbyist

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Orchid Society (POS) has always been a big promoter of orchid conservation. Through the years, it has developed and involved itself in conservation programs, lectures, forums, writings and other related activities to create awareness on the importance of Philippine orchid species in maintaining the ecological balance of our forests and for preserving these species for future generations to see, appreciate and utilize.

Unfortunately, the thrust of the POS’s conservation program has mainly focused on recommending changes in the restrictive policies — of concerned government agencies — that actually defeat the purpose of conservation. Some of these recommendations include: 1) Donate confiscated orchids to botanical institutions instead of burning them, 2) involve and deputize local communities and concerned NGOs in the policing of forests and other orchid habitats to ensure their preservation in their natural habitats, 3) partner with concerned NGOs like the POS in training forest rangers and involve local communities in identifying, protecting and propagating these orchid species, 4) authorize and allow local botanical institutions and orchid specialist organizations to collect sample species for scientific research and propagation purposes, 5) coordinate with local botanical institutions and concerned NGOs to survey and rescue orchids from fragile habitats or habitats to be destroyed for development purposes, and to 6) allow government-accredited growers to market laboratory-propagated species in order to help develop the local orchid industry and likewise to financially sustain orchid conservation programs.

Collecting orchid hybrids is a better option for orchid collectors because they are easier to grow and flower and are now available in different colors, forms and patterns.

Although these are very important concerns that we pray will eventually be heard and applied by government, these, however, tend to overwhelm the ordinary orchid hobbyist.

Nevertheless, orchid hobbyists should be concerned about this issue because they are the ones who are indirectly contributing to the exploitation and extinction of these precious orchid products.

For starters, we should not patronize traders who sell newly gathered orchid species and other forest products. Most of our critically endangered and extinct orchid species have reached such status because of overgathering. The only thing that matters to these orchid poachers is to make money and, the more they collect, the more money they make.

Most newly gathered wild orchids are not handled properly. The mishandling of these plants causes a lot of stress and tissue damage to the orchids so that many will succumb to disease and die even before they could be revived.

Purchase your orchids species instead from reputable orchid nurseries and growers who have been known to be propagating their species stock.

Secondly, if you cannot resist the temptation to buy from a forest gatherer, please be selective with your purchases. There are so many orchid species that are so pretty to look at but are also very easy to kill — especially if you do not know their cultural requirements.

This orchid hybrid derived from the endangered Vanda sanderiana or waling-waling is a no doubt a better improvement over the species and can flower three to four times a year with blooms lasting for a longer time.

The many weekend markets that have sprouted all over Manila have brought in many orchid traders from the highlands of Baguio, Ifugao, Banaue, Nueva Vizcaya and many provinces from the Sierra Madre mountain range. It is not unusual to see them bring to the metro jeepney loads of blooming orchids such as Vanda roeblingiana, Vanda javierei, Amesiella monticola, Dendorbium amethystoglossum, Dendrobium sanderae, Dendrobium victoria reginae, Dendrobium heterocarpum (syn. aureum) and Palaenopsis pulchra. The plants mentioned are all cool growing plants and will oftentimes have difficulty adapting to low-land temperatures and eventually die.

Many of the orchid species gathered from the wild die due to the wrong growing conditions provided them by the hobbyist.

It is important for a hobbyist to first educate himself on the cultural requirements of a species before he decides to purchase it. If one cannot provide the cultural requirements of a species, one should just stay away from it.

The Philippine Orchid Society regularly holds lectures during its meetings and shows to educate its members on the growing requirements of our Philippine species.

Thirdly, when one has successfully grown an orchid species, he/she has to propagate it to ensure its proliferation. There are many ways to propagate an orchid. One may do a selfing or a sibling cross of a species and let the seeds grow in a laboratory. Another is to have the plant tissue cultured so that you may produce identical clones of your plants or simply do asexual propagation by producing cuttings or divisions of your plant. You do not only increase the number of your plants through these methods, but you also preserve the genetic strain of your species.

Fourth, one should learn to share or trade his propagated plants with other hobbyists, growers or botanical gardens. Trading or sharing your propagated orchid species with others will ensure a greater chance of existence and survival of your species. If by any chance your plant dies on you, you can be assured that a friend of yours or a botanical institution that you have shared your plant with would still have a propagated division of your original plant. This would also make it easier for you to acquire another plant of that species if they have also propagated it.

Likewise, it is very important that we document and record all details of every orchid species that we collect. This is especially most important for species, which seem new or you may not be able to identify. The Philippines is a country with many unique orchid species endemic to it. With the continuous destruction of many of our orchid habitats, many of our orchid species are vanishing even before they are identified.

Finally, instead of buying orchid species, why not collect orchid hybrids instead? Unlike the endangered and fragile species, new orchid hybrids available on the market today are more adaptable and easier to grow.

 A lot has been said about orchid conservation but little has been done to solve this problem. Our forest and orchid resources continue to be exploited, not only by illegal poachers but also by hobbyists. If we have a genuine concern for the conservation and preservation of our orchid species, I believe it should first start with us.

To learn more about orchid conservation and the new orchid hybrids available on the market today, visit the 65th Annual Orchid and Garden Show of the POS, which runs until March 27 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in QC.

The show, which is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., will have orchid displays, garden landscape exhibits, a plant and orchid bazaar and free daily lectures which will be held at 2 p.m. For details, call the POS at 929-4425, 906-5036 or SMS 0917-8485468.