Bangkok Royal Orchid Paradise 2009

3rd. Bangkok Royal Orchid Paradise 2009
during May 5-10, 2009
at Siam Paragon, Bangkok
displayed the amazing Beauty, grace and additinally
the tremendous diversity of orchids for all people, locals and foreigners
to behold and enjoy. Besides the exhibitions and competition of orchids,
the Horticultural Science Society of Thailand, the main organizer of this event.

Prof. Rapee Sagarik (1922-Present), who has extreme expertise on taxonomy, culture and breeding of orchids. He has written many books on orchid cultivation and in 1957 founded the Orchid Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King. Orchid cultivation progressed rapidly into what it is today. Additionally, Prof. Rapee became an ardent public relations person who continually promoted the beauty, value and diversity of Thai orchids to the international botanical community.

Soon Thai orchids became popular and cultivation increased tremendously. It became an industry where propagation was through tissue culture and continual breeding created many new cultivars. Export of orchid plants and cut flowers today total more than 3,000 million annually.

The following are popular genera and species of Thai orchid hybrids fancied by amateurs and commercial growers, as well as for competition.

1. Vanda : The most familiar orchids at competitions or in the markets are the ones with bushy inflorescence with large showy flowers of 8-13 cm in size. They are hybrids form wild species such as Vanda sanderiana, Vanda coerulea, Vanda dearei, Vanda tricolor and many others, producting hybrids with blue, mauve, pink, red, brown and yellow flowers. Hybrids not only vary in color from their parents but also in size. Fragrance also emerges such as the corss between Vanda tessellata and V.denisoniana and is in much demand.

2. Ascocenda : Flowers are small to medium in size but some hybrids have flowers as large as the Vanda hybrids . These are intergeneric hybrids such as between Vanda x Ascocentrum. The resultant Ascocenda is easier to raise and produce profuse flowers, how much is dependent upon their parents.

Mokara and Aranda : These two genera are new, created by the following crossings : Arachnis x Vanda x Ascocentrum = Mokara, and Arachnis x Vanda Aranda. They are excellent for producing cut flowers.

4. Rhynchostylis and intergeneric hybrids : These are straight forward Rhynchostylis which flowers only during November to January and popularly traded domestically. There are also new hybrid genera derived from Rhynchostylis such as Vandachostylis (Vanda x Rhynchostylis), Vandacostylis (Vanda x Ascocentrum x Rhynchostylis), Rhynchocentrum (Rhynchostylis x Ascocentrum), Rhynchorides (Rhynchostylis x Aerides) and many other new genera.

5. Cattleya and relatives : This genus has become popular since 1916 when the first book on raising Cattleya written by HRH Nakhonsawan Worapinit was published. This genus produces both flowers for cutting as well as flowers for display on the plant. The beautiful flowers can be large, medium, small or even in clusters of multiple flowers.

6. Paphiopedilum : These are native orchids that have been selected phenotypically. Some ar interspecific hybrids. Then again there are very attractive hybrids imported for competition.

7. Onchidium and relatives : This group of orchids has delicate leaves and thus is suitable for producing cut flowers, mainly for export. The domestic market is concentrated at Pak Klong Talat, a large wholesale flower market. The flowers are yellow, thus are of Buddhist significance. They are small flowers, mainly is the dwarf type; the other type is smaller and has thick leaves which awaits further development.

8. Cymbidium : Sander's list indicates that there are 12,188 hybrids originating form Cymbidium insigne, a native orchid found at Doi Phu Luang of Loei Province. These hybrids are raised for cut flowers outside Thailand.

9. Phalaenopsis : This genus of orchids is still high priced especially if the plant is flowering. a large flowering plant set in a ceramic pot will cost anywhere from Baht 500-1,500. Hence, it is purchased as a gift on special occasions. It grows well at a lower temperature.

10. Dendrobium : This is a genus that has brought fame and money to Thailand. Annual export of flowers in this genus is in the billions of baht. Hybrids traded domestically produce diverse colors and at a low price. They are popular flowering orchids and can be seen growing in many homes.

credit : Amazing Thai Orchids, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand