Production Guide on Orchid

Introduction

The cutflower industry involves the growing and sale of fresh blossoms for
various purposes. Among the cutflowers produced in the country are orchids,
anthurium, gladiolus, roses, chrysanthemum and other indigenous species. The
domestic demand for cutflowers is increasing over the past few years. The export
market for cutlfowers is also expanding with world imports growing by 10%
annually from 1981 to 1987. Based on SGV – Livelihood Corp. study, the volume
of cutflower production reached 126.6 M flowers or roughly 31,500 metric tons in
1989. Of this total, orchids accounted for 99%.

The Orchid Family

The Family Orchidaceae consists of about 20,000 to 35,000 species

distributed in 800 genera which constitutes 10% of all flowering plants.
Approximately more than 1,000 hybrids and cultivated forms are continuously
produced per year.

Many endemic species are found in the Philippines. There are about 130
genera and 941 species. Around 25 genera and 104 species are of commercial
value. Many of the endemic species have contributed significant roles in the
orchid hybridization work in various countries. Among them are Vanda
sanderana or “waling-waling”, v. merrillii, v. lamellate, v. lyzonica, aerides
lawrenceae, a. jarchiana, phalaenopsis amabilis, p. lueddemanniana, p. pulchra,
renanthera storei, r. philippinensis, dendrobium taurinum among many others.

General Species / Hybrids

Dendrobium – the genus Dendrobium contains a very large number of

heterogeneous species. They have an erect, cane-type pseudobulb and have
flowers with relatively long vase life. They are naturally distributed in the warm
and humid areas with an elevation of 0-500 m above sea level.

In the Philippines, the Dendrobium group includes d. taurinum, d.

stratioles, d. superbeins, d. phalaenopsis, d. biggibum and others.

Some Dendrobium hybrids which are promising for cutflower production in

the Philippines classified according to flower color are the following:

1. Purple – D. Jacquelyn Concert, D. Norma Jackson, D. Garnet Beauty

and D. Uniwai Prince
 2. Pink – D. University of Hawaii Crosses, D. Tomie, D. Sonia, D.
Jacquelyn Thomas, D. Cesar, D. Waipaho Beallty.

3. White with Red Hip – D. Bangkok Fancy, D. Youpadeewan, D. Palolo

Beauty

4. White – D. Singapore White, D. Walter Oumae, D. Jacquelyn Thomas,

D. Multico White, D. University of Hawaii #306, D. Madame Vipar, D.
Clomen White.

5. Yellow – D. May Mak, D. Betty Ho “Kamiya”, D. Kasem Gold, D. Jiad

Gold

Vanda – the members of this group are generally sun loving and robust
with a wide range of colorful, beautiful shaped flowers which are of heavy
substances and long lasting.

Vandas are grouped according to leaf types, namely: strap leaf, terete leaf
and semi-terete. The strap leaf vandae have flat, broad and channeled leaves
like Vanda Sanderana (waling-waling). Terete vandas have cylindrical pencil like
leaves like Vanda Miss Joaquin (Singapore Orchid). Semi-terete vandas have
midway between terete and strap leaf vandas. Semi-terete vandas are highly
floriferous.

The following hybrids are found to flower well under local condition.

1. V. Josephine van Brero Crosses

2. V. T. M. A.
3. V. Eman van Deventer Crosses
4. V. Velthius Crosses
5. V. Walter Gumae
6. V. Penang Manila

Phalaenopsis – the graceful bearing of the Phalaenopsis whether our

native species or more advance hybrids is quite pleasing to the eye. The long,
slender flower stalk bears the flowers high and arcs away from the leaves giving
it s fragile and pleasing appearance. Some promising species are P. amabilis, P.
stuartiana, P. schilleriana, P. equestris, P. lueddemaniana, P. sanderana and
others.

Arachnis – Renanthera Type – Arachnis and Renanthera type flowers

range from fiery red, brilliant orange, yellow brown to white. They are monopodial,
terrestrial and the flowers come in long stiff sprays. They are more tolerant to full
sunlight. The common hybrids for cutflowers are Arachnis Maggie Oie and
Aranethera James storei.

Cattleya and its Alies – modern Cattleyas actually consists of a complex

group of hybrids created by combining Cattleya species or hybridization with
closely allied genera such as Laelia, Brassavola, Broughtonia ans a few others.
These orvhids known as the “Cattleya Alliance” are natives in Brazil, Columbia,
Central America and Mexico. The genus Cattleya present a very interesting
group of orchid with broad spectrum of colors, types and more diversified.

Cultural Requirements

Basically, the growth requirements of any plant are temperature, water,

light, aeration and nutrition. These are the environmental factors to which orchids
will have to adapt themselves. A good grower should thus attempt to stimulate
the optimum levels of these factors for each type of hybrid orchids.

Light – sun loving orchids are the Arachnis, Renanthera, Aranda and
terete and semi-terete Vandas. Some Dendrobium hybrids can also tolerate full
sun, but their leaves turn yellowish and sometimes lose some of their leaves.
Semi-terete vandas flower profusely when exposed to full sunlight. However,
they should be protected from intense heat during the hot summer months by
temporarily placing one layer of fist net over the plants.

Partial shade orchids need lower intensity for healthy growth. Most of the
Dendrobiums, Phalaeopsis, Cattleyas and strap leaf Vandas belong to this group.
An inexpensive shade house is needed for mature Dendrobium plants to reduce
light intensity by about 30% or allow 70% light transmission by installing two
layers of fish net, 3-5 m high over the plants. For younger plants which require
50% to 60% sunlight, three layers of net can be used.

Orchid plants receiving enough light have short plump stems with
yellowish-green leathery leaves. Those receiving too much light are yellowish,
stunted and even scorched. Those under too much shade become green, soft
and succulent with thin spindly stem.

Water – the need and frequency of watering should depend on several

factors such as potting media, size of containers, temperature, light intensity, air
movement or kind of plant.

Orchids grown in large containers dry out slower than those in pots. Plants
in baskets, twigs or slabs require more water than those in pots or with coconut
husk. During rainy days, plants should not be watered for days depending on the
remaining moisture in pots. Because of the presence of pseudobulb in CAttleyas
or Dendrobiums, the frequency of watering is much less needed than in Vandasa.
Plants grown under high wind velocity, high temperature, low relative humidity
and high light intensity require more frequent watering. Plants suffering from lack
of water become placid, stem or pseudobulb becomes shriveled. Beginners more
often kill the plants by over watering.

Aeration – orchids must have free circulating air and high humidity around
them. Stagnant air does not allow drying of potting medium and foliage. The
occurrence of diseases is very minimal when there is excellent ventilation.

Temperature – the cool growing orchids like Cymbidium,

Odontoglossums and some Phaphiopedilums prefer night temperature of 10°C to
18.3°C, and 15.5°C to 21°C dry temperature.

The intermediate groups such as Cattleyas, some Dendrobius, some

Oncidium prefer night temperature of 12.8°C to 15°C, and 18.3°C to 21°C dry
temperature.

Moat of the orchid grown in the Philippines are warm growing plants
where night temperature is below 18.3°C and dry temperature ranging from 21°C
to 32°C. these temperature rates are ideal for growing Renanthera, Vandas,
Phaleonopsis, Aerids, Dendrobiums and many others.

Nutrition – the maount and kind of fertilizer required by orchids depend

on the growing conditions, potting media, species and stage of development.

Some growers prefer the practice of frequent application of fertilizers at

low concentrations. Young seedlings are usually given dilute solution of
Nitrogenous fertilizer or with complete fertilizers higher in Nitrogen content
relative to Phosphorous and Potassium (2-1-1).

The Dendroboium seedlings grow faster when fertilized often with weak
solution of 12-8-8 or 30-10-10 of NPK plus trace elements. These are applied
twice a week as foliar spray at the rate of 0.5 tsp/gallon of water. Some growers
apply it at a much lower concentration every other day with frequent washing to
avoid build-up of salts in pots. Application of pig manure tea (10%), or fish
emulsion (1 tsp/gallon) and Vitamin B, have also shown good results. Older
plants are usually supplied with 18-18-18 or 20-30-10 of NPK at the rate of 0.5
tsp/gallon applied twice a week.
 Growth is much faster in Vanda seedlings when fertilized with ¼ tsp/gallon
of 18-18-18 or 30-10-10 NPK, applied three times a week. For flowering plants,
use ½ tsp/gallon of 18-18-18 or 30-10-10 NPK.

Apply fertilizer after watering plants to prevent burning. Other genera

require same rate as in Dendrobium and Vanda.

Potting and Repotting – potting of orchids varies according to genera

and species.

For Dendrobium, potting them in clay pots or mounting them in drift wood
is usually practiced. Clay pots with charcoal are ideal for large scale production.

For Vandas and Ascocendas, small seedlings are potted with little
osmunda fiber and a little charcoal. For older plants, plants are usually mounted
in twigs or drift woods, potted with tree fern or charcoal or by hanging in baskets
or wires.

Use clay pots with charcoal for Cattleyas. Place the bulb close to pot rim
with the lead towards the center of the pot. Repotting is needed when the plants
have over grown the pots or when potting medium has deteriorated.

Mounting on acacia or kakawati wood cuttings, fern slabs is ideally

practiced for Phalaenopsis. Some plants like Arachnis and Renanthera are
planted directly in a well-drained bed or in pots with soil.

Propagation

There are two types of propagating orchids: Asexual (vegetative

propagation) and Sexual (seed and embryo culture).

Vegetative Propagation

1. Division – Cattleya, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, Cymbidium can be

multiplied by division. Separate three to four canes or bulb from the
mother plant by cutting through the rhizome and pot them individually.

2. Formation of Keikies and Offshoots – occasionally, a bud develop into

young plant at the top, side of pseudobulbs or at the nodes of a
flowering stem, this is usually called kiekies. Once the young new roots
develop, remove the plantlet and pot separately.
 3. Top Cutting – Monopodials such as Vandas, Ascocendas, Arachnis,
Renanthera, Trichoglottis, Phalaenopsis and DOritis are best
propagated by top cutting. When the plant becomes leggy, cut off the
top art retaining few roots and pot separately.

4. Tissue Culture – one of the most rapid and massive methods of

multiplying plant vegetatively is through tissue culture. This develops
new plants in an artificial medium under aseptic conditions using shoot
apex, axillary buds or inflorescence buds. Thousands of identical
plants can be produced in a relatively short time.

Sexual Propagation

The sexual propagation is accomplished through seed and embryo

culture in an artificial medium and under aseptic conditions. The orchid
seed is to minute, devoid of stored food for germination hence, artificial
medium is needed. A small amount of seed sown produces hundreds of
tiny protocorms and further develop into numerous seedlings.

Pests and Diseases and the Control

Diseases

Diseases of orchids commonly encountered in the Philippines are caused

by fungi, bacteria and virus.

• Fungal and Bacterial Diseases

1. Black rot or heart rot – caused by the fungus Phytophtora

2. Sclerotium rot – caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.
3. Anthracnose – caused by the fungus Gleosporium sp.
4. Bacterial soft rot – caused by the bacterium Erminia carotovora

Symptoms

Soft, soggy, translucent, circular patches on the leaves are usually the
observed symptoms when the bacterial and fungal diseases are present.

Preventive Measures

1. Provide good air circulation

2. Protect the seedlings and soft growing orchids like Phalaenopsis from rain
3. Regular spraying with fungicides (Dithane, Benlate)
 Curative Measures

1. Increase ventilation
2. Withhold watering and stop spraying organic fertilizer
3. Isolate badly infected plants
4. Apply fungicides
5. Discard infected medium or sterilize

• Viral Diseases

Virus diseases are systemic in nature. These are spread by man through
cutting tools, and by insect vectors. The main viral diseases of orchids are:

1. Cymbidium mosaic virus

2. Cymbidium necrotic ringspot virus (Orchid Type)
3. Tobacco mosaic virus (Orchid Type)
4. Odontoglossum ringspot virus

Symptoms

1. Triangular and yellow patches on the leaves (Chlorotic mosaic)

2. Pitting, back fleaking, streaking or spotting on the leaves
3. Yellow, brown or black ring patches (Ring spot)
4. Color break in flowers
5. Bud drop
6. Brown necrotic streak on flowers

Control Measures

1. Adequate spray program and sanitation around greenhouse/nursery.

2. Disinfestation of all tools that come in contact with infected plants.

Pests

Among the orchid pests commonly encountered are:

• Thrips – prefer to destroy colored floral parts producing white and

brown streaks. The young flower bud stop developing, turn brown and
die. Apply Azodrin and Malathion at the rate of 1 tbsp/gallon water.

• Spider Mites – are prevalent during hot and dry seasons, usually feed
both flowers and leaves by sucking the sap and leaving shiny and
 silvery marks. Application of Omite/Dicarzol for four consecutive weeks
can kill both adults and eggs.

• Orchid Beetles – feed on the young leaves and succulent canes of

Dendrobium. Beetles are rather difficult to control because they are
mobile and have thick shells which are resistant to ordinary chemical
spray.

• Snails and Slugs – generally feed on the root tips and young shoots.
These can be controlled by hand picking and application of bug-geta or
slug-it, one pellet per pot or per square meter.

Other pests are Aphids, Mealy Bugs, Sowbugs, Scale, Ants, Cockroaches
and others.

Flowering

Like most plants, orchid must attain a certain degree of vegetative growth
to produce flowers like in Phalaenopsis, Vanda and Aranda which require a
minimum number of 3, 8 and 14 leaves respectively.

Vegetative growth can be accelerated if provided with optimum growing

conditions such as high temperature, humidity, adequate and continuous light,
frequent application of diluted fertilizers. Some genera require low temperature to
induce flowering such as Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis schilleriana, Dendrobium
nobile and Paphiopedilum.

Dendrobiums begin to flower in about eight months to 1 ½ years from

community pot stage. Mature plants usually produce one to two flower stalks per
plant per year. As the plant grows older, the number of inflorescence may reach
12 to 24 spikes/plant per year. Several Dendrobium hybrids flower all year round
in peak months from October to April. Inflorescences are harvested when two to
three buds at the top remain unopen.

Many semi-terete vandas begin to flower in two and one half to three
years from community pot stage. Mature plants start to produce two to three
stalks per plant per year and usually flower all year round. Floral stalks are
harvested when two or three buds at the top remain unopened.

References

ARDITH, J. 1979. Aspects of the Physiology of Orchids. Adv. Bot. Res. 7:421-
655.
FORMULATION OF A DEVELOPMENT PLANTS FOR THE PROMOTION OF
PHILIPPINE TROPICAL CUTFLOWER EXPORTS. June 1990. SJV &
Livelihood Corp. Industry Profile.

KNUDSON, L. 1946. A New Nutrient Solution for Germination of Orchid Seeds.

Amer. Orchid. Soc. Bull. 15:214-217.

QUISUMBING, E. 1967. Phenology of Philippine Orchid Araneta J. Agr. 14

(22222):100-133.

QUISUMBING, E. 1990. Naming of Orchids. Araneta J. Agri. 17(3):168-224.

SANDER, D. F., WREFORD, W.J. 1961. David Sander’s One-table List of Orchid
Hybrids. Vol. 11 Sussex England: David Sander’s Orchid Ltd. Pp. 579-591.

THE PHILIPPINE RECOMMENDS FOR ORCHID. 1994. PCARRD Phil.

Recommends Series No. 31-A, Los Baños, Laguna.

VALMAYOR, H. L. 1984. Orchidiana Philippiniana. Manila, Eugenio Lopez

Foundation. 2 Vols.

VALMAYOR, H. L. 1989. Growing Dendrobiums for Cutflower Production. Vol. XI,

No. 4. PCARRD Publication.

VALMAYOR, H. L. 1991. Growing Semi-terete Vandas. Technology Vol. XIII, No.

2. PCARRD Publication.

WITHNER, C. L. 1974. The Orchids: Scientific Studies. New York: John Wiley &
Sons. 604 p.
 COSTS AND RETURNS OF GROWING DENDROBIUM
FOR CUTFLOWER PRODUCTION ON A 100 SQ. M. LOT

ITEM YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4

I. Expenses *
A. Fixed Expenses

Bed (1x5m) @ 1,200 x 14 16800

Sprayer @ 1,600 x 1 16000
Hose @ 18 x 20 m 360
Pruning shear @ 400 x 1 400
Net 1 roll @ 2,400 2400
Structure including labor 10000

Sub-Total 31560

B. Variable Costs

Planting materials **
@ 10 x 1,260 12600
Pots #2 @ 3.50 x 1260 4410
Pots # 6 @ 5.50 x 1260 6930
Charcoal 18 sacks @ 100 300 500 1000
Coconut husk 20 sacks @ 50 200 300 500
Fertilizers 18-18-18; 30-10-10 400 400 500 600
Fungicides 500 500 500 500
Insecticides 500 500 500 500
Miticide 500 500 500 500
Water/Electricity 150/mo. 1800 1800 1800 1800
Labor (1) 2 hrs/day 20/hr 14600 14600 14600 14600

Sub-Total 35810 26030 18400 20000

Total 67370

C. Interest on Capital 18% / a 12136.6 4685.4 3312 3600

Total 79496.6 30715.4 21712 23600

Grand Total Expenses P 155,524.00

II. Income: Sale of Flowers

No. of stalks/plant/year - 4 12 10
No. of stalks - 4800 14400 12000
No. of saleable flowers (90%) - 4320 12960 10800
P8/stalk (2nd year) 34560 129600 108000

P10/stalk (3rd & 4th year) P 272,160.00

III. Net Income (79496.6) 3844.6 107888 84400

Total Net Income P 116,636.00

ROI 43%

-------------
* - excluding cost of land and fence
** - 16 plants/m2, 5% mortality
75% area for plant, 25% area for pathways