75 Trendy Plants for 2021 in the Philippines (Part 2)

Plantdemic and the plant craze among plantiquarians, plantitos, plantitas, halamoms, batang halaman will extend from 2021 and early part of 2022.

Some plant farm owners and industry experts believes that there will be some price adjustments for some of the well loved plants that people fancy for most part of 2020.

75 Trendy Plants for 2021

Cymbidium Hybrids

69.) Orchids – Dendrobium hybrids, Vanda hybrids, Cattleya hybrids and allies,Oncidium ( dancing ladies or dancing dolls) hybrids, Cymbidium hybrids, Phalenopsis hybrids, Catasetum hybrids, Vanilla orchid, and native orchid species will still be popular among backyard hobbyists, amateur collector and hospitality industry will need a lot of these flowering plants.

Flowering orchids like Dendrobium hybids, Phalenopsis hybrids, Mokara, Cymbidium hybrids are in much demand as their bloom can last between two weeks to at least a month (with proper care and maintenance).

Vanilla orchid at Sidcor Centris Sunday Market in Quezon City

Growing orchids is still popular hobby and there are several FB group with tens of thousand of member, forum sites and other social media sites which caters to the proliferation of this hobby and how to grow these plants. There are a lot of misconception, myths and fantasy on orchids that there are people who still regard growing them as therapeutic, business, lucky, challenge or just for aesthetic purposes.

Aerides quinquivulnera species

Native orchids are also popular. However, there are some issues that one must always take into consideration. Getting your native orchids in the wild poses threat to the survival of many of these plants. Be sure that the orchids are from reputable orchid dealer, farm or had been cultivated for a long time by the grower.

Old cultivar varieties like Dendrobium Jacquelyn Thomas which was developed way back in the 1970’s, Dendrobium University of Hawaii, Dendrobium Caesar, Dendrobium bigibbum hybrids are slowly making a come back in the local market. These old hybrid cultivar varieties are quite hardy in the long rainy climate and their flowers are long lasting.

Vanda merrillii ( photo courtesy of Mr. Lebon Ong and Mr. Ramon Calado)

Some native orchids will not survive the hot climatic conditions of the lowlands, While there are some endangered orchids still traded online. Try to read books, magazines, literature and online sites which can give accurate information.

Native orchids and fern allies

For long time collectors and hobbyists would refer any jungle collected plants or orchids as Gubatum/ Gubatum Harbatum/ Hablotii.

There is also a surge in people interested in native orchid species, Aerides quinquivulnera, Dendrobium anosmum, Dendrobium aphyllum, Vanda sanderiana, Vanda lamellata, jewel orchid, terrestrial orchid.

Proof to the pudding is that some well known and established orchid farms located in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna,Davao,Cebu, Quezon and Cagayan de Oro are expanding.

What to look for ? miniature orchids, jewel orchids, ground orchids, old cultivar, crosses, varieties and new orchid hybrids are in trend.

Do not forget to visit this blog for more plants in the list ! Happy New Year 2021.

Sources, Reference, Bibliographies:

Hansen Eric, Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy Paperback – Illustrated, February 27, 2001

Personal Interview among plant center owners, Orchid and Plant Lovers of the Philippines FB, Mindanao Avenue Garden Center, Fairview Neopolitan Garden Center, Cartimar Garden Center, White Plains, Bulacan Garden, Arid and Aroid’s Farm, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Tabang -Guiguinto Plant growers, GreenScapes Garden Center– Novaliches, Farmer’s Garden Center -Cubao, Sidcor -Eaton Centris Sunday Market, Rona’s Garden.

For additional information of the 75 Trendy Plants in the Philippines for 2021 (part 1) please click the hyperlink.

Blooms of Vanda Lamellata in our Backyard

Vanda lamellata is one of the most common native vandas and orchid in the country. It used to be commonly cultivated in many homes in northern parts of Metro Manila and in the provinces about 10 or 20 years ago.

Vanda lamellata, Dendrobium crumenatum ( dove / pigeon orchid), Cymbidium finlaysonianum, Aerides quinquevulnera , Phalaenopsis X Intermedia , Dendrobium anosmum and Dendrobium aphyllum (sanggumay, salome, lesser sanggumay, fairy sanggumay, dainty sanggumay , latigo) are just some of the native orchids which are regularly collected by native Aetas in the foothills of Sierra Madre range.

Some are found growing semi-naturalized in coconut plantations, acacia and fruit trees like macopa, mango trees, lansones, jack fruit among others.

While Vanda lamellata also found growing on limestone cliff, mangroves and lowland trees.

Vanda Lamellata

Vanda lamellata orchid is sometimes called mango orchid, since it is often seen growing in old mango trees, tamarid and even in large acacia trees.

Despite having small flowers, a grower is compensated for having a wonderful citrus smell. This is commonly peddled by ambulant vendors in many parts of Metro Manila and in surrounding provinces by inserting large Vanda or Mokara flowers.

They would trick some unsuspecting buyer believing that the Vanda is of hybrid origin and thus commanding higher prices.

Vanda lamellata attached to a Christmas palm by the author

This orchid species is found over a wide range of habitat from southern Ryukyus islands, Taiwan, Orchid island , Batanes, Marianas, Philippines and even in Borneo. The orchid thrives in high lighted areas or in full sun near the sea on cliffs or coastal beach forests on branches and tree trunks occuring at elevations of sea level to 300 meters.

There are different types or flower forms of these wonderful Vanda species. Among the highly collected ones are Vanda lamellata variety debutante, Vanda lamellata var. boxallii ( which is also found in Taiwan and Ryukus islands of Japan) Vanda lamellata var. calayana Valmayor & D.Tiu 1983, found in Babuyan and Calayan group of islands. Vanda lamellata var remediosae Ames & Quis. 1933 originally found in Southern parts of the country like Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan. Vanda lamellata variety flava is yellowish type, This type is highly coveted among orchid collectors since it is rare in cultivation.

There are different range of color forms and markings of Vanda lamellata.

Sources, References and Bibliographies:

The Complete Writings on Philippine Orchids Quisumbing

Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984

The Orchids of the Philippines Cootes

Philippine Orchids by Reg S. Davis and Mona Liza Steiner, Vanda lamellata pages 225 to 227

Orchidarium and Philippine Orchid Society’s New Office

Orchidarium Park, Sunken Lagoon Area, Quezon Cityhall- Quezon City-Philippines

Quezon Cityhall overlooking the sunken garden

It was in the late 1970’s when Quezon City government had developed  the 2.5 hectares man-made lagoon for boating and fishing.garden .

 bridge

Among the attractions were the Our Lady of Peace grotto, a tea house, a rock garden and sister cities markers from several countries.

entrance

 New Westminster City -British Columbia, Canada totem pole ( sister city)

People would refer this place as Orchidarium Park in reference to the orchid species and hybrids that are planted there.

nipa hut as part of the garden fixtures

Philippine Orchid Society members during last November 21 general meeting and election

There used to be an active local garden club which is called Quezon City Orchid Society founded in the early 1980’s which conducts orchid shows and lectures near the compound.

gazebo area

 The Philippine Orchid Society started to have some garden shows at this place around the early part of 2000 until later part of 2009. There are also other plant societies like Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines ( CSSP ) , Philippine Bonsai Society which also held their previous plant shows and bazaar at the site.

plaque

The area is still undergoing some improvements and re-landscaping process .

orchid species like Dendrobium anosmum, Dendrobium aphyllum , Dendrobium busigerium were mounted on frangipani (aka kalachuchi)

It was early 2014 when partnership between Philippine Orchid Society and Quezon Cityhall government to develop, beautify and maintain the area . In fact , members started to donate native orchids and hybrids to beautify the park.

( Grammatophyllum wallisii and Dendrobium anosmum)  are still being introduced on large trees

There was a ceremonial soft-opening on December 22,2014 were members of the society were invited and Mayor Herbert Bautista. There are plans  to put a small laboratory and a green house for the propagation of rare and endangered orchid species for eventual release to the general public.

January 10, 2015 -inaugural ground laying ceremonies

A 50-square meter office with small library ( magazines and books about orchids and plants )  in which people can do research and visit the place. ( The place is not yet open to the general public) .

Vanda Miss Joaquim- Popularly called Singapore Orchid

Vanda Agnes Miss Joaquim is the national orchid of Singapore. This orchid was first found at the garden of an Armenian living in Singapore named Ashkhen Hovakimian.   It was recognized as a hybrid not only by orchid expert Henry Ridley in 1893 and again in 1896, but by other contemporary orchid growers as well as orchid journals including the Orchid Review. Sander’s Complete List of Orchid Hybrids, which distinguished between natural and artificial hybrids, listed Vanda ‘Miss Joaquim’ as an artificial hybrid.

According to old time backyard hobbyists in the Philippines, This used to be the most ” Loved” and most commonly grown imported orchid hybrids in the 1950’s until early- 1970’s since it can be grown with minimal care and can be grown in almost full sun. I remember that some of our neighbors grew this orchid hybrid around their garden and around the perimeter walls.  Gradually, backyard hobbyists slowly began losing their interest when the more showy semi-terete Vandas hybrids began flooding the market in the late 1970’s but somehow some prized collectors was left.

 Vanda lamellata blooming

A saleslady ( Malvarosa Orchids) told me that it was one of their most saleable orchid in the 1980’s up to the early 90’s. Unfortunately , They also ran out of stock .

Fortunately , There are a few backyard growers and dedicated orchid hobbyists from provinces that still grow this orchid . Hence a few were re-introduced again to the market.

Vanda lamellata ( one of the free flowering native species )

There were at least 50 Philippine orchid species that were introduced at the park. Some of them are the world reknown  Vanda sanderiana ( Waling-waling ), Dendrobium anosmum ( sanggumay ) , Dendrobium aphyllum ( fairy , lesser or dainty sanggumay ) Dendrobium dearei among others….

Dendrobium dearei and Dendrobium busigerum ( secundum)

A lot of them were planted on living trees, shrubs and palms . Some were mounted on kakawate driftwoods.

Trichoglottis philippinensis

The aim of having a living orchid , native plant collection is to properly educated and showcase to the public and gardeners on how important these species and their vital role in biodiversity conservation.

cacti and succulents

Aside from the dozens of orchid hybrids, ferns, hoyas, cacti, succulents, bromeliads and native trees.

library

Last December 5,2015 Philippine Orchid Society member Mr. Jimmy Yu donated several boxes of magazines and books to be included in the library .

 officers holding the magazines and books donated by Mr. Jimmy Yu last December 5, 2015-( They were officially turn-over to the secretariat ) 

However , a special permit may be requested at the QC parks development administration for the use of the space ( I think there are minimal cost for space rentals)

For those who wanted to donate cash , plants or any form of donation  for the project , you may contact the POS Secretariat at Unit 201 Delsa Mansion ,Scout Borromeo corner Scout Torillo street , Barangay South Triangle ,Quezon City

Contact Persons: Ms. Jenny F. Rivera ( Secretary ) or Mr. Jiffy Alegre

Office : Monday to Saturday -8:00am to 5:00pm

Contact Details:

Landline : 957-3524 , 09178485468