Philippine Gardens
(A special section on flowers and ornamental plants)
Waling-waling is botanically known as
Euanthe sanderiana or horticulturally as Vanda sanderana. The Mindanao native is seldom seen because of its rarity and confinement in Mindanao Island; and is presumed extinct in the wild by the academics whom have not done their field studies. The plant is reportedly originated from Davao, Lanao, Cotobato and Zamboanga areas but lately collectors are coming up with different biotypes from different areas outside of the traditionally reported place of origin.
Orchidologist Mark Angelo Pagdato reported with evidence that Walingwaling still exists in the wild. The Waling-waling plant is an heirloom plant for home gardeners where they are native. Plants that were wild-collected when there were still forests are grown attached to trees infront of the houses of the collectors or their kins and are handed down from generation to generation as sort of a family pride or heirloom.
Practically all waling-walings sold in commerce are laboratory propagated and are generally better looking than wild types.
Commercial nurseries grow Waling-walings in baskets. It is one of the few orchids that prefers to have its roots exposed and aerated. Home growers generally grow them attached to live trees or to dead wood stumps. Jaime Chua, a successful grower of Walingwaling in Cebu grows his plants on the natural host plant, the Anonang (Cordia sp.). He claims the plant establishes itself very fast on the tree as evidenced by new root formation and overall health of the plants compared to basket grown plants and plants on host trees flower better.
Waling-waling can grow healthy even without direct sunlight if the spot where it grows is bright enough. Commercially grown walingwaling seedlings generally flower on the 4th year from baby plants, provided they get all the necessary nutrients. Boron deficient Walingwaling takes a very long time to flower (8 to 12 years). High nitrogen- fed Calcium deficient Waling-walings have been highly correlated with bacterial and fungal infections. Recent developments in horticulture employed the use of Silicic acid to prevent fungal infections, bacterial infections and insect bites.
A healthy plant may be determined by looking at the root system. A healthy Waling-waling has white colored roots with green tips. The white part of the roots called the “velamen” and is responsible for the moisture absorption during high humidity conditions. When the velamen gets infested with algae, the absorbed moisture goes directly to the resident algae instead of the plant. This results in plants that dry up easily. When there is not enough moisture to use, the plant shed its lower leaves resulting in leggy plants. Applying fertilizers to algae-infested roots aggravates the condition. The algae will benefit from the fertilizer applications. The use of Chlorine dioxide at very low concentrations (5 to 10ppm weekly spray) made it possible to produce white healthy roots in Netherlands and Taiwan.
Waling-waling that are sprayed regularly with aNAA (an auxin) will have massive branching root system and consecutively shrinking foliage. The foliage grows smaller and smaller and there is anthocyanin pigmentation (leaves acquiring a purplish hue) and plant will refuse to flower. Rooting hormones are not recommended in Vanda Culture and are better kept away. Adding the hormone to the fertilizer feed will result in sicklooking unmarketable plants.
Waling-waling plants after first bloom normally can produce young plantlets at the base. Some commercial nurseries use bud activator or keiki paste to increase the number of plantlets. The formed plants normally are left with the mother plant for 2 years so that it can grow fast and produce blooms early. The keikis being genetically the same as the mother plant will synchronize its flowering giving a grand display.
Waling-walings are generally pest-free. Treat the problems as soon as they appear. There is no such thing as prophylactic spray that will solve a problem that does not exist yet. This results in poisoning of the environment and is risky to health.
Waling-waling flowers August. This is why the Davao Orchid Society and the Philippine Orchid Society Shows are timed during this month.
For more information on Orchid Production, the Philippine Horticultural Society, Inc. (PHSI) together with the Quezon City Government regularly holds free seminars and trainings as a way of giving back to the gardening society. Next free lectures will be on October 7 (Saturday). Modern Commercial Orchid Production will be the main topic and will include new insights on Nutrition, Disease Management, Propagation and Production Environments. For interested parties, call PHSI @ 09275600140 for reservation and venue.