Agriculture.ph Blog

Growing orchids for fun

THE Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list 880 genera and nearly 22,000 accepted species of orchids, but the exact number is unknown (perhaps as many as 25,000) because of taxonomic disputes.

The number of orchid species equals about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. Every year, about 800 new orchid species are added each year.

Filipinos have always been fascinated by orchids. Phalaenopsis (butterfly orchids), Dendrobiums (relative of “sanggumay”), and Vandas (relative of “waling-waling”) both native and hybrids, adorn many homes and gardens.

Some orchids are difficult to grow and quite exacting in their cultural requirements. Thus, growers are on the lookout for easy-to-grow types. The Semiterete Vandas readily fit in this category.

“Aside from having a ‘no fuss’ character, they are popular and flower profusely all year round,” said an investment primer published by the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (Pcarrd). “Their flowers, which come in different shapes and colors such as red, pink, blue, green, yellow, and white, are in great demand locally.”

Orchids are in great demand during the special months of February (month of hearts), March (graduation month), May (fiesta and Santracruzan month), June (wedding month), November (month for remembering the dead), and December (holiday season and gift-giving month).

“During these special months, increased demand and price go hand-in-hand thus, ensuring good income for growers,” Pcarrd states.

Unlike other cutflowers that require expensive structure for their production to protect them from the sun and rain, semiterete vandas are happy under the sun and flower best in full sunlight.

These are more resistant to diseases compared with other vandas and can withstand open culture without protection from the heavy monsoon rains in June to October.

Cutflower production does not require a big area to be profitable. A 100-square meter lot is enough to generate good income. An unused piece of land around the house can also be used for this purpose. Aside from beautifying the home, cutflower production can also be a good source of income.

Based on 2006 data, the initial capital investment for producing semiterete vandas on a 100-square meter lot is P220,980 (including the land valued at P100,000). The average annual net income is P53,851. Payback period is after four years. The return on investment is 24.36 percent.

For those who want to grow orchids, any type of orchids, here are some basic tips from orchid enthusiast Jose Mari M. Lacandula:

Where to buy: Purchase your orchids from reputable nursery to ensure that you get a properly labeled plant and can return for advice. There are also websites that sell hard-to-find plants.

How to spot a good one: Go by the leaves. “Select plants with glossy green and intact leaves,” Lacandula says. A robust root system and small intervals of past flowering are also good signs.

What it needs: The same amount of light it would receive in the wild; usually filtered sunlight. When unsure, don’t water that day. And remember the old saying, “weakly, weekly” when fertilizing.

Common problems: Scales can form on the underside of the leaves, and heavily infested plants should be discarded. Failure to flower is typically due to poor growing conditions, especially inadequate light and fertilizer.

Written by Henrylito D. Tacio

Source: Sun Star

Perez: Mango trees and lakatan bananas

THE 6,000-hectare Cojuangco Farm in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental is not just an ordinary farm. Half of it is planted with thousands of mango trees intercropped with bananas of the lakatan variety.

I really went bananas after seeing that farm. The visit to the place was part of the one-day “Lakbay-Aral” or educational field trip to Pontevedra last February 23 with my group composed of the secretariat of Central Visayas Consortium for Integrated Regional Research and Development (CVCIRRD) based in Negros Oriental State University (Norsu).

There were just so many mango trees that I could not keep count of the exact number. Some of the mango trees are intercropped with mahogany or durian. The lakatan banana plantation covers a separate 200 hectares.

Fruit trees abound everywhere. I have never seen so many fruit trees in one farm. One thing I learned, the mango trees were applied turbo-technology for fast growth and bountiful fruits.

Aside from mango, the fruit trees in the farm are durian (Thai variety), sweet tamarind, Bangkok santol, macupa, tambis, and batwan. Also present are Thai variety sweet coconut, pili nut, and papaya.

Mahogany and eucalyptus are prominent. Our tour guide said the trees serve as windbreakers. Of course, mahogany gives quality hardwood and eucalyptus provides a rich medicinal source. A number of the eucalyptus trees line up the roadsides up to the farm villa of the Cojuangcos.

A one-and-a-half-hectare orchidarium is an attraction. The orchidarium contains varieties of orchids collected from various parts of the country and other countries. It boasts of its big cattleyas. New breeds of orchids are propagated here. Our tour guide told us Ms Gretchen Cojuangco plans to turn the orchidarium into an orchid park in the near future. Outside the orchidarium, a variety of ornamental plants are available for sale.

The CV-CIRRD visitors represented the consortium’s committees with the following acronyms: RACO, RMIS and Techno Gabay. Together with the secretariat were the managers of the Farmers Information and Training Service (FITS) centers from the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in Ubay, Bohol, FITS manager in Argao, Cebu, and FITS manager in Bais City.

The represented member-agencies were PICC, Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST), Department of Agriculture in Bais City, and Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) in Dumaguete City.

The CV-CIRRD Mango Project is under the Technology Outreach and Promotion Division (TOPD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Science and Technology in Los Baños, Laguna. Norsu is the base agency of CV-CIRRD.

Written By Joy G. Perez

Source: Sun Star, Thursday, March 10, 2005

The mussaendas are ornamental shrubs with one or more of their sepals developing into a large, colorful, petaloid structure.  They bloom almost throughout the year, except from January to March when they are less floriferous.

No other ornamental has gained wide acceptance in the Philippines as that of the mussaendas. Collectively known as Doñas, they are cultivated throughout the country. The mussaenda hybrids are considered a centennial breakthrough in Philippine Horticulture. They are also very much sought after in the tropical countries.

The development of the mussaenda hybrids gained momentum when a mutant of the species M. philippica was discovered in Mt. Makiling, UP Los Baños in 1915. This species was named ‘Doña Aurora’ in 1938 in honor of the wife of the late President Manuel L. Quezon. The late Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali, plant breeder and former Dean of the UP College of Agriculture, initiated the development of the hybrids in 1948 using M. erythrophylla, a species with single red petaloid and ‘Doña Aurora’ as parents. Continuous crossing and backcrossing resulted into the present colorful hybrids of mussaendas that differ in the number of petaloids depending on the parents used.

Mussaenda “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo”

Mussaenda “Dona Amelita”

Mussaenda “Corazon C. Aquino”

Mussaenda “Gining Imelda”

Mussaenda “Dona Evangelina”

Mussaenda “Dona Leonila”

Mussaenda “Dona Luz”

Mussaenda “Dona Alicia”

Mussaenda “Dona Trining”

Mussaenda “Dona Esperanza”

Mussaenda “Dona Pacencia”

Mussaenda “Dona Aurora”

Mussaenda “Dona Hilaria”

Mussaenda “Queen Sirikit”

Naming of the hybrids after the Philippine First Ladies has become a tradition. Though in 1986, some hybrids were given Filipino names. These were ‘Diwata,’ ‘Paraluman,’ ‘Lakambini,’ and ‘Maria Clara.’

Mussaenda ‘Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’ is the first mussaenda hybrid named after a Philippine President and the first to be registered and released in this century. It is a cross between ‘Doña Evangelina’ which has full, deep red petaloids as the female parent and ‘Doña Aurora’ (the first mussaenda to be named after a First Lady), which has full, white petaloids as the male parent.
The hybrid befits our President since she is the daughter of a former First Lady after whom the female parent was named. It has also the smallest petaloids among the hybrids. Both mother and daughter mussaendas are very hard to propagate. On the other hand, the male parent is the most popular and well known among the mussaendas. Mussaenda ‘Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’ is officially registered with the National Seed Industry Council of the Department of Agriculture.

Source: www.uplb.edu.ph

The Philippines is proud to have notable ladies who have considerably contributed to the task of nation building.  Among them are President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former President Corazon C. Aquino, First Ladies Amelita Ramos and Imelda R. Marcos.  Today, such names are not only synonymous with political prestige but are now Hybrid names for indigenous species, Mussaenda.

Collectively known as the Doñas, Philippine Mussaendas were named after the First Ladies of the Philippines.  This is considered as the country’s most important contribution to the ornamental industry.  They are likewise regarded as the “centennial” breakthrough in Philippine Horticulture.  In fact, they have became popular not only in the Philippines but are also now gaining recognition abroad.

Characteristic of Mussaendas
The first Mussaenda, M. philippica var. aurorae Sulit, was named in honor of the wife of President Manuel L. Quezon,.  In 1915, Hugh Curran and Mamerto Sulit discovered it in Mt. Makiling in UP Los Baños.  Recent hybrids were now coined on Filipino synonyms of the word “muse” such as ‘Diwata’, ‘Mutya’, ‘Lakambini’, and ‘Diyosa’.

The “Doñas” are admired for their colorful sepals or modified leaves either in red, white, or pink.  Also, the hybrid possesses continuous blooming habit, almost throughout the year.  They are less floriferous from months of January to March.  They are commonly used for landscape.

Potted Mussaendas
With the idea of coming-up with a substitute or compliment to the poinsettias which grow only during the Christmas season, the Institute of Plant Breeding of the College of Agriculture (IPB-CA), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), developed a technology for potted Mussaendas and propagating varieties that are short-stemmed, proliferous, and easy-to-root.

The study on the Development of Colored Multi-Petaloid Mussaendas Suited for Potted Ornamentals, conducted by Dr. Simeona V. Siar of IPB, aimed to develop indigenous ornamentals such as Mussaenda as substitute and alternative to the traditional and introduced potted ornamentals such as poinsettias and chrysanthemum.  This included the: (1) hybridization and development of outstanding plants; and (2) evaluation and mass propagation of outstanding plants.

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), a coordinating and funding agency supporting R&D breakthroughs in agriculture and fisheries, supported the study from October 2001 to September 2002 and from February to December 2006 under its High-impact projects.

Mussaenda cultivars used in the hybridization stage include varieties of red (’Doña Eva’, ‘Doña Trining’, ‘Lakambini’, and ‘Florida’), white (’Mutya’, ‘Doña Aurora’, ‘Diwata’ and ‘Maria Makiling’), and the colored varieties (’Baby Aurora’, ‘Doña Pacencia’, ‘Queen Sirikit’, and ‘Doña Esperanza’).

Protocol in producing potted flowering Mussaenda

1. Harvest flower initials from 6 to 7 am or late afternoon.  Healthy shoot tips should be 4-5 inches long and with 3-5 nodes.
2. Put the harvested shoots in clear plastic bag to avoid desiccation.
3. Remove older leaves and leave two to three pairs of nodal leaves.
4. Cut the basal end of the cuttings diagonally with a sharp pruning shear.
5. Dip the basal end portion of cuttings in a rooting hormone, Quick Root powder.
6. Plant two to three cuttings in four-inch pots with a mixture of part coir dust and one-half part sand.
7. Apply one tablespoon Osmocote (a slow release fertilizer).

Promising hybrid varieties
A total of 1,225 crosses were conducted from October to December 2001.  Doña Aurora was mostly involved.  To date, 513 seedlings have been generated from hybrids and open-pollinated cultivars.  The majority (104) of seedlings resulted from ‘Maria Makiling’ x ‘Doña Trining” with 104 seedlings.  Next in rank were ‘Florida’ x ‘Doña Trining’ and OP-(DE x DT) Hybrid2 with 92 and 78 seedlings, respectively.

From the hybrid seedlings generated, six varieties were added to the initially selected 10 outstanding hybrids.  Four of these were white petaloid and the other two were red ones.  The outstanding varieties are now being mass-propagated for varietal release and registration and eventual distribution to ornamental growers and enthusiasts.

Germination of Mussaenda seeds is one critical factor in generating hybrid seedlings.  The soaked seeds were then planted in plastic cups containing an equal mixture of sand and coir dust.  After spraying water, the cups were sealed with the use of polypropylene plastic.  Trays of sowed seeds were stored for a month at 14°C for stratification or cold treatment.  At their four-leaf stage, seedlings were ready for transplanting.

Based on the results generated, 60 rooted potted plants were acceptable and evaluated for postproduction as potted flowering mussaendas.  White mussaendas from both ambient (32 °C) and air-conditioned (28 °C) environments showed the longest longevity/interior keeping quality as potted ornamental compared to red mussaendas.  To date, 84 rooted cuttings have been produced through marcotting, 23 by shoot tip cuttings.

Now ornamental enthusiasts and gardeners can have at hand quality planting materials of Doñas with added factor of Mussaendas growing any time of the year.

Written by Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez

Photos by Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez

Description:

`Doña Eva` is one of the most expensive Mussaendas because it is the most difficult to root by stem cuttings. Cleft grafting is the most effective method. The technique involves: a) selection of scion, the brown stem with actively growing green or red shoots; b) use of appropriate age of scion from `Dona Eva`, and the appropriate or compatible rootstock, either `Dona Luz` or `Dona Aurora` or `Baby Aurora`; c) preparation of scion and rootstock; and d) grafting. It is best done from January to April when the plant is dormant. The grafted plants will flower after ten weeks. Cleft grafting may also be done in July-August, three days after pinching or removing the two pairs of young leaves from the scion. The grafted plant will flower after eight months. The stem cuttings of this cultivar would root after 3-4 weeks when using a rooting hormone. However, there is a possibility of 50% mortality, 5-7 days after transplanting, and after 3-5 months, only 2% of the plants may survive.

Application of the Technology:

1)Using cleft grafting results in 83-100% survival in 4-6 weeks, provided the appropriate scion and compatible rootstock are used.
2)Makes it possible for `Doña Eva` to be propagated in large numbers and to be positioned in the market as potted `Christmas plant`.

Possible Areas of Technology Application:

Doña Evas are adaptable to any environmental situation. Thus, they can be grown in all areas in the Philippines.

Market:

`Doña Eva` growers

Agency In-charge:
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development

Source: www.osist.dost.gov.ph

Photo Source: www.bar.gov.ph

Ponytail Seedlings for Sale

A sure way of growing money right at your backyard. Plants these beauties and within a year they can be sold many times over your buying price. We ship by LBC anywhere in the Philippines and Fedex around asia and the pacific. Prices are as follows

PHP 1500.00 for 100 seedlings plus freight
PHP 5000.00 per 400 seedlings plus freight
PHP 11,000.00 for 1000 seedlings plus freight.

Plants are shipped bare root at 100 seedlings to a bag. don’t worry these plants ship as easy as they are grown. It can last a week , even more bare root. Instruction on their care for maximum results cwill be provided with the shipment.

Ponytail in bareroot form

For interested parties e-mail Mr. Ponchit Enrile at ponchit_gardenworx@yahoo.com or visit his site at http://cycaddict.multiply.com/

One cannot ignore the economic and aesthetic value of bamboo as a landscape ornamental.  Elegantly beautiful, many bamboo species could be profitable when grown in the ground or in containers for both indoor and outdoor landscapes.

Not all bamboo species are easily adaptable to this usage but a great many are.  The clump type of bamboos is ideally suited for ornamental purposes.  These species spread very slowly and easy to keep within bounds.

The clump type could be planted and spaced according to one’s goal:  closer together for a wall or windbreak; farther apart for a private screen; or as a single clump to accent a garden.

Several bamboos are excellent ornaments for any kind of landscaping.  Although most species have green leaves and green culms, there are species with colored culms or variegated leaves.  Whichever it is, bamboo always excludes a graceful beauty and brings a bright warmth to the garden.  Each species has its own characteristics that set it apart from other plants.

Recognizing bamboos’ economic potential as landscape ornamentals, PCARRD, in its new publication entitled “Profitability Analysis: Ornamental Bamboo Backyard Production,” showed how   an   ornamental   bamboo backyard production could be a good investment option for small and medium entrepreneurs.

Planting 20-mother plants of Thyrsostachys siamensis (pole bamboo) would require a relatively small initial capital of P24,210.  Income could be realized during the first year of operation, while the total initial capital can be fully recovered in three years.

The estimated internal rate of return of this agribusiness enterprise based on ten-year cash flow projection stands at 38%, while the net present value at 19% discount rate is P21,466.24.

In coming up with this profitability analysis, the following summarized package of technology has been used for pole bamboo as an ornamental plant:

1.   Initial establishment of mother clumps for macroproliferation (First clump division).

* Source mother clumps/planting stocks with healthy and well developed buds and freshly separated from the mother clump.
* Pot the planting stock in polyethylene bags (11 in x 22 in) with a mixture of 50% garden soil.
* Place the potted planting stocks under partial shade for at least a month to produce new shoots and roots.
* Water the potted planting stocks twice a day or as needed to keep them from drying out.
* Outplant the rooted planting stocks and wait for at least six months until 2-3 shoots come out of the mother culm.

2.   Second clump division (Macroproliferation technique)

* On the seventh month when there are already 2-3 shoots in the outplanted mother culm, dig out the new culms (with the attached rhizomes/roots) leaving behind the mother culm to produce another set of shoots in another six months.  Carefully separate the new set of culms (second generation).
* In separating the newly developed culms, it is important to gently cut the rhizome at its neck without damaging the rhizomes using a sharp bolo or cutting saw.
* Clump separation should best be done before the start of the period of active bud growth and when the weather is cooler.
* Divide the mother clump when all the leaves (especially from the newly emerged/young culms) are fully open and expanded.
* In every stage of clump division, the mother clump is always retained for further series of shoot/culm separation (macroproliferation).

3.   Planting stock production for disposal and/or continuing macroproliferation (third clump division and so on)

* Before potting the separated offsets, prune the branches to assure higher growth and survival.
* Group the separated culms into two and pot these into 11 in x 22 in polyethylene bags filled mixture of 50% sawdust and 50% garden soil.
* Keep the newly separated and potted culms in a partially shaded place or nursery for one month for acclimatization.
* Water the potted planting stocks twice a day or as needed.
* After a month, the potted planting stocks are already available for disposal/sale.
* Undisposed potted planting stocks may be outplanted for additional mother clumps for a continuing macroproliferation.

This package of technology has been tested and proven to be an economically feasible investment.

Written by Nimfa K. Torreta, S&T Media Service

Source: www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph

Based on detailed studies of the different Grammatophyllum species, Danilo A. Tiu, a Filipino horticulturist and orchid specialist, and Jim Cootes, an Australian researcher, have recently identified a new genus of orchid, which they called Sadokum.

Grammatophyllum or Gramma, as known in the horticultural trade, is the world’s largest orchid, known for its enormous size and varied markings on the flowers, hence sometimes called the “letter plant”.

Some Grammatophyllum species grow to a length of 2.5 m. Some can develop into gigantic clusters weighing from several hundred kilograms to one ton, with the roots forming spectacular bundles.

Sadokum, which is currently assigned with the genus Grammatophyllum, is a new genus of orchid, according to Tiu and Cootes, based on the following features of the said genus: brittle and shiny leaves; short, glossy; and more rounded pseudobulb (solid bulbous enlargement of the stem in orchids) unlike that of Grammatophyllum, which is oblong; short and pendulous inflorescence with few flowers; dorsal sepal that is very much arched like a hood that protects the column; and petals that are distinctly shorter than the sepals and are curved backward or downward.

Other features noted by the researchers were the labelum with a very big mid-lobe; a column, which is very much curved with a hollow and prominent base; and floral markings, which are also different from those of the other Grammatophyllum species. The basal flowers of the plant do not exhibit serious deviations from the normal type, though, as commonly seen in all other Gramma species.

The above differences are considered “to be of sufficient validity as to create a new genus for this plant,” Tiu and Cootes claim.

Sadokum is derived from “sadok”, a Samar-Leyte vernacular for cap or hood. The name of the new orchid genus, as given by the two researchers, actually refers to the hood-like dorsal sepal of the flower that seems to protect the column of the bloom. The origin of the specimen, the province of Surigao, is another consideration for the name given by the researchers.

Applying the word sadok into the generic epithet gives the plant an Austro-Malayan sound since the Philippine language and its dialects are part of the greater Austro-Malayan family of languages.

Sadokum can be found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. The genus contains one species, S. stapeliiflorum (Teijsm. & Binn.) D. Tiu & Cootes.

Tiu is a member of the experts’ pool of the PCARRD, while Cootes is a research associate for the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research in Canberra, and has been studying Philippine orchids for more than 30 years.

Written by Susan Sandra L. Ilao, S&T Media Service

Source: www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph

Top hybrid crop producer East West Seed has introduced Philippines first commercial tropical hybrid flower varieties targeted at growing markets of landscape contractors, nurseries, and real estate developments.

East West Seed Co. Inc. (EWSC) launched Thursday seven new lines of hybrid tropical flower varieties which have been extensively tested for local suitability.

“These are the first tropical hybrid varieties (in the country). Those in the market are not tropical flowers. These are sun-loving varieties that continue flowering for four months,” EWSC General Manager Mary Ann P. Sayoc told reporters at the launching.

The flower varieties, earlier developed in another neighboring tropical country, Thailand, have been further field-tested in the local soil. The hybrid varieties are celosia, dianthus, marigold, pentas, petunia, zinnia, and vinca.

The tropical flowers will be initially available in seeds. But EWSC is planning to later sell seedlings which are advantageous to customers as the risk of failed germination-based not only on seed quality but on soil environment – is lessened.

Filipino flower producers including Philippine Cutflower Corp. have become interested in tying up with EWSC in the planting of the new tropical hybrids considering the expanding local market that have ties with global institutions.

Arnold B. Andaya of the Philippine Cutflower said his company has found EWSC’s development of the tropical flowers as a breakthrough.

“If it’s a potted plant, that should be compact. It should have a minimum number of flowers to get the (aesthetic) effect. If you can’ have that, there’s no use getting into it. But as far as what I’ve seen, the quality East West is producing is comparable to what I’ve seen abroad specially in the US, said Andaya in an interview.

“(In the US,) when winter comes, flowers die, and when spring comes, people buy a new set (of flowers). They plant again and that will be a yearround (practice).”

The flower market in the Philippines, he said, will evidently expand.

“Just look at the real estate industry, the more houses that are being built, the more need for landscaping plants, flowering plants,” he said.

And the company’s propagation of these varieties will sit well with the its existing flower production and distribution business.

“We’re thinking of whether to use seeds or seedlings. We’e been here for 25 years, and the alternative crop (to plant in our extra land) is also flower. Potted flower blends well with our cutflower business,” said Andaya.

Philippine Cutflower has been sourcing flowers from all over the world, on top of its farm in the Philippines, and has hotels, restaurants, flower shops, wedding coordinators, institutions with global presence, and OFW (overseas Filipino workers) for its markets.

Its own retail site, islandrose.com, has been popular among OFWs whose relatives are in the Philippines and among institutions abroad that have offices here.

“It (internet site) has been doing very well. There are a lot of foreigners that have affiliations in the Philippines. They send flowers on a regular basis, not less than a thousand roses a month. We arrange it in a bouquet, put it in a box, and the price includes shipping all the way to Mindanao,” he said.

Written by: MELODY M. AGUIBA

Source: www.mb.com.ph

For most urban dwellers, there seem to be not enough greenery around. In the city, tall and concrete lampposts and structures instead of big, healthy trees adorn the streets. The surroundings are monochromatic and cold, not a leaf rustling, and not a hint of nature exists except for the occasional skinny and dirty bird that we see perched on jumbled electrical lines above, or the scraggy bushes around buildings.

It is comforting to know then that we can have the feel of nature in our own homes or even offices with the help of indoor pants or foliage such as the Aglaonema or La suerte as it is locally known.

The beauty of the foliage plant Aglaonema lies in two things: its brilliantly patterned leaves and its ability to survive in low-light conditions. Some say the last attribute is probably what makes Aglaonema the most popular indoor plant, it seemed to have been invented for dim corners. It is tough and attractive, often surviving long periods of time in potbound conditions. Aglaonema, known world-wide as the Chinese Evergreen, was first cultivated in China before eventually finding its way to Europe and America. Hybrids were then developed in Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. Among Aglaonema’s 50 or so species, the ‘Silver Queen’ is the most widely cultivated in the world. Growers of all nationalities have been fascinated with its white and silver blotched grayish green leaves. Locally, producers are growing ‘Manila Whirl’, ‘Emerald Beauty’, and ‘Malay Beauty.’ Aside from these, they have also acquired new cultivars like the ‘Superba’, ‘King of Siam’, ‘Emerald-on-ice’, and some of the Aglaonema crispum and A. nitidum.

Because of the many variations and sizes of these plants, growers have many choices on how to use and grow them. For our local conditions, researchers from the Institute of Plant Breeding, the Department of Horticulture and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources in UPLB have developed these various techniques for growing Aglaonema.

To propagate using seeds, choose only mature, orange or red seeds. Remove the fleshy pericarp by washing before planting in the germination media. The medium may be composed of “either pure coconut coir dust, pure sphagnum moss or a mixture of one part sand and one part coconut coir dust.” The seedlings will be ready for transplanting in five to six weeks.

The plant’s suckers – the shoots that extend up from the ground, can also be used to propagate Aglaonema. Cut the suckers from the parent plant during transplanting or repotting to avoid damaging the roots and the base.

The third technique for propagation is by using the shoot tip cuttings of the aglaonema. Use only tip cuttings that have a minimum of five leaves. Remove the two older leaves and directly stick the cuttings in a rooting medium composed of a mixture of one part sawdust and one part burnt rice hull. Water every other day and transplant the rooted cuttings after four or five weeks.

For large-scale propagation, the researchers recommend nodal cutting which makes use of the plant’s two-node or half-stem (with one bud) as propagules. Before planting, growers must soak the nodal cuttings as well as its rooting medium in fungicide solution. Basal ends of half-stem cuttings need to be treated with 50 ppm of indole butyric acid (IBA) or napthalyne acetic acid (NAA) for 15 minutes. Insert the cuttings partially in the medium and place under shade. Daily but moderate watering is recommended. After eight to ten weeks, pot the cuttings individually in size 3 or 4 pots in the following non-soil mixes: mixture of one part sand and one part coconut coir dust or an equal combination of sand, coconut coir dust and rice hull. After two weeks, fertilize the plants every week thereafter, alternating urea or complete fertilizer at 1/2 tsp/4 l of water. In addition, slow release fertilizer, such as Multicoat, must be supplemented every quarter. The plants should be ready for marketing in five to eight months.

Written by: Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon of www.bar.gov.ph

(Source: PCARRD Information Bulletin no. 138a/2000: Mass Propagation of Aglaonemas by Dr. Calixto Protacio and Ms. Lilibeth Obmerga, Dept. of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, UPLB. For more information, contact Dr. Joy Eusebio, Director, Crops Research Division, PCARRD, UPLB, Tel no. (049)536-0014 to 15; and 536-0017 to 20.)