Glimpse of 18th Shah Alam Orchid Festival (Festival Anggerik Shah Alam ke-18)

Hmmm, two orchid post in a day...this must be some subtle message from the universe hinting that I should grow more orchids.

Anyway back to the topic of the post - the 18th Shah Alam Orchid Festival is an orchid competition cum show cum sales event at the SACC Mall in Shah Alam, Selangor. This event is scheduled from the 9th Dec to the 11th Dec 2011. I went by there today (8th Dec) at 4pm and saw that the stalls selling orchids were already up and going, and naturally the judging for the plants entered for the competition was complete. So here's some 'preview' pics.

The competition plants at the SACC Mall Atrium.

Some of the Phalaenopsis hybrids on sale at the South entrance of SACC Mall.

Vanda Blue Boy.

Phalaenopsis bellina.

I counted only 3 orchid nursery (Lum Chin, Far East and another one) at the exhibition area. When I walked past the Far East Agriculture stall, I immediately spotted their Neofinetia falcata sample plant and I couldn't resist the temptation, thus ended up buying a Neofinetia falcata mounted on the slab. A large number of plants were already reserved by people. Looks like a lot of orchid lovers are also very kiasu (afraid of losing out). It pays to go to these shows a day early (even more kiasu attitude :-p).

The Neofinetia falcata that I bought at the orchid show.

So for those who are free over the weekend and love orchids, do go and have a peek at the orchids there. A word of caution, you might get bitten by the orchid bug.

Update: Below are some other pics taken at the festival (I am slow at going through them)

Ascocenda Fuchs Spotted Cat.

An old time favourite - Aranda Noorah Alsagoff 'Blue'.

This cross (Vanda lamellata x Ascocentrum miniatum) is a reciprocal cross of Ascocenda Chryse registered by Dr. C. P. Sideris ( U.S.A. ) 1951 using Ascocentrum miniatum x Vanda lamellata.

Cymbidium Sarah Jean 'Ice Cascade'.

Rhyncattleanthe Orange Nuggett (syn. Blc. Orange Nuggett). The plant was labeled as Cattleya Orange Nugget. Tsk, tsk, tsk...Malaysians are bad in keeping the names right for orchids.

The tag reads Renantanda Agnes Cheok.

If you are looking for the 2012 Shah Alam Orchid Festival (FASA 19), please click here.

Renanthera elongata - Tree on Fire

Renanthera elongata (Blume) Lindl. syn. Aerides elongata Blume, Gastrochilus reflexus (Lindl.) Kuntze, Porphyrodesme elongata (Blume) Garay, Renanthera micrantha Blume, Saccolabium reflexum Lindl. is an adorable small flowered orchid that can be found in Malaysia. This climbing monopodial orchid bears small but numerous and closely spaced flowers on a branching inflorescence. The base colour of both the petals and sepals is reddish orange with dark reddish purple blotches. The stalk of inflorescence is yellowish orange in colour with dark reddish-brown blotches. The stems and the leaf sheath have purple blotches as well. Plants are frequently found from lowlands up to 1000m elevation, near swampy grounds or in riparian area. Plants found climbing trees will grow up and then out of the plant canopy, where it would burst into bloom in the full sun. This growth habit, coupled with the profuse blooms that are reddish in colour lead to this orchid being nicknamed ‘tree on fire’.

Renanthera elongata

This plant depicted here had fallen off its ‘perch’ after a strong storm at a water treatment plant in the Klang Valley. The tree that it was growing on was one of those ‘Christmas trees’ commonly planted in Malaysia. As it was lying on the road, I took it back. Luckily I had not run over it with my car as it was getting dark and the road was not lit. It was quite a long stem (about 3 meters) but the bottom section had been run over by a vehicle.

Close-up shot of Renanthera elongata.

As with growing any climbing/scrambling Vandaceous orchids, the plant will only flower if the stem is free from any support or hindrances i.e. it is free hanging or out in the open. So never stake a climbing orchid with a 6 foot stake or else you will need to wait until it clears the top before it flowers. Likewise never grow them by a tall wall; else you will have to wait until it clears the wall before it will flower. Renanthera elongata likes high humidity and the leathery leaves will start to crinkle if it is too dry.

The dainty little blooms of Renanthera elongata.

Since I moved to an apartment unit, I gave it to a friend who stays in another block and had the orchid attached to his ‘Christmas tree’ in a pot.