Development of Phalaenopsis Orchids for the Mass-Market

INTRODUCTION It is widely recognized that potted Phalaenopsis production has increased tremendously in last few years. The specific statistics for Phalaenopsis are not available, for the US Department of Agriculture only keep records on total orchid production and sales. However, over 75% of all orchids sold are Phalaenopsis (American Orchid Society, pers. commun.). In 2000, wholesale orchid sales were approximately $100,000,000 (Fig. 1). The only crop with a higher value was poinsettia. During the last five years orchids sales has been increasing, unlike all the other ornamental crops (Fig. 2). Large scale, potted Phalaenopsis production is occurring in the Netherlands, Germany, China, Taiwan, United States, and Japan. In one cooperative venture, cultivar development is taking place in the Unites States; selected clones are being placed into tissue culture in Japan; mass proliferation of the tissue cultures is occurring in China; and the tissue cultured plants are being grown to maturity in the Netherlands. In 1957, James Shoemaker stated that “orchid growing has not fully achieved the transition from a hobby to an industry.” Today, orchid growing is more than just an industry, it is an international business.