The Purple Rain orchid, locally known as the Sanggumay

It is during the cool months of December, January and February when our seasonal orchid species such as the Sanggumay bloom.  The Sanggumay, or Purple Rain, is botanically known as Dendrobium anosmum. It is one our most unique and popular orchid species. Its common name Sanggumay, means nakakaumay or masangsang in Tagalog. In English, it would mean “repulsive” or  "overpowering." These adjectives best describe the plant’s fragrance. It is thus ironic that Dr. John Lindley in 1845 named this very fragrant species the Dendrobium anosmum. The name “anosmum”  happens to mean “odorless” or without scent. He he might had a terrible cold during that time.

The Sanggumay blooms in February because of the cool evening temperature and warm day temperature.  This blooming response is also shared by other orchids, especially the Phalaenopsis and the Cattleya.  This is the reason why the Philippine Orchid Society holds an orchid show every February.

The orchid has a pendulous and sympodial growth habit, with its pseudobulb stem dangling  up to 1.5 meters long. The leaves are deciduous and last only up to 12 months. They measure about 7.5 centimeters long by 1.5 centimeters wide. The leaves are usually shed during the flowering season.  The inflorescences are short, appearing from the leafless nodes, bearing up to three flowers.  Flowers are normally pale purple in color. Aside from the  purple flowers, there is also an alba or white variety that exists in cultivation.

The plant is found in Thailand, the Malayan archipelago, Indonesia, Borneo and New Guinea.  In the Philippines it has been found in Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province,  Nueva Vizcaya  in Luzon and Davao del Sur in Mindanao.

When the flowering season is over, the nodes that failed to bloom near the tip of the pseudobulbs or stems, and a few nodes just below the lowest flowers, will start to produce plantlets. A plantlet may be removed from its parent plant when a good root system has developed. This normally happens in a couple of months.

The Sanggumay is very easy to grow.  Mature plants thrive in 60 percent to 75 percent the sunlight. The plant must, however, be protected from intense heat at noontime to prevent the scorching of leaves.  Shade nets are used to provide the right amount of light. The plants may also be placed in the eves of the house. For seedlings, they may be grown in 50 percent shade, but these later needs to be placed under higher light intensity for flower initiation.

The Sanggumay is  established in pieces of deadwood, coconut husks or attached to live trees.  It has to be fastened firmly into the wood or coconut husk for the roots to grow and cling properly to the media.  It’s best to water it every other day or twice a week as it happens to have a pseudobulb which stores water and food.  Excessive watering will cause the plant to rot. Ventilation or wind movement is also very important for the health of the plant.

The Sanggumay responds well to fertilization.  Fertilize plants by using a dilute solution of orchid foliar fertilizer, about half a teaspoon per liter of water, once every week right after watering, during the early morning or late in the afternoon.

This plant is often attacked by weevils, which bore holes on the canes or pseudobulb. They are very difficult to eliminate but you can prevent infestations by  handpicking the pests or using a systemic insecticide or sprinkling sand or diatomaceous earth on the crevices of leaves. Sucking insects like thrips, aphids, mites and scales also tend to attack the Sanggumay but  they can be controlled by a dilute spray of soap solution, In case of severe infestation, spray the pests with Lannate or Sevin insecticides.  During the rainy season, spray the plants with a dilute fungicide such as  Dithane or Captan to prevent rotting.

The Sanggumay is certainly a unique and noteworthy orchid.  In celebration of the blooming season of the Sanggumay and also the Phalaenopsis,  the Philippine Orchid Society is inviting everyone, especially plant and garden enthusiasts, to visit the upcoming 2013 POS Orchid and Garden Show. The show opens on February 28 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in  Quezon City.  This year’s theme is "Philippine Orchid Species Revisited," with an emphasis on the value of Philippine species for conservation and its importance as a parent material in breeding the more colorful modern orchid hybrids of today.

The show will also hold free daily afternoon lectures on gardening and growing orchids.

For the schedule of lectures, call Jenny Rivera at 929-4425 or 0917-8485468.