Royal Gardens and Farms successfully propagate orchids

SALALAH: The Royal Gardens and Farms at the Royal Court Affairs have achieved successful propagation of both indigenous and imported orchid varieties, following years of sustained experimentation, developmental efforts and ongoing research.
Initial cultivation of orchids commenced in 1982 at the nurseries of the Royal Gardens and Farms in Salalah, using imported seedlings. This marked the beginning of subsequent phases dedicated to the propagation and production of orchids in an extensive array of colours, forms, and cultivars, carried out at the farms of Bir bint Ahmed and Qayrun Hayriti in Salalah.

Dhofar enjoys a climate particularly conducive to orchid propagation, with temperature and humidity levels that closely mimic the plant's natural requirements. The species thrives in environments where temperatures range between 18 and 32 degrees Celsius, with relative humidity maintained at 60 to 85 per cent.
Eng Ibrahim bin Ahmed Quttan, Director of the Technical Support Department at the Royal Gardens and Farms in Salalah, stated that multiple orchid genera have been successfully propagated, including Dendrobium, Vanda, Arachnis (Aranda), Oncidium, Cattleya, and Phalaenopsis. Among these, Dendrobium has demonstrated the greatest adaptability to Dhofar's climatic conditions, followed by Oncidium. - ONA