A Technical Visit by the Department of Landscape Architecture: Exploring the World of Phalaenopsis and Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden

By: Dr. Aini Jasmin Ghazalli

A technical visit offers a special chance for professionals and students to get firsthand, practical exposure to real-world applications in their respective fields of study or service. These visits provide a greater grasp of how concepts are applied in real-world contexts by bridging the knowledge gap between theory and practice. Through visits to manufacturing plants, construction sites, research facilities, or landscaping projects, participants can witness and interact with ongoing projects, technologies, and processes. This immersive learning experience helps us comprehend the difficulties and trends facing the industry today.

Therefore, the Department of Landscape Architecture (JSL) has initiased a technical visit to the World of Phalaenopsis and the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden in order to gain a distinctive viewpoint on plant conservation and cultivation. The one-day trip was joined by 14 academic staff and 8 supporting staff. The trip was arranged in line with the department’s effort in creating ‘The Living Hub’ at the faculty and to gain insights in setting up a national-level herbarium centre under the care of the department.

[1] World of Phalaenopsis: A Haven for Orchid Lovers

The World of Phalaenopsis, tucked away in Ulu Yam, Selangor, is well-known for its captivating assortment of Phalaenopsis orchids. It is dedicated to the development of these delicate, butterfly-shaped flowers. The farm uses technology to guarantee ideal growing conditions and gives guests an insight into environmentally friendly orchid cultivation methods. Modern greenhouses with climate control systems were on display during the tour, offering the perfect setting for Phalaenopsis orchids to flourish. Participants not only learned about the growth process but also had the opportunity to explore the nursery, which has a wide variety of orchids in different stages of development.

      Large exhaust fans encourages ventilation                                                                       Evaporative cooling system for air cooling

Within the greenhouse there is also a café, serving delicious coffee and various ba kery goods. The effectiveness of the climate control technology used in the greenhouse allows the café to operate without air conditioning. In addition to being a business, the farm serves as a learning resource where guests can gain a deeper understanding of the maintenance, propagation, and culture of orchids.

Path heading into the café with rows of Nephrolepis in hanging pots.                  Good number of seating provided inside the café, with rows of plants being hardened for sale

We were greeted by one of the staff and gave us a tour inside its vast greenhouse with hundreds of orchids in various growing stage. The greenhouse receives seedlings supplied by a biotechnology company called Waltex Biotec Sdn. Bhd. The seedlings are then placed inside small pots with sphagnum moss. As the seedlings grow into juveline stage, it will be moved into a bigger pot and so on. During blooming stage, the orchids starts to produce flower spikes, buds, and eventually blooms. It will take approximately 6 months for the orchids to re-bloom again.

Seedlings are placed in small plastic pots with sphagnum moss                                                               Seedlings are placed in the greenhouse

                          Juvenile orchids                                                                                                  Orchids with bloom ready for sale    

JSL team in Rimba Ilmu, UM.                                                                                        JSL team were greeted by Rimba Ilmu cordinator, Dr. Yong Kien Thai and Research Officer, Cik Ilyana Hassya

Medicinal, commercial, and endangered types of local plants were among the many that we were presented to during the visit. To raise awareness of plant conservation and the value of protecting Malaysia's natural heritage, the garden's collection has been thoughtfully chosen. A holistic approach to comprehending the intricate relationships between people, plants, and the environment is offered by Rimba Ilmu, with its peaceful surroundings and educational activities.

 The herbarium which houses various tropical                                                    JSL team were greeted by Rimba Ilmu cordinator, Dr. Yong Kien Thai and Research Officer, Cik Ilyana Hassya

We even get to witness flowers of Grammatophyllum speciosum or commonly tiger orchid, which is the largest orchid in South-East Asia.  Although they grow slowly and take years to blossom, tiger orchids produce stunning, weeks-long bouquets. Because of its massive size and slow growth, this orchid is extremely uncommon in cultivation despite its grandeur. For committed orchid fans, this plant presents a challenge as well as an opportunity for reward.

       Tiger orchid can grow up to 3 meters high                                                Beaitiful tiger orchid flowers, right yellow petals with dark brown or maroon spots, resembling a tiger's coat

Other than observing the collection of plants at the Rimba Ilmu site and conservatory, we also visited the herbarium, and Studio Zainal Mustafa, a designer of the UM Institute of Biological Sciences who is tasked with carefully sketching flora and fauna. He holds a large collection of original illustrations of not only botanical drawings, but also zoological illustration. These incredibly accurate and detailed images are frequently used in scientific journals to clearly describe species, capturing details that may not be evident in photographs. The goal is to draw attention to the anatomical and morphological aspects that are essential for identification and research, which makes them useful resources for taxonomy, zoology, and botany.

Mr Zainal Mustafa sharing his experience and artwork                                     Detailed illustration of a spider, comissioned by a UM researcher

Priceless insights into plant research, conservation, and cultivation were gained during the technical visits. After seeing both locations, we had a better grasp of Malaysia's immense plant diversity and the initiatives being taken to protect it. FRSB already have a collection of plants based of name of places in Malaysia, such as Serdang Palm (Livistona chinensis), Johore tree (Lepisanthes alata), and Malacca tree (Phyllanthus emblica). Hopefully the information gathered can support the realization of our own ‘The Living Hub’ here, in FRSB.

Date of Input: 23/10/2024 | Updated: 23/10/2024 | marini