This Halloween, a unique story unfolds at a plant shop in Detroit that is not about ghosts from the past but rather about saving a rare plant on the brink of extinction. The Rare Plant Fairy, known for its collection of unusual flora, is now focused on cloning ghost orchids, a species with fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild, primarily located in the Everglades.
Founder Jocelyn Ho explained, “We hope that by cloning these orchids, we can make them available to more people while protecting the wild populations from further harm.” The goal is to ensure that these plants can thrive in their natural habitat, untouched by collectors and poachers.
Ho’s initiative addresses a serious issue: plant poaching. She noted, “People are drawn to what they can possess. By offering these clones to collectors, we can reduce the market value of the orchids, making them less attractive to poachers.”
The cloning process involves working with ghost orchid callus cells, which are similar to stem cells in animals. Rare Plant Fairy lab director Debbie Sweeney mentioned that these cells are now beginning to take on the structure of the ghost orchids they aim to replicate. “We started propagating them using a nutrient-rich media that provides everything a plant needs to grow,” Sweeney explained.
In their incubation room, the team has been carefully monitoring the callus cells to see if they will develop into mature plants. After much experimentation, they have perfected the media recipe essential for the orchids’ growth. “This is the result of two years of dedicated work, and this is what a tissue-cultured ghost orchid should look like,” Sweeney added.
Once the cloning process is successful, the next step is to transition the young plants into a nursery. Here, the team will test various growing conditions to encourage flowering. Given that the clones would be vulnerable to diseases in the wild, the plan is to market these plants to collectors via social media, allowing the original ghost orchids in South Florida to remain protected.
“Ultimately, plant collectors want a healthy addition to their collection,” Ho said, emphasizing the importance of the project.
While the ghost orchid clones may not appear impressive at this stage, the Rare Plant Fairy team is committed to nurturing them until they bloom. It could take up to a year for the orchids to reach their full potential, providing a unique and valuable addition for fortunate collectors.
Related topics: