Thai Cactus

CACTUS IN THAILAND

From journal book 1 of Cactus Thailand Club

Unrecorded date-month-year

(Cactus of Thailand Club is established in mid-year 1998

- not active now. 2007)

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พื้นที่โฆษณา B โทร 089 8961125

Before, Thai people knew only 3-4 kinds of cactus which are grown naturally such as Saladdai, Sema, Botun or Krabongpetch which are big plants grown as fences in rural area. They are big trees with thick thorns, white flowers that the villagers use them to boil and eat with spicy sauce.

Before the year 1957 the elderly citizens at that time who love trees such as Sombatsiri family who started to bring new kinds of cactus from overseas for collection. There were collections among friends. Later on the admiration on the beauty and uniqueness of these trees has been increased. There were importers e.g. Khun Sompong Lek-aree, Khun Aree Nakwajara, Khun Busabong Mungkarndee. The author remembers that the last-mentioned person had many clusters of Mammillaria phumosa around 14-15 inches in diameter grown as a row. They show their soft white feather and very beautiful flowers. The big Ferrocactus plants with their bright beautiful flowers show that cactus can be grown and flowery in Thailand. These persons have tried to look for new kinds of plant and knowledge to be always exchanged. While the flower markets pay attention to orchids, the small groups of “Cactus people” have increased. There were first group of cactus shops at Sanam Luang weekend market e.g. 471 Shop of Auntie Was Sungsuwan. Later,”Uncle Chorn” shop is established at the bank of Lord canal near Siew bridge selling only cactus. The customers bought small plant which costs 2 Baht each and 20 Baht per dozen. The soils sold by can which costs 1 Baht. It is contained in brown folded paper bags made from cement bags.

At that time, searching for new kinds of plant was not easy. The plant that is quite ”Special” will be very costly. The big cluster of “golden ball” cactus cost 200 Baht (the gold cost 400.- Baht per 15 gm. weigh). The flowers and books are always imported. The first book the author thinks is very nice is” The Flowering Cactus” by Raymond Carlson published in 1954 and imported to Thailand in 1958. The plant order was by post from famous nurseries in the US. at that time e.g. Johnson cactus Garden and Henrietas’ Nursery, etc.

There are many cactus lovers who become serious such as Uncle Khajee Wasutharn whom the author admires as the first cactus lover of Thailand who dealt with the cactus as a complete cycle starting from importing seedlings to be grown until they

bear seeds and he grew them once again. He also sought knowledge seriously from many books. He loved and grew cactus till the end of his age.

If cactus lovers wonder if cactus from that period of time to this period of time still exists. The author can answer that they are Echinocactus grusonii and Ferrocactus schwarzii which their diameter are more than 60 inches. They belong to Ajarn Somkid Thavaraporn of Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University (he is retired now). This set of plant (about 5 plants) are now at Sala Kaew Ku in Nongkhai province. As this plant lasts long, it becomes inheritance of mind for many persons.

As we have seen the elderly people growing cactus and cherishing them later on their heir takes care of them and that is very delightful. e.g. Khun Tas Wasutharn, the owner of “Suan Khajee” in Chiengmai, etc.

Before, cactus lovers had tried hard to search for new kinds of cactus to make their “small nest” more colorful. Any plants which are very nice will be ordered in a long queue. Whenever there are new plants coming in, the cactus lovers will get together to select what they want in order to cherish and grow them. The owner of cactus place was in trouble as he/she will have to feed them. However, they became close to each other and had fun. In 1976-1977 cactus were imported from Japan and there was red grafting imported for growing followed by Gymnocalycium mihanovichii variegata and many other kinds of seedling plants.

There were many cactus shops increasing at Sanam Luang at that time. Each shop was interesting. The big shops like Yuthana Cactus Shop, Linjong shop, Pitprom shop and Uncle Chorn’s shop. Besides, there was another grower called "Uncle Lek." His house is in Sam Pran area. He cut Sema, Sonthong (Opuntia) and Dao Lorm Deuan and put them on baskets for sale. What the customers really like was that they have to use chopsticks to take the cactus into a small basket for him to charge. His plant is called “Chopsticks plant”. Uncle Lek grew Sema (Opuntia) on ordinary soil and made it as ditches. His Sema is very big up to half a meter high. It becomes beautiful branches.

Japanese cactus made the cactus interested persons alert as Hylocereus gelatemalensis is used as the beginning. Many of grafting have been grown and that made the production in the country expanded rapidly. There are many persons who are famous in grafting e.g. Ajarn Wim-Nuansri Thanyapatchara, Ajarn Prawat Uttayopas. The other keen person is Mr.Prawit Sommart. He grew stock in the area of 6 rais on soil lifted as vegetable ditches and used boat to water the plants as the same as vegetables and extened the plant by tape. Ajarn Prawat used both methods and grew the plants rapidly. The producer and distributor play a role together to make this market grow even though it is not quick but it is a firm and secure step. The cactus lover can see that cactus can be a plant for career especially seedling. Khun Kriengkrai and Khun Wichit Tunduan were the leaders who made high quality new breeds. Khun Wichit is the one the cactus lover should admire for his ability, patience and consistency. He never gets bored of the plants and was with them for years and years.

Wichit Nursery

When the weekend market had been moved from Sanam Luang to Jatujak. The cactus market was quiet for many years at that time. It has been started again and has been developed. The newspaper had articles included T.V. program. The cactus producers had been interviewed and its articles had been published in many books and magazines. Geodise Dome at Rama IX Park is built for many gardens of cactus. The producers and distributors tried to improve their production and quality of plants. Up until now (1998 – mycacti.com) cactus is caught attention by many Thais. The sale and advertisement have been widely spread. More than 50 provinces of the country the book on cactus in Thai language are organized. e.g. “Cactus” of Ban Lae Suan Publisher

Now if asked about cactus, Thai people have changes in their knowledge from 3-4 kinds of local plants in the past. Now we understand that cactus is a plant that has many shapes and it is indefinite. It is beautiful but powerful in itself. Its flowers are beautiful and it is the plant that should be studied, cherished as a plant of Thailand forever.

Any kinds of plant grown in our world for use and their beauty are for the property of mankind. It is a pleasure that plants from desert area from different parts of the world can be grown, bear fruits and flowers for Thai people. The cactus lovers are hard to say about their happiness that they can grow, cherish these plants and see its growth gradually.

Our little plants become strong and have colorful thorns with beautiful shapes like natural architecture. Apart from admiring its beauty, many cactus lovers plan to make cactus growing as their permanent job. It is hoped that cactus will be like a beautiful diamond of flowering plant.