Thathmini Kularatna, Our Newest Go-To Orchid Expert and Phipps’ Orchid Display Horticulturist

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By: Norma Raiff

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I was so happy to meet Thathmini Kularatna, Phipps’ new “Orchid Display Horticulturalist,” at OSWP’s July Picnic. This highly popular get-together – almost 100 members attended -- was a wonderful opportunity to talk to Thathmini who has only recently moved to Pittsburgh.  This Gems article focuses on introducing her and sharing information about Thathmini’s role at Phipps, her unique international training and background, and what she anticipates will be included as part of her long-range goals and work-related efforts.

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As the Orchid Display Horticulturist, Thathmini manages the Conservatory’s public display rooms and the huge orchid collection that resides in the out-of-sight growing houses where non-blooming plants are nurtured until they are ready to be exhibited.

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And since Phipps has approximately 3,000 orchids, it’s an enormous job. For starters it includes oversight of the existing collection, making recommendations about expanding/culling plants, and thoughtfully planning for upcoming display needs. And Thathmini not only brings highly relevant work and educational qualifications and experience, but she is also interested in introducing and propagating new orchid hybrids and species.

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Thathmini grew up in Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon), and for those of you who may not be familiar with this country, it is an Island Nation in South Asia characterized by a biodiverse agricultural environment and six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Such familiar media resources as Conde Nast, USA Today, and CNN have openly ranked Sri Lanka as one of best places in the world to visit by (Source: https://www.srilanka.travel/international-endorsements).

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And given the current political discussion and complaints about the unheard-of costs of acquiring an education and in contrast with the United States’ approach, Sri Lanka’s educational system is publically funded and free to residents. Thathmini earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2014 at The University of Colombo, which is ranked among the top 10 universities in South Asia. Her studies included Plant Science, Zoology, and Chemistry.

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She then moved to Hawaii and in 2021 she completed her MSc in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES) from the University of Hawaii Hilo, where she also worked as a graduate teaching assistant where she was responsible for the care of the Orchid collection greenhouse of University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Agricultural Farm Laboratory.

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Thathmini’s first post-graduate job at Amazon Support Greenhouse at Amazon’s Horticultural Program involved numerous duties such as taking care of the orchid and carnivorous plant collections, overseeing special projects: e.g., building temporary orchid exhibits and interior plant installations and managing the Amazon Greenhouse’ tissue culture facility that micro propagated native and endemic orchids. One of her most vivid memories concerns her experiences in pollinating Huntleya wallisii, a.k.a. “the Red Star Orchid” which grows as an epiphyte in tropical wet forests in Colombia and Ecuador. The Atlanta Botanical Garden describes it as the “star of their greenhouse.” So, you can understand the Amazon facility’s horticulturists’ agitated reaction when her pollination efforts turned flowers from red to green, causing the observers to think that Thathmini had unwittingly done something catastrophic.

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Thathmini was introduced to the Phipps in 2017, when her maternal Aunt and Uncle, who she was visiting here in Wexford, took her to the Conservatory. This was the first time she had ever seen such a facility. She remembers being attracted by the diversity of plants and their many magnificent flowers.

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So now it is a decade later and Thathmini is back in town. She’s assuming many functions, has many duties and a great deal of work, and is therefore especially appreciative of the 4-5 Pfun at Phipps volunteers who assist at the greenhouses once to twice a week. “Their help is invaluable. The Pfun folks are helping a lot to improve the collection. The relationship between Phipps and OSWP is highly successful. It’s a win-win situation.”

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And what are some of the next steps that she is considering? Well, Thathmini would like to build on her experience in tissue culture to increase production and to expand the Phipps’s orchid collection. She would also like to share her knowledge with the Orchid Society of Western Pennsylvania younger members who are going to be the next OSWP’s next generation.

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Final words/thoughts: “It is such a great opportunity to work at Phipps 7 years after visiting here. I never thought I would be the Orchid Display Horticulturist at the very first Conservatory I have seen in my entire life. And I really enjoy my time working with all the pfunsters and appreciate their dedication.”