Although Thailand is a natural habitat for several diverse species of orchids, yet the interest to grow cultivars of economic value was first recorded in 1913 with the introduction of some exotic materials by a foreigner working in Thailand. Having a hobby to grow orchids, he brought cattleyas and some other genera to Bangkok all of which were subsequently sold to Krommamerntivakornwong. Several other high ranks and files in the country also become interested in orchid growing, being an expensive hobby during the same only for the rich and the elite, were served by a small group comprising of high-ranking officials and old rich people of Thailand.

In 1917, Prince Krompranakornsawanvorapinit translated and published "Orchid Growing", as the first book on orchids in the Thai language. The enthusiasm for orchid growing faded, for a little while in the Thai society with the passing away of some old orchidists. A further setback was received with the abruot change in the country's political system in 1932. However, the introduction of Dendrobium Pompadour, in 1934, proved to be a landmark that also brought in popularity for orchid cultivation in Thailand. This particular species was found easy to grow and propagate by divition, besides the fact that it produced high yied and had a long vase-life. Some useful publications, viz., "How to use fertilizers for orchids and other plants" and "Techniques in orchid growing, propagation and aseptic seed germination" were published in the '50s which proved quite useful to the orchid industry.

The Orchid Society of Thailand was founded, the Royal Patronage, in 1957, by Rapee Sagarik who earlier become associated with growing and studying Thai orchid species in 1947. Teaching orchid growing to the public has been encouraged, through regular classes, radio and television broadcasting initiated in the '60s; introduction of orchidology courses and initiation of research at the Kasetsart University also began during the same period. A collaboration, initially for three years, was taken up in 1962, between the University of Hawaii and the Department of Horticulture at Kasetsart University that helped strengthening of teaching and research work on orchid cytogeneties and breeding.

Orchid tissue culture work was started at the Chulalongkom University, in 1967, on dendrobiums, cattleyas and Rhynchostylis gigantea, which was subsequently extended to the Kasetsart University and the Chiangrnai University. Thailand's first orchid library, the "Prof. Rapee Sagarik Library" opened in Bangkok on December 4, 1993, with 10,000 slides and 2,000 books donated by the world-renowned orchidist Rapee Sagarik. Equipped with an on-line computer system, this library is capable to serve for the networking among the local, regional and international centers, such as, an Orchid Center of Southeast Asia. The library, set up under the collaboration of the Siam Commercial Bank limited and the Department of Fine Arts would be fully electronic, providing slides stored in CD-ROM and graphics displaying the species origin.