Bulbophyllum bicolor grows in Hong Kong. There is no exact information about the places where it grows, so climatic data and advice on agrotechnics are based on an approximate estimate of altitude and should be approached with some caution.
Bulbophyllum bicolor, also called as The Two Colored Bulbophyllum, Cirrhopetalum bicolor, Phyllorchis bicolor, is a species of the genus Bulbophyllum. This species was described by Lindley in 1830.
IDENTIFY BULBOPHYLLUM BICOLOR
Bulbophyllum bicolor is native to China. They grow near Hong Kong in the New Territories on rocks and cliffs along streams at elevations of 100 to 500 meters.
It is a miniature sized, hot growing lithophyte, which can reach 13 cm high, with ovoid, slightly sulcate pseudobulbs of 2 cm long and 1.2 cm in diameter, carrying a single, apical, elliptic, obtuse, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaf. The leave is about 11 cm long and 2 cm wide.
The Two Colored Bulbophyllum blooms in the spring on a basal, erect, 1.6" (4 cm) long, few flowered inflorescence holding the flowers towards the apex in an umbrel. Beige sepals are decorated with bright red longitudinal lines. Upper sepals are pointed, with bright red dots, stripes and a large red spot at the apex. The lateral petals are similar in color to the upper sepals. The lip is arched, light red or yellow.
BULBOPHYLLUM BICOLOR CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Bulbophyllum bicolor needs a light level of 12000-20000 lux. The light should be dispersed or filtered and direct sunlight should be avoided, especially at higher temperatures.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer the average day temperature is 28-29 ° C, night 24 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 4-5 ° C. In winter, the average day temperature is 15-18 ° C, at night 11-13 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 4-5 ° C.
Humidity:
This species needs an average humidity of 80% for most of the year, but drops to 65-70% in 3-4 months in late autumn and early winter.
Substrate, growing media:
Bulbophyllum bicolor will probably grow better mounted on tree fern washers or on pieces of boughs with uneven surfaces with high humidity and should be watered several times a day during hot and dry weather. This plant can also grown in shallow pots or baskets using a very loose, fast-drying substrate. Different amounts of humectant additives, such as perlite or cut sphagnum moss, can be mixed with a basic material consisting of small to medium sized pieces of pine bark or tree fern fiber.
Repotting:
After dividing or repotting, the plants often return to their normal state for almost a year. If the substrate has not decomposed but the plant has grown out of the container, you can move the plant with the whole root ball and substrate to a larger basket or pot without disturbing the roots. If repotting is necessary, it is best to do it when the new roots are already starting to grow, to allow the plant to root as quickly as possible. Plants should, however, be repotted immediately after finding out that the substrate has decomposed.
Watering:
During spring to autumn, Bulbophyllum bicolor should be watered frequently. They should only dry a little between watering, but the ground can not be soggy or stale. In the autumn, watering should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth of the plant, 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids is fed weekly. You can use a balanced fertilizer all year round, but you can use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content from spring to mid-summer, and a high phosphorus content in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In the winter, Bulbophyllum bicolor should only be occasionally fogged between light watering, every two weeks. Fertilization should be reduced or completely eliminated until more intense watering starts in the spring.
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