In Africa, Bulbophyllum longiflorum grow as epiphytes in forests on vertical branches in a deep shade at an altitude of 500-1700 m. In Australia, they grow in rain forests on trees and vines, usually in moist, well-ventilated places along creeks and on tops of hills. In the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, they are found in rain forests in fairly bright places at an altitude of about 200 m. In Fiji, this species grows as an epiphyte on steep rocky slopes or along streams at an altitude of 1150 m above sea level.
Bulbophyllum longiflorum, also called as The Long Flowered Bulbophyllum, The Pale Umbrella Orchid, Bulbophyllum clavigerum,, Bulbophyllum layardii, Bulbophyllum trisetum, Cirrhopetalum africanum, Cirrhopetalum clavigerum, Cirrhopetalum kenejianum, Cirrhopetalum layardii, Cirrhopetalum longiflorum, Cirrhopetalum thomasinii, Cirrhopetalum thouarsii, Cirrhopetalum thouarsii var. concolor, Cirrhopetalum trisetum, Cirrhopetalum umbellatum, Cymbidium umbellatum, Epidendrum umbellatum, Inobulbum layardii, Phyllorchis clavigera, Phyllorchis longiflora, Phyllorchis thouarsii, Phyllorchis umbellate, is a species of the genus Bulbophyllum. This species was described by Thouars in 1822.
IDENTIFY BULBOPHYLLUM LONGIFLORUM
Bulbophyllum longiflorum is native to Africa, Molukka Islands, New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tahiti and probably Guam. In Africa, plants were found in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, on the islands of Mascarene and in the Seychelles. They grow epiphytically in forests, usually on vertical branches in deep shade, at heights of 500-1700 m. In Madagascar they meet near Antananarivo, Antisiranana, and in many other locations at altitudes from sea level up to 1200 m. In Australia, they are found in rainforests in the McIlwraith Range of north-east Queensland. They grow there on trees and vines, usually in humid places, where there is a lot of air movement, along the banks of streams and on the crests of hills. In the Solomon Islands and in Vanuatu, they grow in rainforests, usually in fairly bright places, at a height of about 200 m.
It is a small sized, hot to warm growing, unifoliate epiphyte with obliquely conical pseudobulbs of 1.5-3.0 cm long and 1 cm wide, carrying a single, apical, oblong, petiolate, 8-20 cm long and 1.5-4.0 cm wide leaf.
The Long Flowered Bulbophyllum blooms from summer through autumn on a basal, slender, to 8" (20 cm) long, wiry inflorescence arising from a mature pseudobulb, with 6 to 8, foul-smelling flowers radiating from the apex in an umbel. The flowers may be light yellow, light purple or brown, with darker spots. Upper sepals are concave, elliptical, 1 cm long, with a filiform tip. Lateral sepals long (2.2-3.8 cm), lanceolate, pointed, bent so that their outer edges are connected to each other almost to the very tip. Petals are lanceolate with filiform tips. Oblong lip is fleshy and curved.
BULBOPHYLLUM LONGIFLORUM 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 longiflorum needs a light level of 12000-25000 lux. The light should, however, be filtered or dispersed, and the plants should not be exposed directly to the sun in the afternoon hours. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer the average day temperature is 28-29 ° C, night 18 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 9-11 ° C. The average winter temperature is 22-23 ° C during the day and 11-12 ° C at night, giving a diurnal difference of 11-12 ° C.
Humidity:
The Long Flowered Bulbophyllum needs a humidity level of about 75-80% for most of the year. For 4 months of late winter and spring the humidity drops to about 65-70%.
Substrate, growing media:
Bulbophyllum longiflorum are usually planted into very flat pots or baskets and apply a very loose, quickly drying ground. 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. Tree fern fibers are preferred because they do not decompose as quickly as the bark.
Repotting:
This species react very badly to any violations of the root ball. 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 entire root ball and substrate into a larger container 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:
Bulbophyllum longiflorum should be watered strongly during the period of active growth (from late spring to autumn), but the roots must always dry quickly after watering. When new growths reach maturity in the autumn, the amount of water should be reduced.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth period, 1/4-1/2 of the recommended fertilizer dose for orchids is fertilized weekly. It is possible to apply a balanced fertilizer all year round, and it is possible to fertilize with increased nitrogen content from spring to mid-summer, and with high phosphorus content in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Bulbophyllum longiflorum need less water in winter, especially if they grow in conditions of a dark, short day that occurs in moderate latitudes. However, they should be watered from time to time to prevent excessive drying. In general, occasional fogging in the early morning between rare watering is sufficient. However, it is necessary to ensure that the plants are dry between successive waterings. If the leaves wrinkle or show signs of weakness, you need increase the amount of water slightly. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and a more abundant spring watering begins.
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