Bulbophyllum orchid was named refers to the leaf shape. The plants from this genus are native to Australia, South-east Asia, Africa and South America with the greatest diversity found in Papua New Guinea. They are found from the high and low altitude in rain and cloud forests of most tropical and subtropical countries.
Bulbophyllum orchid also called as Adelopetalum, Anisopetalum, Blepharochilum, Bolbophyllaria, Bulbophyllopsis, Bolbophyllum, Carparomorchis, Cirrhopetalum, Cochlia, Codonosiphon, Dactylorhynchus, Didactyle, Diphyes, Drymoda, Ephippium, Epicrianthes, Epicranthes, Ferruminaria, Fruticicola, Hamularia, Hapalochilus, Henosis, Hippoglossum, Hordeanthos, Hyalosema, Ichthyostomum, Ione, Kaurorchis, Leminscoa, Lepanthanthe, Lyraea, Macrolepis, Malachadenia, Mastigion, Megaclinium, Monosepalum, Odontostyles, Oncophyllum, Osyricera, Oxysepala, Papulipetalum, Pedilochilus, Pelma, Peltopus, Phyllorchis, Phyllorkis, Rhytionanthos, Saccoglossum, Sarcobodium, Sarcopodium, Serpenticaulis, Sestochilos, Sestochilos, Spilorchis, Sunipia, Synarmosepalum, Tapeinoglossum, Taurostalix, Trachyrhachis, Trias, Tribrachia, Tripudianthes, Vesicisepalum, Xiphizusa, Zygoglossum, is the largest genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae. This genus was described by Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars in 1822.
IDENTIFY BULBOPHYLLUM ORCHID PLANT
Bulbophyllum orchid was named refers to the leaf shape. The plants from this genus are native to Australia, South-east Asia, Africa and South America with the greatest diversity found in Papua New Guinea. They are found from the high and low altitude in rain and cloud forests of most tropical and subtropical countries. They have tremendous variation in their growth habit, ranging from fully terrestrial species to giant epiphytic climbers. They can bloom directly from the rhizome or the growth, depending on the species.
Most have a cylindrical pseudobulb with a single leaf but there are many from Africa and Madagascar that have two leaves. The general characteristics for this genus are : single-noded pseudobulbs, the basal inflorescence and the mobile lip. The rhizome are usually rather long, creeping or hanging, usually bearing a series of pseudobulbs, very rarely without pseudobulbs. The pseudobulbs are well spaced to clustered on rhizome, each with a single joint. The leaves arising from apex of pseudobulbs or very rarely directly from rhizome; leaf blade usually leathery, varying in size. Scape arising laterally from base of a pseudobulb or from a node of rhizome; inflorescence usually racemose or umbellate, 1- to many flowered; floral bracts often small.
They mostly flower in spring, early summer or early autumn but in the right conditions can flower year round. The flowers are small to large and are highly specialized to attract specific insect pollinators and many have a strong pungent odor to attract mainly flies. Others have a pleasant sweet fruity fragrance to attract fruit flies. The sepals subequal in size or lateral sepals much longer than dorsal one; lateral sepals free or connate on lower or upper edges, base adnate to column foot forming a short mentum. Petals free, usually smaller than sepals; lip often hinged to end of column foot, mobile or sometimes immobile, usually fleshy and recurved. Column short, winged, base with a distinct foot; wings often dilated to form teeth or stelidia; anther 2-locular, sometimes 1-locular; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, waxy, without appendages, sometimes attached to sticky substance.
BULBOPHYLLUM ORCHID PLANT 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 orchid need intermediate light about 15000-20000 lux which is less than Cattleyas but more than Phalaenopsis. Higher light, that does not damage the leaves, seems to result in better and more frequent blooming. They can be grown indoors providing they receive good light.
Temperature:
They are regarded as warm to intermediate growers. Most require warm temperatures from 21-27°C but will be comfortable in a temperature range of 7 to 35°C. They will not tolerate frosts. They need a temperature drop of about 6-8°C at night for flowering. Those that originate in high altitude areas of Papua New Guinea prefer lower temperatures and may not be suited to hotter climates. The minimum temperature for the tropical forms is considered to be 10°C and 15°C for equatorial species.
Humidity:
The plants from Bulbophyllum genus prefer high levels of humidity (about 70%) and very good air circulation year round. Good air movement is important to reduce the problem of leaf fungal disease due to frequent watering.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Bulbophyllum orchid can be grown mounted on slabs of cork or tree fern. However, all the species can be grown in shallow pots, or even baskets. One requirement is to retain enough moisture at the root, as most species don’t like to dry out. The rhizome can be trained to stay in the pot by bending them, eventually cutting the old bulbs and leaving them in place, so they will provide additional growth in the pot. Sphagnum has been popular because it retains a lot of moisture, which is what these plants prefer when in active growth; however when it decays or starts to retain too many salts, the plants will have problems. A mixture of small bark and perlite is also suitable.
Repot as infrequently as possible. Repotting is best done in spring or autumn when new growth appears at a frequency of about every 3 years.
Watering:
These orchids need to have ample water supply when the plants are in active growth, and a drought of even a couple of days is enough to kill the new growths and set back the plant. Due to their shallow fine root system they need to have constant moisture around their roots, however depending on their origin, some need a distinct wet and dry period to flower. The potting mix should never be allowed to dry out completely. They can be kept slightly drier in winter.
Fertilizer:
A balanced weak liquid fertilizer about once per month to weekly is recommended. They also enjoy fish emulsion and other organic fertilizers.
BUY BULBOPHYLLUM ORCHID PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF BULBOPHYLLUM ORCHID WITH CULTURE SHEET AND CARE TIPS:
- Bulbophyllum agastor - The Near Kinsman Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum ambrosia - The Sweet-Smelling Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum anceps - The Double Edged Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum arfakianum - Arfak Mountain Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum auratum - The Golden Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum barbigerum - The Bearded Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum beccarii - Beccari's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum bicolor - The Two Colored Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum carunculatum - The Caruncule Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum corolliferum - The Wreath Carrying Cirrhopetalum
- Bulbophyllum dentiferum - The Toothed Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum echinolabium - The Bulbophyllum with the Hedge-Hog Shaped Lip
- Bulbophyllum elongatum - The Elongated Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum ericssonii - The Ericsson's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum falcatum - Sickle-Shaped Leaf Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum fletcherianum - Fletcher's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum frostii - Frost's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum gracillimum - The Graceful Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum graveolens - The Very Fragrant Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum guttulatum - The Small Spotted Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum hainanense - The Spherical Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum kubahense - The Kubah National Park Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum lasiochilum - The Shaggy Lipped Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum levanae - Levan's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum lobbii - Lobb's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum longiflorum - The Long Flowered Bulbophyllum - The Pale Umbrella Orchid
- Bulbophyllum medusae - Medusa's Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum micranthum - The Small Flowered Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum mirum - The Enchanting Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum makoyanum - Makoy's Cirrhopetalum
- Bulbophyllum ornatissimum - The Ornate Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum parviflorum - The Small Flowered Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum picturatum - The Striking Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum putidum - The Stinking Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum restrepia - The Restrepia-Like Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum rothschildianum - Rothschild's Bulbophyylum
- Bulbophyllum setaceum - The Bristly Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum sikkimense - The Sikkim Bulbophyllum
- Bulbophyllum speciosum - The Outstanding Bulbophyllum
Would love to see a culture sheet on bulbo. Mastersianum and bulbo. Lepidum
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