Bulbophyllum: tips for growing in rooms

2024 Author: Arianna Cook | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:55

Typical differences between orchids, agricultural technology when growing indoors, recommendations for plant propagation, pests and diseases, interesting facts, species. The family of orchids is very diverse and numerous, it is possible to keep in your house not already known phalaenopsis, but less common varieties. After all, it is pleasant to amaze friends with mysterious exotic green specimens of flora that amaze with their flowers. We are talking about Bulbophyllum, which is part of the already mentioned Orchid family (Orchidaceae), or as it is also called Orchids.

This flower is a herbaceous plant with a long life cycle. This genus unites up to 200 varieties of orchids. You can often hear its name under the abbreviation Bulb, used in floriculture by amateurs and industrialists.

Bulbophyllum can grow both on the branches of tall trees (that is, it is an epiphyte), and on rocky or mountain surfaces (called a lithophyte). In very rare cases, this orchid can be seen growing on the surface of the soil. Bulbophyllum is native to Asia, southern, central and northern regions of America, or New Guinea, where a tropical or subtropical climate prevails. The plant likes to settle in places where a large amount of rainfall prevails or where the humidity is quite high.

The orchid bears its name due to the fusion of two Greek words "bulbos", translated as "tuber" and "phyllun", meaning "leaf". Sometimes in floriculture it is lovingly called "Bulbash", apparently for its pronounced pseudobulbs. For the first time, a botanist and naturalist of French origin Louis Marie Aubert du Petit-Toire spoke about this genus of orchids, mentioning it in his book "The History of Special Orchid Plants Collected on the French Islands of Southern Africa: Bourbon and Madagascar." Bourbon Island, later renamed Reunion by Bonaparte in 1806.

Bulbophyllum is a sigmoidal plant in which the bud at the top of the pseudobulb dies off or gives rise to a new shoot. The orchid has a large or small creeping stem that is close to the soil and usually originates from a varied form of tuberidia. Tuberidia are called pseudobulbs, which are a thickened near-earth part of the stem. All members of the orchid family are endowed with this organ. In pseudobulbs, the plant tends to accumulate water and nutrients. Often, tuberidia in almost all varieties have convex shapes, often angular and with one or two leaf plates.

The leaves are located at the top of the pseudobulb (apical location) and are terminal. Their plate can be thick or thin, and the shape is very diverse, they can also hang down or have a spreading appearance.

Basically, the growing inflorescences consist of multiple flowers or the flower can be single. The shape of the inflorescences is racemose, they take their origin from the base of the pseudobulb or from the rhizome. Flower sizes are also varied. Some species have a delicate aroma, while others smell disgusting. The lip of the bud can be simple or divided into lobes, often its shape is fleshy, in some cases there are cilia or pubescence along the edge. The column grows straight with a short size. Pollinia (powdery formations resulting from gluing pollen in the anther nest) are usually 4 and they are waxy. Shades of flowers have a wide variety of tones. It happens that the surface is painted with patterns or the tone is uniform.

However, it can be difficult to find common features in these orchids, and the flowering process can begin at different times. With all this, "Bulbash" easily adapts to indoor life and does not require overly complex efforts from its owner to grow.

Growing an orchid in a room, reproduction and care

Lighting. Bulbophyllum should be grown in good light. But arrange shading from direct rays of the sun.
Containment temperature Bulbasha depends on the type of orchid. If the plant grows naturally in mountainous areas. They can withstand moderate or cool heat indicators, and if it settles on the plains, then moderate and warm ones. The temperature during the winter dormancy is 12-15 degrees.
Air humidity should always be elevated, wiping and spraying the leaves will be required.
Watering in summer it is recommended to be plentiful, in winter it is reduced. Use only soft warm water.
Fertilizers for bulbophyllum applied during the active phase 2-3 times a month, using fertilizing for orchids.
Orchid transplant and substrate selection. If the bulbophyllum has a large rhizome, then a plant transplant will need to be carried out. But at the same time, transplantation is always a painful procedure for "Bulbash" and is usually carried out every 5-6 years. You will need to remove the plant from the pot and inspect the soil, if it has not yet undergone decomposition, then it is reused.

The orchid is then placed in a new container, it must be taken taking into account how much the needs of the plant have increased. The root system must be thoroughly cleaned, while removing all spoiled parts. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pot (crushed foam can act as it). The next step is to fill the remaining free space in the container with the substrate chosen for transplanting. The bulbophyllum rhizome is fixed in the pot with a special device, or you can use some kind of improvisation to keep it in the desired position in the flowerpot. Old pseudobulbs in a new container should rest almost against the walls, then there will be enough space for the growth of new formations. You must then attach a tag to the pot with the name of the flower and the date of transplant.

You can use special mixtures for orchids as a substrate, or you can compose the soil yourself by mixing: pine bark, chopped sphagnum moss, rotted leaves and river sand (all parts are equal).

You can get a new bush "bulbosha" by dividing the bush during transplantation, using pseudobulbs, and also use the seed method of reproduction.

Difficulties in cultivating bulbophyllum

Most often, bulbophyllum can be affected by aphids and spider mites. The first harmful insect begins to infect the flower-bearing stems, sucking the juices out of them. To combat the pest, you will need to manually wash off insects and their waste products. A soap solution is prepared (30 g of grated laundry soap is diluted in 1 liter of water) and 2–3 ml of Actellik is diluted into it. The second is mainly found on the underside of the leaf plate, manifested by white dots and a translucent cobweb. To combat this harmful insect, you will need to use the same "Actellik" or "Neoron".

In the garden, snails can be affected and in order to get rid of them they resort to using solutions of coffee or beer, and Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodit, which is produced by the Nemaslug trademark, is used for biological control of snails and slugs. You can also take a more powerful chemical - Metaldehyde (in Russia it is known as Thunderstorm or Meta), but you should remember about its toxicity to humans.

There are also some other problems, such as:

with excessive lighting, the color of the foliage begins to change, spotting appears;
if there is too much nitrogen in the dressings, then leaf burns may occur;
rotting of pseudobulbs occurs from the flooding of soil in a pot, increased humidity, lack of sufficient ventilation;
Bulbophyllum refuses to bloom in case of overheating, excessive or insufficient watering, or it may be the natural features of the variety.

Interesting facts about bulbophillum

Some of the bulbophyllum species are endangered or recognized as such by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

There are bulbash species that bloom exclusively in the summer months or bloom in the winter.

One of the names of Bulbophyllum is Cirropetalum, since some of the species belong to the genus of the same name Cirrhopetalum and some sellers in flower shops call this orchid this way.

Bulbophyllum aroma is highly dependent on its variety. It is divided into both very ngy and pleasant, as well as specific and stinking. Here is a list of some of them and a description of their fragrances:

Bulbophyllum ambrosia, distinguished by the smell of honey and bitter almonds;
Bulbophyllum macranthum, has a delicate and pleasant aroma of fresh cucumbers and cloves;
Bulbophyllum fascinator, pleasant, sweet and bright ripe melon aroma;
Bulbophyllum comosum, the smell of dried grass is heard;
Bulbophyllum hamatipes, Bulbophyllum laviflorum, Bulbophyllum maximum, Bulbophyllum suavissimum, the smell is musky;
Bulbophyllum careyanum, smells good as if overripe fruits are lying nearby, the aroma is weak, moderate.

However, there are species with rather unpleasant odors:

Bulbophyllum echinolabium, Bulbophyllum phaloenopsis, smells like rotten meat;
Bulbophyllum beccarii, as they say in his homeland, "like a hundred dead elephants stink in the sun";
Bulbophyllum curtisii. deafens the stench of chlorinated water;
Bulbophyllum fletcheriona, there is a smell of boiled cabbage leaves;
Bulbophyllum leysianum, unpleasantly stinks of sour sweat;
Bulbophyllum spiesii, has the stench of cat urine.

Bulbophyllum (flies, mosquitoes or butterflies) are attracted to insects that pollinate not only by the scent of flowers, but also by the fact that it tries to imitate other plants, placing its bright petals in a circle, for example, the view of Bulbophyllum retusiusculum.

Bulbophyllum types

Bulbophyllum gilded (Bulbophyllum auratum) is a monocotyledonous plant, first described in 1861 by German botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach (1823–1889), who was the largest orchid specialist in the 19th century. Most often, this beautiful flower can be found in the lands of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as in the Philippines, some species grow in the state of India - Sikkim. The orchid has a creeping rhizome. Pseudobulbs are painted in dark olive tones, they are ovoid in shape, the surface is covered with grooves. They are formed at a distance not exceeding 1–2 cm from each other. In diameter, the flower opens up to 3, 75 cm.
Rotten bulbophyllum (Bulbophyllum putidum). It is interesting that this orchid does not have a generally accepted Russian name; we have presented a simple translation from the Latin language. The plant is a protected species, the trade of which is prohibited to prevent its extinction. The native habitat is the Philippines, the lands of Thailand, on the Malacca Peninsula, in the regions of northeastern India, in Laos and Vietnam, you can find this orchid in Sumatra and the island of Kalimantan. Likes to settle in primary forests located in the mountains, at an altitude of 1000-2000 meters above sea level. Escape of the sympodial type; bulbs are elliptical, their color is dark olive, they are located at a distance of no more than 23 cm from each other; leaves of oblong-elliptical shapes; flowers reach 15–20 cm across.
Bulbophyllum careyanum (Bulbophyllum careyanum). It likes to settle on the branches and trunks of tall trees. In height, the orchid grows up to 25 cm with a width of up to 30 cm. The pseudobulbs of this variety have spherical or oblong shapes. The outlines of the leaf plates can be linear-oblong or linear, their length does not exceed 25 cm. Inflorescences are located on the flower-bearing stems in the form of dense cylindrical brushes, which curvaturely droop towards the soil. Their length reaches 20 cm. Small flowers with yellow-orange or green petals are collected in the inflorescence, their lips are purple in color, and their surface is covered with a red-brown or purple tone. The flowering process takes place in the summer.
Bulbophyllum guttulatum may be found under the name Cirrhopetalum guttulatum. It is an epiphyte - a plant living on trees, reaching a height and width of 25 cm. Pseudobulbs are ovoid in shape. The leaf plates are narrowed-oval and measure 10 cm in length. Inflorescences are straight, with the outlines of an umbellate panicle, growing up to 15–25 cm in height. The inflorescences include several small flowers, the color of their petals is purple-spotted, straw-yellowish or grassy, the lips of the flower are cast in a light purple tone. The flowers have an unpleasant smell. The flowering process occurs in the summer months.
Bulbophyllum lobbii (Bulbophyllum lobbii) - an epiphyte orchid that grows up to 15 cm in height and reaches a width of 23 cm. Pseudobulbs are placed at a distance of 7 cm from each other, their shape is ovoid, the color is greenish-yellow. In height, they reach 2.5 cm with a width of 0.5 cm. The leaf plates have narrowed-ovoid outlines, reach a length of 10-25 cm and a width of up to 7 cm, their surface is leathery. The flowering stem does not exceed a height of 12 cm, bends in an arc. Flowers grow singly, their color is red-spotted and yellow-ocher, can be light yellow with purple dots. In diameter, they can reach 7-10 cm, have a scent, the petals of the buds are waxy, with a long life span. Sepals have a lanceolate shape, their tops are pointed, crescent. They are longer than the petals. The lip is short in size, with a heart-shaped outline. Orchids bloom in the summer. It mainly grows in Thailand.
Bulbophyllum medusa (Bulbophyllum medusae) or as it is also called Cirrhopetalum medusa. Height - 20 cm, width 23 cm. It is an epiphyte with ovoid tuberidia. The leaf plates are narrowed-lanceolate in shape, up to 15 cm in length. Peduncles are stretched erect or curved and umbellate inflorescences up to 15 cm long are placed on their tops. They are made up of small snow-white or cream flowers, decorated with red or yellow spots. The flowering process begins in the summer.
Bulbophyllum beautiful (Bulbophyllum ornatissimum Rchb.f.) considers the lands of India and the Himalayas to be his native territories. Tuberidia in this orchid have 4 sides, one-leaf with an ovoid shape. The height reaches 3 cm. The location of the pseudobulbs is about 5 cm from each other. The leaf plates are up to 15 cm long. The flower is 10 cm long and has a scent. The upper sepal has an elongated rhomboid shape, its color is yellow, the surface is mottled with red-brown speckles. Sepals on the sides of a yellowish color, narrow in length, measuring 7 cm. The petals themselves are small, there are red stripes on a yellow background. The lip is small and purple in color. The flowering process can take place in the fall or at the very beginning of winter. Must be grown in moderate heat.