Bulbophyllum carunculatum

Base Price: $65.00

Intro:
Bulbophylum carunculatum is a species native to the Philippines that grows in bright, slightly shady conditions. This plant has long, wide stiff leaves reminiscent of a cattleya. There is a nice plump egg shaped pseudobulb at the base of each leaf and the flower spikes emerge from the base rising to 18 or 24 inches. The flowers are large and long lasting and each spike can bloom for a year to 18 months or more. This plant is never out of bloom when they are large specimens. This orchid is easy to grow and can be grown with phalaenopsis.
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Light:
This plant prefers low to medium light and will do well with 750 to 2,500 foot candles of light. At windowsills east or west windows are ideal. This plant will also grow and flower well under artificial light culture. They will grow well in phalaenopsis conditions.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.

Temperature:
This species prefers temperatures in the intermediate to warm range with winter day time temps being 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and winter night time lows being not much colder than 63 degrees. A minimum temp should be no colder than 60 degrees.

Humidity:
Ideal humidity levels should be 50% or above.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering.
Over watering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water.

Or, use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This species typically begins its flower spikes in the spring to early summer but once in flower can bloom for a year to 18 months on the same spike. The flowers are large, from 3 to 4 inches in size and are of good substance. The color is lemon-yellow ochre with a deep reddish purple hairy lip that rocks back and forth when disturbed by the wind presumably to attract pollinators. Many bulbophyllums have a foul smell but this plant produces a fragrance similar to real hard apple cider. Fortunately the fragrance is hard to detect unless one puts their nose right up to the flower.

Repotting:
This plant should be repotted in either the late spring or early fall months in a well-drained mix. We prefer New Zealand sphagnum and clay pots for mature plants and a bark mix with plastic pots for plants in pots under 4 inches. The plants may be divided when there are 6 or more bulbs on a mature plant. It is best to leave 3 bulbs to each division.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.