Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis

Base Price: $100.00

Intro:
Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis, a rare species from Irian Jaya has very wide Phalaenopsis-like leaves. The leaves can grow up to 48 inches long with round softball sized pseudobulbs on mature specimens that are several years old. The flower scapes emerge in the spring to fall months. The flowers are very unusual in that they are carrion scented and smell of rotting flesh. Fortunately you have to get fairly close to the flowers to catch the scent. Most likely these are fly pollinated. There are three related species including phalaenopsis, fletcherianum and macrobulbon. They are all very similar when flowering. Some have more hairs on the outside of the flowers. The foliage is exactly the same on all three. There has been a great deal of confusion regarding these species. Most likely if you were to observe these in nature flowering en mass you would observe all three variations in the same population. This orchid is easy to grow and would be treated as a phalaenopsis for culture. The plants we offer are flowering size.

Light:
Low to medium as for Phalaenopsis. Bright diffused light is best. Too much light will cause an intense reddening of the foliage.

Temperature:
Intermediate to warm with daytime highs being 70 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Night time lows should not fall below 60 or 62.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. The use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial.

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 hydrolog approaches dryness but do not allow it to become completely dry between watering. The hydrolog will become quite heavy when fully saturated with water. It will become light as it approaches dryness. If it dries out too much you may have to water it 3 or 4 times to get it to recharge to its full capacity.

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.

Flowering:
This plant produces clusters of three inch tubular flowers at the base of the pseudobulbs. The flowers can be smooth or hairy on the outside with a smooth dark blood red inside. They have the scent of carrion. The fragrance can be overpowering but fortunately you have to be fairly close to pick it up.

Repotting:
Bulbophyllums are best grown on hydrologs which are made out of oasis wrapped in sphagnum with a coco fiber overlay. The hydrolog holds water for several days allowing the water demanding bulbophyllums to thrive. Hydrologs will last for 10 to 15 years as long as the water does not have much mineral content. As the plant out grows the hydrolog it does so in a pendulous fashion. You can simply extend the hydrolog by attaching another to the bottom and wiring the two together.