Bulbophyllum echinolabium help

[xristie9]

Hello,

I bought an Bulbophyllum echinolabium, I potted it in a basket. I would like to ask for general help. What light, fertilizing does it need? Is it a cold loving orchid? Does it require some dry rest to bloom?

Thank you for every little help.

[Germinatorman]

I would hit the Internet if I were you, especially places like Jay Pfaals encyclopedia of orchids site. One comment I might have on repotting. You would have saved yourself some work if you had situated the older pseudo-bulbs near the edge of the basket so the plant would have longer to grow in the pot. With the new growth at the edge it will not be long before new growth starts hanging over the edge, and Bulbos are famous for growing out of their pots.

[xristie9]

I usualy do that, but i bought this one on wood so I could not situate it better in the basket... the small wood would fall out of the basket...

[Germinatorman]

Ah, so you left it on the wood plaque. Well that is probably smart, it can grow right off of it in the basket.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I hope Ron-NY sees this as he grows many bulbos and could offer some culture advice. Healthy looking orchid in any case.

Cheers,
BD

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I spoke to Ron on FB and here is what he had to say:

echinolabium I grow in a pot with bark mix...clay pot...this one I keep fairly bright and have it about 5 feet from the west wall of the greenhouse..Like most Bulbos they are heavy feeders and like to be moist but well drained. There are not many Bulbos that are cold loving. Some are cool tolerant ...Mine need to deal with 60 degree lows but most would prefer warmer..What size basket is that. I am trying to get a size perspective on the plant. These grow fairly large.

Cheers,
BD

[xristie9]

Germinatorman: even i the plaque bercomes small I can nail another bigger one outside the basket.

Ron-NY: Oh, the teperatures can drop to 15celsius - 59F in the room, but it will be a problem in the nights outside, because it can drop to 10C-50 as well. I will just let it in my rool a little bit longer and put it outside when the temperatures will be adequate.

Groving condition in Svit(Slovakia,middle Europe) : Summer: 18-C, 64-75F, 10-15Cnight,50-59F......I have most of my orchids outside in a shade house during the summer... Winter -25C-0C -13-32F, in winter I grow them in warious places in the house, we have a cold house so the conditions are better for colder or intermidiate temperature lovers.

But I will find a warm place fot the bulb inside and will wait for the temperatures to raise so I can put it outside a little bit.

The basket is 8cm = 3.1in wide. I heard that the plant itself is small but the flowers can be quite big.

Brutal_Dreamer: yes, the plant is healthy and growing a new leaf.

[wonderlen]

Your bulbo got one or two of season to go before it will bloom. Its one the largest bulbo species. The bulb is about the size of small-med egg size on mature plant and the leaf can be up to 12" tall.
I grow echinolabium on shallow pan, because all bulbo has shallow roots. large gravel on the bottom, with pure moss. Moist all the time, with slight dryness of the moss during winter or when the plant is resting. Intermediate temperature is fine with this specie. but the flower will last longer in cooler room. The flower can be upto 12" top to bottom, but unfortunately they don't last long. Only about 7-10 days, but its sequential bloomer so you can expect the spikes to flower over several months.

[xristie9]

thanks...

do you think I should repot my bulbo once more... the medium in the basked is a dry one... should I repot it in moss?

[wilburdude]

I am so thrilled to have found this post as I need some help or any tips anyone can provide as I am new to both the forum and to the world of orchids.

I have an Bulbophyllum echinolabium which was given to me as my first orchid, but is giving me some troubles. When my firend got it it was in bloom, however sadly the bloom died in transport. But thanks to the nature of bulbophyllums the spike developed a second bloom. It has now developed another bloom. Problem is both the bloom since it was given to me about 2 months ago have proceeded to develop to the point where they should have opened and the bloom seems to split at the very end as if it was going to open up to its distinct shape, but at that point it stalls and just sits there. AT that point and upon closer inspection I had noticed the bloom had detached itself from the spike and was just stuck in the sheathing on the spike. It has done this two times in a row now. I have it under two grow lights that run from 7 am to about 10 pm each day and keep the potting medium nice and moist but never in standing water. I notice just a few weeks ago what I thought were 2 new bulbs developing, however they both turn out to be 2 new spikes coming up from the newest 2 bulbs. I am lost at why the blooks just will not open and keep falling off before they do. Any suggestions or ideas? Im new to bulbos and to orchids in general so have no idea what could be causeing this. Obviously the plant is happy and healthy if it is send up 2 new spikes. Thanks for all your help!