Bulbophyllum-Cirrhopetalums

#1 - Bulbophyllum Lepidum

Mid April 2015. After years of not flowering, this Bulbo has now produced about 8-10 spikes!  Here are the 4 latest ones...

Bulbo #1 - Bulbophyllum Lepidum

6 March 2015.  It continues to evolve....  Here is a short excerpt from the American Orchid Society which describes what I have observed - especially the bit about the bobbing labellum - the shiny black bit in the photo below.  Fascinating.

"The labellum forms one of the more charming parts of the blossom, being hinged so delicately that the slightest touch or breeze sets it into motion, bobbing up and down. Van der Pijl and Dodson (1966) point out that flies landing on the large lateral sepals ascend them to the hinged labellum. Having then crossed the labellum, they overbalance it and are tumbled abruptly into the interior of the flower. Hooks on the sides of the column serve to hold the flies there long enough for them to pick up pollinia during their attempts to escape."

Close up showing one labellum open

Early March 2015.  The first spike of Bulbo #1 has finally opened!

"These orchids have long been known and grown for their umbel-like flower clusters that are so different-looking and seem, at first glance, to be quite distinct from most orchids. Each of the "petals" that makes up the pseudo-daisy is, of course, an individual flower — wholly separate and independent." (Source)

Bulbo #1 - Fully opened flower

Close-up showing "eyelashes"

"When one examines the blossom sufficiently closely, there are a number of other striking and curious features to delight the eye. The labellum is very loosely hinged, so loosely in fact that the slightest touch will set it to bobbing rapidly, causing it to look somewhat like a blinking eye. This bobbing labellum is set into a place that looks like the entrance to a porch, but the long, sac-like structure that makes up most of the bulk of the blossom actually consists of the infolded margins of the lateral sepals, which not only meet but fuse together in many cases."

Looking even more daisy-like

The full plant with 2 fully opened spikes

Late February 2015.  Bulbo #1 was indeed producing flower spikes at last and there are now a total of 4 spikes!  Finally, after three years of waiting!

Bulbo #1 - 15 Feb 2015

Bulbo #1 - 1 Mar 2015

Late January 2015.  Bulbo #1 has continued is healthy growth and there are lots of new shoots growing.  I'm also hoping that its finally producing some spikes...

Bulbo #1 with spike

October 2014.   Bulbo #2 is the first Bulbo that I have ever managed to get to flower and I still don't quite know what the trick was - cooler weather?  more shady location?   Here is the fascinating evolution of the weird and wonderful spike. What it lacks in colour is definitely made up for in its dramatic forms.  I do love the subtle stripes though...

18 October

21 October

22 October

23 October

24 October

24 October Close-up

27 October

27 Oct side view

All the potential sadly did not materialise as for some reason, the spike suddenly collapsed one day... possibly due to particularly hot and dry weather.

1 Nov

A few days later, the weather cooled significantly and it seemed to revive somewhat but sadly the flowers were shrivelled and so it did not last much longer after that. :(

4 Nov

Late August 2014.  One of the success stories of this summer...  Bulbo #1 has finally settled down and is growing profusely in the hot humid weather.  I had moved it to a much sunnier spot and it seems to be much happier!  But still no flowers :(

Bulbo #1

There is even one pseudobulb which has 2 leaves rather than the normal one!

Bulbo #1 - Double leafed pseudobulb

May 2014. The warming weather has helped with lots of new growth ...

Bulbo #2

Bulbo #1

Bulbo #3

March 2014.  Giving it more sun to Bulbo #1 has paid off, especially during the cooler months and now it is spouting many new shoots!  Hopefully we will have some flowers in due course!

Bulbo #1 - March 2014

Another Bulbophyllum orchid (#2) 
also sprouting a new shoot this was purchased
 in Nov 2013 from the Flower Market in Kowloon 
(March 2014)

August 2013.  I have not done too well with this orchid.  Bought it at the Hong Kong Flower show not knowing what it was called and what growing conditions were necessary.  This is what it looked like when I first bought it.

Bulbo #1 March 2012

Sadly, it has not done well since perhaps because I have largely kept it in the shade?

Bulbo #1 - January 2013

I have now just found this information on it... from a blog called "Tillandsia & Bulbo"

"The easy to grow, warm to hot growing Bulbophyllum lepidum is one of the most easily and readily available Bulbophyllum till date. Considering it’s commonality, i do not have much success with re-spiking it. I heard that according to some growers that it does not continuously bloom unless given the right condition. So what constitutes the right condition. Yes, high humidity and high light. Anyone of them missing, it will just grow bulbs after bulbs with no sign of flowering. It’s daisy like flower certainly captures a lot of growers and collectors attention, as it look out of this world with its’ flower. There are many colour variation of lepidum since they come from a vast array of sources. Some from Thailand, Malaysia and so on. It’s a really common Bulbophyllum and those who might want to start off, will certainly appreciate it’s ease of care."

So the plan is now to try putting it where it gets more sun. I hope it's not too hot given our summer temps are quite high!


Here is another link with growing instructions.