Such a beautiful and exotic looking orchid…. this is one I am kind of holding on to even though I don’t really have the space. I have bloomed it sucessfully on the windowsill, but I get one, perhaps two flowers. In the warm/intermediate vivarium I get about 5 flowers per bulb, and all the bulbs bloom. So I grow it in the very, very small vivarium (really meant for minis) even though I cannot really fit it…
This is a fast growing epiphyte from Malaysia to the Philippines. The common name for this species is “The Wreath Carrying” and it is not hard to see why. The shape of the flower is lovely and perfectly symmetric. Flowers measure about 15 mm wide and they are covered in some sort of liquid making them look very appetizing to the prospective pollinator I’m sure. Looks pretty much like edible magenta… It prefers high humidity, and warm temperatures, which explains why it grows that much better in the vivarium compared to the windowsill. I grow it in EpiWeb substrate in a mesh pot, about medium low light 80% humidity and keeping it evenly moist.
Bulbophyllum pulchellum Ridl., Mat. Fl. Malay. Penins. 1: 83 (1907).
Out of all the orchids which I’ve had tremendous success with, this Malaysian wreath orchid – Bulbophyllum pulchellum – just won’t cooperate. Or maybe it is I who doesn’t seem to cooperate with its needs. In any case, the plants does very well at it continually produces more leaves and stronger roots but the blooms never appear.
I have found it is hard to produce any blooms on this species in low humidity. Once I moved mine from the window to the intermed/warm viv where it is 70-85% RH, it is blooming profusely!
Wow you are doing really well to flower that well indoors. Great site with amazing detailed articles.
Amazing to reab about all the lights etc, we have plenty of sun over here in aus, too much at the moment..
Thanks Alan! Yes, we do need a lot of extra light here up north. We only have about 6,5 hours of daylight right about now…
I am in Florida and we have plenty of warm humidity. I grow in a shady part of the shade-house. Love umbrells pulchellum among them. Good job blooming them indoors~~~
Thanks Bill! 🙂 I have bloomed this one on the windowsill too, but it definitely is blooming much more generously when I keep it in higher RH in the vivarium.
I am growing a lot of bulbophyllums here in Florida I love the umbrells
I like the umbrellas too, but I don’t really have room for too many of these rambling plants… one day in a larger greenhouse perhaps… 😉