Bulb. carunculatum - Orchid Board

WaterWitchin · #1 03-19-2021, 01:30 PM

I have one that's a good four or five years old. Was blooming size when it was given to me by a friend who thought I really "needed" to grow at least one Bulb.

It's been in SH since it arrived. Always used RO water, and fertilize/KelpMax like anything else, etc. Consistently in spring it grows new bulbs, leaves get to almost mature size, then I get dieback of end of leaves on most of the leaves. And it's never EVER bloomed under my culture.

It's starting to really irritate me. I have new growth coming up now, and this is first year it won't be outside but will still be outdoor temps during summer. I think maybe it gets too hot in summer here? What is the temperature range for these (by someone who's successfully growing them) please? And any other thing you can think of that might be causing it? Or its failure to ever bloom?

If a picture would help, I'll add one later today. Otherwise not climbing those stairs again until I need to.

estación seca · #2 03-19-2021, 02:40 PM

You're describing classic dieback from underwatering. Bulbos have short roots compared to most orchids. I don't think they work in S/H unless humidity is so high all the LECA is constantly moist and there is no upper dry zone at any time. The roots don't reach very far down into the pot.

Grow them in sphagnum like a Sarracenia.

WaterWitchin · #3 03-19-2021, 03:13 PM

So just consistently wet all the time?

---------- Post added at 01:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:12 PM ----------

And I really want to try growing some Sarracena outside this year. If it's a supposed native plant, why are they so darned expensive?!?

DirtyCoconuts · #4 03-19-2021, 05:05 PM

I agree. Treat it like an aquatic plant

WaterWitchin · #5 03-19-2021, 08:22 PM

Seriously dudes? I could repot into PET and still feel like I was doing SH?

estación seca · #6 03-19-2021, 09:44 PM

No, remember they have short roots. Shallow baskets or trays.

Roberta · #7 03-19-2021, 10:01 PM

Bill Thoms (who probably knows as much as anybody on the planet in terms of growing Bulbos) grows them pretty much sopping wet. Sphag may be a good medium - he uses it a lot. He emphasizes that roots getting water over a long period of time is desirable. (In his talks, he repeats the mantra "More water, longer")

WaterWitchin · #8 03-20-2021, 11:04 AM

Okay folks. Today I'll de-pot it and check out the roots. I'll report in later with what I see.

DirtyCoconuts · #9 03-20-2021, 01:12 PM

As a note. They will live as you described

I have several I misplayed when I got them and they grew, slowly and never flowered. After adjusting to increase the water. They are taking off.

I am really into the rock wool cubes with these now. I’ll get some pics for you

WaterWitchin · #10 03-20-2021, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

As a note. They will live as you described

I have several I misplayed when I got them and they grew, slowly and never flowered. After adjusting to increase the water. They are taking off.

I am really into the rock wool cubes with these now. I’ll get some pics for you

Yeah, please do! I just repotted mine a couple of months back with a hellacious amount of rockwool in with the LECA. Perhaps that's why I'm getting so much new growth all of a sudden. It may be I've figured it out recently and didn't realize it. It's still in SH watering mode, but the top layer is never dry now.

That's why I was also suggesting PET method ESeca... top layer is all sphag anyway, but it's still same watering mode as SH.