Opinions wanted: help with bulbophyllum pingtungense

[iSoup]

Hi all,

I am new to this orchid group as I just acquired this bulbophyllum pingtungense in the summer.

I keep it in a small basket filled with sphagnum. The basket is kept in a fishbowl on top of a layer of hydroton. I also put a ring of sphagnum around the edge of the bowl to try to keep the humidity up but to allow air space around the basket. I try to make sure the sphagnum never dries out. Right now it gets watered twice a week.

Sadly, it’s lost a leaf (others are shriveled) and has a darkened aerial root. It seems like it might be under watered but I’m worried the dark root could be root rot. Any advice would be appreciated, I don’t want to kill this little guy.

[estación seca]

Bulbo. roots and new growths do poorly hanging out in the air unless relative humidity is very high, like in a greenhouse. You don't need to remove it from the basket. I would pot the entire thing in a shallow, wide container of sphagnum moss, ensuring those newest roots are covered, and the slender rhizome at the surface. Then keep the sphagnum wet.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

May be too much water.

Sounds counterintuitive, but you’d be surprised.

Try growing in a shallow tray with holes. Some examples of ideas you can use in a pinch…

Go to your local pet store and get the lids to a Critter Keeper.

You can also get these:

Amazon.com

I don’t know what your growing environment is like, but relative humidity doesn’t have to be ridiculously high.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 AM ----------

I use coconut husk chips as a growing medium, but you can also use fir bark chips as well. Usually a small to medium grade works just fine.

I let the media dry out between waterings.