VEry unexperienced bulbo grower... help?

[JKeys]

I just bought a bulb. echinolabium. I potted in a mesh pot with peanuts on the bottom, and placed in the plant so no pbulbs are covered, then put in some sphag. The plant was previously in... potting soil? Many roots are brown but firm, some are brown and not firm. There are lots of new roots and one new lead (it is a tiny, white thing). However, many of the root tips on the healthy roots have turned brownish or black since yesterday. Or at least, I didn't notice it yesterday. In the meantime, does anyone have general bulbo tips? Watering, light, temperature, fertilizing, etc? Thanks.



Here's the lead:

The Roots:


This leaf looks greener than actually is... I had the flash on.

[Paul Mc]

I'm no expert on Bulbo's, but the wrinkled leaf looks to me like it didn't get enough water at some point. They like to be moist, but not wet. The root growth is promising though! Not sure about the darkened roots though. I'm new to these myself. I keep them alive but no blooms in over 3 years, lol...

Have you checked the Baker's website for culture info?! I believe you get a few for free so it may be worth it to look it up and see what in-situ info they have.

[Bud]

these are equatorial plants that blooms in spring/summer with flower odors of rotted meat(you are very brave to own this one)
it is hot to warm culture = invest in a warm humidifier with oscillating fan....(your indoor heating and summer AC will dry this plant fast)
water this every other day by immersing it in the sink but not to wet the leaves....these plants are given morning mist/dew early in the day in the forest; and is protected by large trees from the floods and monsoon rains in the swamps....weekly weakly fertilizer.
your plant looks ok to me....the discoloration of the roots are algae and you can correct this by a good algaecide....otherwise it might develop bacteria and fungi and it can really give you problems....
Paul is correct: the pleated leaf is a sign of moisture problems

[Brooke]

I grow the echiolabium plus quite a few other Bulbos. I grow almost all of mine, including the echio in Catt light. Mine blooms whenever it wants, which means multiple times of the year. It has to deal with winter temps no lower than 60.

Your roots look fine and I see growing tips on most of them. The discoloration is probably caused from the previous media used. It is nothing to worry about.

I also grow all of mine in net pots with p'nuts in the bottom, sphag lining the sides but I then put seedling bark or CHC on top of the p'nuts, add the plant and then top with additional sphag. During the summer I grow it sitting in a saucer of water.

I've never had a wrinkled leaf but it could have been trapped in the bract around the pbulb. Sometimes the bracts can be tough and the leaf doesn't break through. I've had it happen on my Masdies once in a while with either a leaf or a spike.

Brooke

[JKeys]

Thanks Brooke! Is the stench really that bad?

[Brooke]

For me it is but I hate the smell of fish and rotting fish is pretty bad. On the upside, the echio is a sequential bloomer and it is the first bloom that is the worst. It is also more "fragrant" when the sun hits it.

Brooke

[Kevinator]

Well, there are some sweet Bulbos out there including my favorite, the honey smelling Bulb. ambriosia (It's on my wish list). Bulb. echinolabium is one of those rotting meat flowers with everlasting beauty and stench when it flowers. The stench can easlily build up in an enclosed area but is mild if the area isn't enclosed. Out of all the info I found, it requires a warm, humid environment with good air circulation typical of most Bulbos.

[JKeys]

This is my first bulbo. So far, I've had experiences with intergenic oncidiums, cattleyas, and dendrobiums. I have this bulbo in my room... I'm saving for a greenhouse. My birthday, when I'll probably get it, is in April... hopefully it won't bloom before then. If it does, I'll just have to move it outside.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Blooming of blooming sized Bulbos are usually triggered by temperature drops between day and night and seasonal temperature changes if there are enough growths per division (usually more than 3 growths). So if you have this under control, then it won't bloom when you don't want it to bloom. Other Bulbos can be very stubborn regardless, but yours shouldn't be one of the stubborn ones.

Your plant will recover, despite the heavy root damage.

Imo, you've done the right thing. Time will tell if you will be successful in the long run or not. In the meantime, just do your best and hopefully everything will turn out fine.

[JKeys]

Thanks.