Bulbo Education

[AnonYMouse]

I need to be educated on the genera. I'm very new to Bulbos and haven't looked closely to the plants previously. I've seen countless pictures and read care for specific species but there are gaps I haven't been able to fill.

Now that I own a couple, I have questions:
• Are there eyes like with catts (I don't see any)?
• Where does the rhizome grow out from (specific location at the base of pbulb)?
• Are there any "do this to the plant parts but do NOT do that" sorts of things? (I know about not burying the rhizome.)
• Do the rhizomes grow until the environment is right for a pbulb or is it seasonal? And what does that look like? Or does the pbulb grow simultaneously?
• Where does the inflorescence grow out from? Only one per Pbulb/rhizome link (for lack of a better term)

Is there a site (besides the AOS) that has these answers (and more)? Books must be electronic for me now since plants have taken over the bookcases.

TIA

[kindrag23]

Well my macranthum, likes bright indirect light/bright shade. Not direct light made that mistake. Need high humidity wet but not soaking at all times never allow to completely dry out....does tjat help? I almost fried mine getting my chid requiremwnts crossed and it it now in the rehab room whoopsie....

[AnonYMouse]

I don't need care info. Care for B. macranthum will not be appropriate for many others. Bulbophyllum is a very big genus with divergent requirements.

I mostly want bulbophyllum physiognomy info, at least right now.

[kindrag23]

Okay. Sorry cant help there.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

• Are there eyes like with catts (I don't see any)?
• Where does the rhizome grow out from (specific location at the base of pbulb)?
• Are there any "do this to the plant parts but do NOT do that" sorts of things? (I know about not burying the rhizome.)
• Do the rhizomes grow until the environment is right for a pbulb or is it seasonal? And what does that look like? Or does the pbulb grow simultaneously?
• Where does the inflorescence grow out from? Only one per Pbulb/rhizome link (for lack of a better term)

Is there a site (besides the AOS) that has these answers (and more)? Books must be electronic for me now since plants have taken over the bookcases.

TIA

Excellent genus choice, Mouse, one of my longtime favorites! Bill Thoms' book is a good place to start and is available electronically, and the various forums (OB, Slippertalk, Orchidgeeks, Orchidtalk, Orchidsource, Orchidsinteractive, Orchidsonline are the ones I know) have a ton of info and photos of various species. IOSPE, the Swiss Orchid Foundation's Virtual Herbarium, and OrchidsPNG are also great resources. I'd link these all for you but I'm procrastinating on homework so I really probably shouldn't take the time...

To briefly answer your questions: there are eyes at the base of pseudobulbs and in some along the rhizomes, though they're covered in bracts and in most species pretty hard to notice until they grow. New growths and spikes both start from these basal eyes, numbers of them vary somewhat by species and health but in my experience are never less than two, meaning each bulb can potentially both sprout and flower, often in multiples of each (I've gotten as many as 4 new growths and 4 spikes from some). I've never read whether eyes are 'predetermined' or 'flexible' as to whether they make flowers or growths, but I suspect most if not all species are flexible. Rhizome length is usually though not always pretty similar among individuals of a species but can vary anywhere between 18" and next to nothing depending on species.

[AnonYMouse]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!


You've answered my current batch of questions. Bulbos are so different looking from anything I've grown before.

[IncurablePlantHead]

I'm looking forward to trying a couple of them.