Bulb. dearei blooms and flowers failing. Please help

[nynighthawk]

Hi folks,

I am hoping you can help me before I actually kill my Bulb. dearei.

When I got it about a year ago, it was potted in pine bark chips. It was never happy and I had a heck of a time keeping the chips moist. So, about six months ago, I repotted it into a shallow container with a layer of LECA at the bottom and sphagnum moss on top. I kept a little water in the LECA, so the moss stays damp.

Well, the Bulb. seemed much happier and about a monthh ago, it put out three flowers. Each got to be about two or three inches tall, but seemed rather pale. Then each one turned brown and collapsed. Grrrrrrrr.

What is also happening, is that the plant has put out several new growths. They start out nice and fat. But, they also seem pale and after growing an inch or two turn brown and a little soft and die.

The mature leaves are firm, but not as shiny as when I got the plant. The color seems OK, but some of the leaves have developed a bright yellow tip.

I don't know if I'm actually overwatering this little 'chid, not giving it enough fertilizer (weakly, weekly) too much or too little light or what.

Currently, there are a couple of new growths and roots emerging from the "stalk" of one of the older growths that died back.

I feel really bad. This little 'chid is trying its darndest to put on new growth and even a few flowers and I feel like I'm just doing something very, very wrong.

I hope you can give me some guidance with this before I kill it outright. I am getting seriously hooked on Bulbos.

BTW...I'm seeing a little range of lighting that's been suggested in some of the threads. Can you suggest a ballpark footcandle range? Someone's bright shade might not be the same as someone else's.

Thanks soooo much, folks.

Frustrated Orchid Mom

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Could you post some pictures, that would help? I use for my bulbos mix of small bark and sphagnum and it seems to be working actually perfect. I have my medusae in straight sphagnum and it does work also good, but I do prefer the bark/sphagnum mix, which helps the roots to attach to small bark chips and the sphagnum to keep the plant moist. I hope you will be able to safe your baby, if it tries to bloom and shoots new rhizomes that means it is really trying to live! So it is not so bad hopefully yet.

[Tondomanila]

You are in New York, you have summer and winter climate. If the plant is flowering right now (fall/winter season), I would suggest to keep the plant a little drier and keep the temperature above 70 degrees. Also, try to keep the plant in the brightest area. Do NOT overwater the plant and do NOT wet the leaves and the flower spikes. If you accidentally watered the leaves or the flower spikes, I suggest to spary it with RD20 or Physan solution. If its not available, put an electric fan to dry them out. In additon, make sure there are no sluggs roaming around the plant. Just my suggestion.