Need Advice on growing Brassovola little stars and Bulbophyllu

[Rhonda Svoboda]

Hello all:
I've been growing orchids for awhile now but recently decided to focus entirely on orchids. I've successfully grown cattlelya's, phal's, and the like.
I live in Michigan so there's not a lot of sun but I've built a grow light garden which has made a difference.
Anyway, I recently branched out into species and some rarer orchids. I am looking for culture advice and practicle advice on growing these.
Specifically, I'de like to try Brassovola "little stars" and Bulbophyllum "daisy Chain"
How hard are these to grow? Do they have any "quirks" that I should know about?
Thanks

[Roberta]

First, Welcome! You have come to a great place for information. There are several members from your area, who grow under conditions similar to yours. Others will chime in, Both of those orchids are hybrids that should grow well for you.

[Leafmite]

Little Stars is grown the same way as Brassavola nodosa (one of the parents). You can mount it or grow it in a fast draining medium. I grow this in a basket pot with red lava rock and limestone as a medium. I have it planted so that only the roots go down into the medium. It likes to be watered often and dry out quickly in this set up.

I don't grow this particular Bulbo so hopefully someone else will help. The Orchid Society where I belong also has a Facebook page and they are going to try to have someone check it often to answer questions so that might be an option, too.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I have both of these guys. Great plants. As mentioned, the brass like a lot of water and then dry. I also grow in a super open medium and I water daily
Take it as a bit of nothing bc I live in a very different climate and grow outside.

That bulbophyllum, like almost all, wants to be wet to moist all the time but with a lot of air movement around the roots to prevent stagnation. I use baskets lined with coconut coir and loosely cover in chopped sphagnum moss. I wet it often and let Ma nature as well.

[Ray]

One "minor" detail that hasn't been mentioned is light level. The brassavola wants a LOT of light; the bulbophyllum wants little.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Very good point, Ray!!

What he said x2

[Dollythehun]

Hi, Rhonda. I'm in your approximate area (well a couple hours south.) My little Stars is mounted, hangs in an unobstructed south window, and blooms regularly. I water every few days by dunking it and feed it when I think of it. It's a relatively carefree plant for me.