Opinions wanted: help with bulbophyllum pingtungense
 

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.

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.

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.