Bulbophyllum medusae - 6 spikes in bloom
 

This is my first Bulbophyllum, bought about six months ago. I got it after seeing other members' photos here on the Orchid Board. I'm so glad I did.

It has been an easy grower so far. I keep it wet and give it lots of light. It spent the summer outside under a tree and it grew five new leaves. Never had any bug problems but there are little orange holes on a few pseudobulbs that look like they could be a fungus. I have been dabbing them with fungicide on a cotton swab.

Back to the flowers. What can I say? I could sit and stare at them for hours.

It has a fragrance. It is decidedly sweet, yet there is weight, and depth. It stays with you for a moment. It is pleasant, yet mysterious. It reminds me of something...my grandmother's basement, a piece of white wedding cake, a new plastic container, and something else...?

It took from August 30 till November 15 to grow its spikes and bloom. You can follow this plant from spike to flower here.

Hope you enjoy the video & photos.



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Added 11/17
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Very nice, it looks to be in a happy place along with your other orchids.

Wow. Just wow! Gorgeous! How wet is wet, exactly? And how warm are you keeping it indoors during the winter? I've wanted to try this one... but I'm not sure it's right for me.

RG, wow is right. I wish you were here to see it in person, the photos do not do it justice. All the dangling sepals dance at the slightest air movement. I am entranced!

About culture, wet is admittedly wetter when it is hanging outside than when it is sitting inside. Outdoors, it was hosed down daily. Indoors the sphagnum is damp but not dripping. I've noticed the bulbs have shriveled some since they've been indoors...not sure if it's because of lack of water or because of the added stress of producing those flowers.

Temps are hovering around 20C/68F in the sunroom during the day and down to 16C/60F at night. They get sun through a screened window from 11 - 3...that is, when it's not gloomy and gray :)

If you've got the space, I can't recommend this one enough.

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 PM ----------

Happy place is right! It's on display on the plant stand while it's in bloom :)

I love this plant!!

Simply gorgeous.....all those spikes. And so another orchid goes on my wish list.

Hrm... home library... orchid growing room... home library... orchid growing room... Crap! Looks like I have a choice to make! :D

Ok, while I have been in love with this one for some time, I have not put it on my wish list because it has always said grow warm. My house can get cold, like around 57 this morning, what do you growers think?

I'm tell'in ya if I thought I could grow this one.

No-Pro, I think that it would tolerate the cooler temps if you still gave it plenty of light and reduced the water. If you can give it a warm, humid, wet summer to make up for the winter, it would probably be ok.

Beautiful!

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing