Bulbophyllum echinolabium

[Greenthumb.5]

I bought a large speciman about a year ago and it has greatly reduced its self to a meger two backbulbs that has no leads or any possible eyes from what I can see and is there any possible chance to bring it back from the dead. The backbulbs are still green and plump but the rhizome is a ashy brown color.

[gnathaniel]

It might come back, most Bulbos are pretty tough and vigorous. A picture would probably help in assessing.

A brown rhizome by itself isn't anything to be concerned about, that's typical of most Bulbos I've seen. And there are likely still some dormant eyes, they're not always as obvious in this genus as in some others; some species will even sprout off the middle of a rhizome.

If you have any LECA, stalite, or small quartz gravel around, I've had good results sprouting tiny divisions in a small pot of gravel sitting in a shallow dish of water at all times. Put this in a warm, bright, breezy place and don't let it dry out, ever. If you get a new growth, start fertilizing it lightly after new roots appear. Good luck!

[Greenthumb.5]

Thank you so much but will check here for more information as I need to learn more and are Bulbophyllum echinolabium warm-growing and love to be moist at all times but like shade too?

[Greenthumb.5]

Would these pictures help?
I am sorry if the pictures might be too large but I am definetly not a computer person.

Orchid itself
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...line&safe=1&zw


And the orchid potted up into Aliflor in a pot in a cup for humidty
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui...line&safe=1&zw

---------- Post added at 01:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 AM ----------

So is that what you meant? With the pot?

[gnathaniel]

Picture links aren't working, they look like they're to your gmail account? Probably good that they didn't work!

I think Rosie pointed you to this in another thread: tips for posting photos. Linking photos from a flickr or photobucket account is one easy way to to it, though the photos can later 'break' if you move the linked picture elsewhere in your account.

[Greenthumb.5]

Sorry I will try photobucket but how can I post a picture from my Galaxy Samsung 3? I tried flicker to no success.

[CTB]

Upload your pictures to your flickr acct, or e-mail to yourself them move them around to where you can post them.

[ZWUM]

How did you grow the plant to begin with?


-Zach

[Greenthumb.5]

I apologize about the links. Here is the links and the password is orchidgroup if you cannot access it. I think they will work.


Potted up backbulbs. Is this what you meant?

Potted Up Bulbophyllum Photo by BaileySantwire | Photobucket

And backbulbs themselves

Potted Up Bulbophyllum Photo by BaileySantwire | Photobucket

---------- Post added at 11:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 PM ----------

Well they were in a warm shady spot and were watered every week during cooler months but every three days in warmer months and I did fertilize them. But that was in my questionable days as a true newbie. This batch lost all of their leaves by the fall of last year. So since I now know more than back then, I am trying to bring them back from the dead.

[gnathaniel]

Originally Posted by Greenthumb.5

I apologize about the links. Here is the links and the password is orchidgroup if you cannot access it. I think they will work.

They're working for me, good job getting some pictures up. If you want them to load with forum threads then look around photobucket for something called an 'embed tag' or similar, which when pasted into forum postings will make the forum load the links as if it were directly hosting your photos.

Potted up backbulbs. Is this what you meant

That's pretty much how I've been doing it. I top-water every day or two and make sure a little water stays under the pot so it's always moist but not sopping wet. Very similar to semi-hydroponic, though I mostly use quartz gravel which has little wicking capacity. Keep it warm and airy and gradually move to brighter light--the one I'm doing this with now (a sad little piece of plumatum/treschii) is in close to full sun, though that may be too much for your particular plant.

Well they were in a warm shady spot and were watered every week during cooler months but every three days in warmer months and I did fertilize them.

Hard to say what the exact problem was, though for me when Bulbos lose roots and leaves like that it usually seems to be b/c the plant was: a) too cold (the genus is huge and varies substantially in temperature needs), b) too dry or too wet, c) under-fertilized (don't forget the Ca and Mg!), or d) suffering fungal attack, not common for most bulbos and in my collection usually stemming from an issue with a)-c).

Where are you located geographically and what's your growing situation (windowsill, greenhouse, outdoors all or part of the year, etc.)?

BTW, your plant isn't echinolabium but an inter-sectional cross of echinolabium by Jim Clarkson (lobbii x claptonense); I only grow one of those species but AFAIK all do well with 'typical' Bulbo conditions of high moisture plus good air at the roots, abundant nutrients, warm temps, and bright diffuse light. You may find it useful to buy culture sheets for some or all of the species at Orchid Culture -- Charles and Margaret Baker, which will give you some idea of the range of conditions they experience in the wild.

Good luck and keep us posted!