Bulbophyllum blumei. Roots looks weird to me

[Viperalus]

15 days ago I purchased this Bulbophyllum blumei that you see in the photo.


I never had this orchid plus also that I am a newbie but I don't think it's in the right sized pot. I mean, is it normal for the current pseudobulb to be in the "air" without medium beneath of it?...

Here are a couple of photos that I shot a few minutes ago:



What do you think?


edit: could someone please edit the title, I have accidentally written "Bulnophyllum?

[RosieC]

I don't grow these so I can't really comment. But I've read that some of these chids with p-bulbs have a tendency for the new p-bulbs for form above the medium or over the side of the pot like that. It's to do with how the Rhyzome grows.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge on these will be able to chime in.

P.S. I've changed the title for you.

[isurus79]

Yes, this is normal for this species. These guys ramble all over the place (like many Bulbos) and that 'air born' p-bulb will eventually put down new roots. You could put another pot below it and have it grow into that pot (with media of course) and then divide it after a few growths. Or just leave it. Thats what I do!

[Viperalus]

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yes, this is normal for this species. These guys ramble all over the place (like many Bulbos) and that 'air born' p-bulb will eventually put down new roots. You could put another pot below it and have it grow into that pot (with media of course) and then divide it after a few growths. Or just leave it. Thats what I do!

I see... so, should I wait for it to grow new roots first or I can do it now, to put sphagnum beneath the sprout to have humidity and eventually grow new roots?

I think it's the second because when I received the plant there were tiny roots beneath (very tiny) that now are absent.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Viperalus

I can do it now, to put sphagnum beneath the sprout to have humidity and eventually grow new roots?

That's what I would do.

Originally Posted by Viperalus

I think it's the second because when I received the plant there were tiny roots beneath (very tiny) that now are absent.

That means that the plant was growing roots, but there was not enough humidity so the roots died. Will you get more with increased humidity? Maybe. Only one way to find out! Put a nice pot (or shallow tray would be better) of moist spag below the new growth and see if it sprouts roots.

[Viperalus]

isurus thanks for your insight! As soon as you wrote that I also made the correlations myself and I rushed to search for a solution since I don't have sphagnum.

So I used these rounded cotton pads that women use to their make-up, to help raise humidity until I go and buy some sphagnum tomorrow. I just wish that the roots are not dead... I don't think so.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Viperalus

isurus thanks for your insight! As soon as you wrote that I also made the correlations myself and I rushed to search for a solution since I don't have sphagnum.

So I used these rounded cotton pads that women use to their make-up, to help raise humidity until I go and buy some sphagnum tomorrow. I just wish that the roots are not dead... I don't think so.

FYI Just be sure to not leave those pads there for too long (ie. no longer than a day or so). If they stay wet, they could easily promote rot on the bulbs or rhizomes (stems).

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Viperalus

isurus thanks for your insight! As soon as you wrote that I also made the correlations myself and I rushed to search for a solution since I don't have sphagnum.

So I used these rounded cotton pads that women use to their make-up, to help raise humidity until I go and buy some sphagnum tomorrow. I just wish that the roots are not dead... I don't think so.

Just curious what you average humidity is where you live? The new p-bulbs that have grown over the side of their pots put out new roots and just grow every where and that is why I mentioned them growing this way shouldn't be a problem. Even the new growths growing upward have sent out roots to the growing medium. Do you have any way to raise the humidity on a more permanent basis such as using a humidifier? I think adding moss under the new growths will help too, just don't let it dry out. I was told to keep it moist, but not wet! That's a very fine line for me...lol.

[Becca]

I'm new to bulbo's to, but the one's I have all grow like this. I'm just letting mine do their thing until I get into the repotting mode in the spring, then I'll repot it into a shallow dish, like the one's you get from the Healthy Choice steamer meals.

[Viperalus]

Becca, you never had a problem with inflorescence?

Hmm... I wonder if in the nature they also grow like that or every part of the plant can grow roots and be attached upon the tree and therefore grow and produce inflorescence faster that way.