Bulbophyllum masdevalliaceum - Orchid Board

crestedgeckogal · #1 02-06-2012, 10:11 AM

I just received a B. masdevalliaceum yesterday and it is mounted on a slab. All the information I have read on it suggests that it does better potted. My questions are should I pot it and if so what substrate and kind of pot should I use? (clay or an orchid pot)? Thank you!!!

Tindomul · #2 02-06-2012, 10:32 AM

I have some experience. I had this species in a clay pot with large pieces of pine bark mixed with tree fern root. THe plant did not make it. I couldn't keep up with its water demands I think. However, I have an B. blumei (aka B. cuspidilingue) which some may consider as the same species as B. masdevalliacium (though they are not). For all I know I always had one species sold to me as two different. In either case the culture is the same, warm shaded (from the sun), on large slabs with ample moistrue (from sphag) or in wire baskets. good air movement. I grow this one in my terrarium mounted on a foam background (this is the same as a soft slab with moss). It grows slowly but steadily for me. No blooms yet, but Im hoping for some this year as I have increased the amount of light by introducing some natural ambiant lighting from my east window. Here it gets misted every few days and dries out fast. Hope this helps.

Tindomul · #3 02-06-2012, 10:46 AM

Here is a picture of the attempted potting. I forgot that I had added sphag on top to try to conserve moisture. So this did not work. One is blumei and the other is masdevalliacium. I actually still have both, but both are growing as described above in my terrarium. Slow but steady.

BikerDoc5968 · #4 02-06-2012, 11:18 AM

Well, whatever it is called, I have 3 pots of it. Only one of the pots has ever flowered and this is what I have today. Lots of great growth but nary a flower spike!!!! I grow most of my Bulbos hanging as you can see in the picture as well as some to the left side on slabs. The hanging plants are in bark/CHC. My greatest problem is keeping up the humidity so I water ALL THE TIME! And still have issues. I'd just like to get some flowers for a change

crestedgeckogal · #5 02-06-2012, 12:02 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies!!! I think I may leave it on the slab for now... I guess we will see what happens!!!

Tindomul · #6 02-06-2012, 12:25 PM

Biker, how come you have problems with humidity. Looks like your grow in a green house, I thought that helped with humidity??? I've never owned or worked in one so I don't know.

BikerDoc5968 · #7 02-06-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Biker, how come you have problems with humidity. Looks like your grow in a green house, I thought that helped with humidity??? I've never owned or worked in one so I don't know.

I do grow in a greenhouse but that doesn't mean I have great humidity. Most days, in the winter, I'm lucky to see 50% ~ 60% and that is with a wet floor.

Tindomul · #8 02-06-2012, 02:03 PM

wow, I never would have figured.

BikerDoc5968 · #9 02-06-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

wow, I never would have figured.

About an hour or so ago (1PM ET) I hosed down the greenhouse and the humidity only got up to 58% with a average temp of 80F, cuz the sun is shinning. Because the winter air is so relatively dry, it's hard to get the humidity up to where I'd like it more in the range of 70%.