OrchidSafari ARCHIVES*

ICS Wed 21 May 97

To the fifteen in attendance at ICS on Wednesday, May 21, 1997, it was great having you along to enjoy the program with us. To those who couldn't make it - you missed a great show, but all is not lost, read on.

Ann Herrington's fantastic Bulbo program referred to:

Bulb. blepharistes
Bulb. crassipes
Bulb. lilacinum - closeup
Bulb. lilacinum - portion of raceme
Bulb. lilacinum - blooming plant
Bulb. lobbii v. gigantea
Bulb. lobbii v. gigantea
Bulb. longibracteatum
Bulb. porphyrostachya
Bulb. porphyrostachya
Bulb. sutepense
Bulb. tricornoides
Cirr. cornutum
Bulb. Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry' FCC/AOS
Bulb. fascinator
Bulb. watsonii
Bulb. wendlandianum
Bulb. guttalatum
Cirr. odoratissimum
Cirr. rothschildianum

Ann
Let's start with Bulb. porphyrostachya -

This is the only African bulbophyllum I have in the Megaclinium group. It's a strange little thing, with the flowers emerging from a flat, thickened rachis. This particular one is tentatively identified as Bulbophyllum porphyrostachya.

The pictures are from last year's blooming. It's in bloom now, and has been blooming for about a month. The flowers last a relatively long time for a bulbo. I originally had it mounted on a piece of cork, but it went into a slow, steady decline from lack of adequate moisture, so I put in in a teak basket with NZ sphagnum, and it's doing much better.

Sparky Ann---does it have a "floppy lip?" Very nice looking plant! You grow 'em well!

Ann
According to Emly Siegerist, if it doesn't have a floppy lip, it isn't a bulbo. I certainly don't have enough knowledge or experience to even comment on that, but yes, this one does have a floppy lip.

Karen
Ann, do you grow in a greenhouse?

Ann
I grow nearly everything in the greenhouse or outside in the shade of a pecan tree in the summer. My entire house has only six windows! Only one of those is suitable for plants, and I use it for starting fern spores. I don't have space for an artificial light setup.

Karen
Can one grow Bulbos under fluorescent lights?

Ann
I don't know. I suppose if the light and humidity are right, it can be done. I haven't done it.

Barbara
That is really pretty, do they have any odor?

Sparky
HA HA----I'll bet it does---just like the rest!

Ann
I haven't actually put my nose close to it, but if it does have an odor it's not very strong. I'll report on this later! [No odor whatsoever at 10 am on an overcast Thursday morning. I don't know if time of day or amount of sunlight affects fragrance in bulbos. Ann]

choldren
I see that porphyrostele means purple-columned.

Ann
Some of you are growing Bulbo. lilacinum, one of my favorites. I started it about 8 years ago in a small wire basket, and it has made an orchid ball. It blooms faithfully in the fall.

In B. lilacinum, the leaves are probably 3-4", individual flowers are about 1/3" to 1/2", and the raceme is about 6".

Andy
OOOOooo Ahhhhhhh..... Are these easy to purchase? From where?

Ann
I got mine from Oak Hill. I also have cuttings available. Send snail mail address! [I'd like to trade divisions or cuttings of any of the bulbos I have that are big enough. My e-mail is annh@airmail.net]

Sparky
Pretty soon Gail will have one of everything!!!! Maybe you can buy from her!

Hallie
Does it matter that my cutting is sending its new growth over the side of the basket? It's in a 6", but...

Ann
The rhizome is about 2-4" between pseudobulbs, so it is natural that they will grow over the edge of the basket, and fairly quickly. Just let them grow. Mine don't root into anything anymore--they can't reach the medium. They just hang in midair, and seem to be perfectly content.

Barbara
This one I've never seen it before. How long is the bloom?

Ann
The first picture is of the plant habit...the racemes are pendant, about 6 inches long, and quite pretty.

marylois
Isn't the photography something!

Gail_Levy
I'm in awe!!!

Barbara
Didn't think you will miss this, Gail.

Karen
Do all Bulbos STINK??

Ann
The other two pictures are of a portion of the raceme, and a fairly close-up shot of a single flower. All of The bulbos are interesting, and some of them are beautiful. Lilacinum is one of the beautiful ones, IMHO. I got mine from Oak Hill. I also have cuttings available.

Bulbophyllum crassipes is one of the "pine-cone" bulbos. The plant can get quite large. My start came from Jim Russell, a most interesting man in Dallas, approaching 90, who started collecting orchids when he was 60. He didn't buy them, he went to every country in the world, except two, looking for them. The leaves of crassipes are about 7-8" long, it is a rambling plant with 3-4" between rhizomes, and it makes these pinecones in the fall.

graphicgreg
I never thought I'd hear myself say this about a Bulbophyllum...but that pictured one is pretty cool. Does it stink?

Ann
Bulb. crassipies) doesn't have a noticeable odor, either. If it blooms outdoors, something pollinates it--perhaps mosquitoes.

Gail_Levy
Ann, my blumeii bloomed one flower, it only lasted one day and then folded, is this normal?

[Ann
Gail, I just found out that blumeii is a synonym for maxillare, according to Emly. It's the one that has such a wide altitude range. I don't know of any bulbo blooms that last only one day. Perhaps it was pollinated as soon as it opened, and that caused it to fold?]

Sparky
I figured it just went into shock. From the quick change in environment.

choldren
Ann, are there any chemicals that bulbos hate, like kocide? I don't use much but don't want to get anything on a plant that hates it.

Ann
I rarely use chemicals at all. Not that I'm particularly opposed to them, I just don't take the time. Actually, I don't have many problems in my greenhouse. I keep at least three 16" oscillating fans running constantly in a 15 x 20 house, so the air movement is very good, and I think this makes a healthy environment for them.

Andy
These photos are fantastic!!!

marylois
Andy - on webpage - no captions. I was unable to edit the .jpg's sent. They will be at
http://www.prysm.net/~marylois/01.jpg
thru /20.jpg thru June 1997.

Andy
Does anyone know if they take special flasking media or anything? Where's Ed?

graphicgreg
Ann, there is a Bulbo that Bob Fuchs puts in his Miami exhibit every year; it's an enormous plant with droopy mule-ear looking leaves about a foot long an inflorescences of maroon foul-smelling flowers at the base of the leaves. Do you know it?

choldren
Could it be Bulb. bufo?

Ann
Sounds like B. phalaenopsis or one of its close kin. I've never seen one--only read about this group. This is probably the one that Emly said had been likened to "a thousand dead elephants in the sun for a week."

Ann
The latest picture is of Bulb. longibracteatum, a sort of elongated pinecone type. It blooms in October for me. Not quite as large a plant as Bulb. crassipes.

Karen
Ann, could I grow Bulbos on windowsills...what kind of light and humidity?

Ann
Humidity seems to be a key to blooming bulbos. Since I don't have suitable windowsills, I don't grow orchids there, but I would certainly give it a try. I would think as much humidity as you could manage wouldn't be too much. Bright light for most of them, although you may need to do a little research and see which ones grow in shady places, and try them.

graphicgreg
So we can grow Bulbos OK here in Florida, Ann ? Humidity we got plenty of, will they take the heat?

Evlyn
Got any numbers on light requirement or temp range.

[Ann
Light requirement will vary from very shady (Bulb. dayanum grows in heavy shade) to very bright (Bulb. angustifolium grows exposed to sun, but at high altitudes, where it is cool to cold). Temperature range is likewise variable. Bulbos grow from sea level in the tropics to several thousand feet elevation, so the temperature range will be from hot to cold.]

Finding out where they come from in nature is the key, I think, to growing them in your home town. There are some that come from low elevations, and these are the ones you would want to try in Florida, I would think. I have an idea that most of them can take higher daytime temperatures, if they are cooled at night, but that is a problem here in Dallas, and probably in Florida, too. Our overnight low in the summer is frequently in the 80s. Orchids (and people) can't breathe in that kind of heat.

graphicgreg
Do you grow them potted or mounted Ann?

Ann
Bulb. lobbii is one of the best-known bulbos. It has a relatively large flower, and only one bloom per inflorescence. And no, I don't think it stinks. Actually, none of my bulbos has a disagreeable odor. Maybe I choose well, and maybe I'm just lucky. B. lobbii has been awarded at least once ('Kathy's Gold'). This picture is of B. lobbii v. gigantea, and I don't remember exactly how big it is!

The Cirrhopetalums, according to taxonomists, have the lateral sepals twist once, join, and stay joined to form a flat blade, without tail-like extensions. They are generally beautiful orchids, and the ones I have don't stink. This picture is of Cirr. cornutum, and has an umbel of flowers arranged in a "daisy" pattern.

Barbara
Ann what's the name on this pink one?

Karen
How large is the total bloom?

Ann
Cirr. cornutum is probably a total of 1.5" across. A fairly small flower, but several spikes at a time on a larger plant.

John
Is rothchildianum a Cirrhopetalum or Bulbo?

Ann
That's an interesting question. I've called it Cirrhopetalum ever since I've known about it, but it does have tails, and by definition (of Cirrhopetalum) can't be one. So it must be a Bulbophyllum.(?) This taxonomy business is confusing.

John
I have one but grow it VERY poorly and it is now down to about 3 bulbs. I once bloomed it however.

[Ann
I grow my rothschildianum hanging on a large (about 12" x 15") piece of cork near the top of the greenhouse on the east side, where it gets hit by a mist nozzle every day. It's doing fine.]

Karen
Would you know where I can obtain one?

Ann
I'll have to see where I got mine, which isn't big enough to share. I can't remember right off the bat, but will tell you later. [Later--I think I got it from Siam Sam in Pasadena, TX at one of our Greater North Texas OS shows.]

Barbara
Ann, do you have a B. imbricatum? I was curious about the plant.

Ann
No, I don't know it. Wish I had one of each of them!

Ann
This picture is of C. or B. (whichever) rothschildianum. The tails don't show on the computer screen, but they are there. Single flower length is probably 4" or so.

John
Great picture!! Imagine a plant with several spikes!

Ann
A hybrid between rothschildianum and longissimum, named Cirrhopetalum Elizabeth Ann. This particular clone is named "Buckleberry", and belongs to a couple in Florida, and received an FCC in Dallas in October 1992. It is magnificent.

marylois
My Eliz Ann is just starting over the edge of a wide, low pot...guess I'll put in a basket!!!

John
Magnificent is a complete understatement!!!!

John
Lois I have a question off the topic to ask you: I just discovered a stolon-like growth on my new Paph armeniacum. It was going down the inside of the plastic pot. I pulled it up to the surface. Was that right?

marylois
John - likely won't hurt it - has a chance now.

John
That's what I thought. I thought that it would rot going down inside the pot - Thanks.

Karen
John, I repotted an armeniacum 4 months ago and pulled three stolons to the surface and the plant is growing fine.

John
Thanks Karen. I just got this plant and know nothing about the growth habit. [Just think "crabgrass"! *grin* - Lois]

Ann
I've always called this one [Bulb. facinator] a Cirrhopetalum, but it does have long tails, probably 5" more that you can't see, so is it a Bulbophyllum? Its specific epithet is fascinator. Usually only one bloom per inflorescence, but sometimes two. It is aptly named, as it is really fascinating. There are lots of paleae that wave in the breeze to attract pollinators, it has bumps and hairs and spots and vivid colors. No odor.

Karen
Beautiful, but looks like a scary bug!

Ann
Another one I've been calling Cirrhopetalum--wendlandianum. This one has a smaller flower than roth or fascinator, but much the same form. The lip, of course, is hinged, and rocks back and forth at the slightest movement. The little squigglies (paleae) on top of the dorsal and on the ends of the petals move around a lot, too. They're fun to watch.

KB _Barrett
That one looks like a clown sticking its tongue out!

Karen
The lip looks like a red tongue sticking out at the world...I like that one.

Ann
It just occurred to me to wonder how much humidity has to do with odor from flowers. I grew up in a very humid climate, and the odor of magnolias and gardenias was heavy in the air whenever they were blooming. Now I live in a much drier climate, and don't smell the flowers as much. A neighbor has honeysuckle growing on a fence, and I should surely be able to smell that. Maybe my smeller is just kaput.

marylois
Believe fragrance hangs longer in the dense air -- not a plant change, just a fragrance environment difference.

John
Our gardenias are in bloom now by our front door. We are also having much more humidity than usual. They are VERY fragrant each time I pass them.

Barbara
John, I have one, it gave me 6 flowers, only for about 2 weeks.

John
I know that I came in very late but does anyone know about Cirr. Daisy Chain?

Ann
Daisy Chain is another delightful one. I didn't use a picture of it because I had others of its type.

Gail
I just bought that one and may have another one out there, have to check it out! Looks good!

Ann
Bulbophyllum sutepense, upside down. This one is tiny--perhaps an inch across the whole thing. Great for people who have run out of room. The internode is short, too, so it will stay in a 4" pot for a while.

Ann
Bulbophyllum tricornoides is in a group that may be moving to a new genus, based on something obscure (to me), like the measurement of the sepals relative to the column measurement. I'm not sure I've got that right, and it really doesn't matter to me. I like the plant no matter what it's called.

John
That looks like a USC Trojan flower - crimson and gold!

marylois
Ann, your Eliz. Ann is in what size basket?

Ann
My Eliz. Ann is a wee thing in a 6" basket. The photo is of Bill and Connie Timm's plant, in a 10 or 12" basket.

marylois
The distance between bulbs is so great.

Ann
Bulb. watsonii is a charming, rather small flower, perhaps 3/4" across. The color is nice, as are its stripes.

Karen
Its close to midnight here so I'll say goodnight to everyone. Thanks Ann for the beautiful display and informative discussion.

Gail
Beautiful, hope I have one! I bought a plant named Inobulbon, or Inabulbon can't find it anywhere. Anyone ever heard of it???

KB_Barrett
It does remind me of B bicolor. Probably only because its red and white striped.

John
It's interesting that each picture becomes the best to one of us. We all have such different tastes. That is what makes orchid growing worth it all!

Ann
Bulb odorattissimum. Contrary to the name, I have detected no offensive odor. It is a cheerful little collection of huddled-together flowers.

KB_Barrett
So, Ann, my boyfriend wants to know if these are all your own flowers.

Ann
All of them except the Eliz. Ann "Buckleberry" are mine. That one is the award photo that I took, so I can use it.

[Ann has copyright on all tonight's pictures - if you have a need to use any, ask her.]

John
Just checked J & L (or is it L & J [it is J&L...mlg]) in Conn. They aren't listing many of these plants - darn!

Ann
The last one is Bulbo guttulatum, which is about 1.25" tall, blooms in pairs as a rule, and is one of my favorites (Actually, I think they're all my favorites.)

Tha-a-a-a-a-t's all, folks!

KB_Barrett
Orchid Art has B. crassipes, Cirr. Eliz Ann ($$$) and Cirr. guttulatum I am assuming Cirr. guttulatum = B. guttulatum, which I suddenly thought might be a serious error!!!! Bet Ann got her from that fellow...Harold?...

Ann
Hermann! Hermann Pigors, Oak Hill Gardens. I did get a lot of mine from him, but I pick them up wherever I can find them. It's not easy.

John
Where is Orchid Art?

Ann
You keep em all in baskets with sphagnum, Ann?

Gail
Your photos are fantastic, the colors are so vivid. They don't look real.

John
I absolutely agree!!!

marylois
Ann is the Dallas-Ft Worth awards photographer for shows. [Sometimes - Ann]

KB_Barrett
Ann, they're all beautiful!! Now my boyfriend wants to know why I don't have any of these!

Ann
I'm moving them all to baskets with sphagnum. I've had them on cork, but I can't keep them wet enough. Rothschildianum is still on cork because it has sprawled all over the place, and I'll have to tear it up if I pot it. Crassipes is also on cork for the same reason. Nearly everything else is in baskets.

marylois
Hmmmm - think Eliz Ann will transplant easily - or pout for six years?

[Ann
The bulbos I've moved recently from cork to sphagnum-filled baskets have practically jumped for joy. They've taken off and are doing quite well.]

Gail
I tried taking a picture of my cumingii and blumeii, we'll see if they turn out at all. You did a great job Ann and I thank you, you made my week.

Ann
My pleasure.

Barbara
Ann you did a fantastic job for tonight, I thank you very much. Enjoyed every picture.

KB_Barrett
Ann, a REAL good job!!!!

John
Ann - your presentation was wonderful; I am so sorry that I was so late in arriving. I really must have missed a great deal.

Barbara
BTW my Cirr. Daisy chain was in a pot and did nothing, I transferred into teak basket, in 2 months it bloom. I did mist it daily and feed heavy.

Ann
I don't feed very often, either. I believe in it, I just don't take the time to do it as often as I should. The watering is automatic, but the fertilizing is manual.

John
I bloomed it for many years then it suddenly died! I really liked it.

marylois
I've heard discussions expressing the opinion that many orchids have a pre-ordained obsolescence...flourish just so long, then die.

John
Lois, I have heard that too. They will grow well for just so long then quickly died for no apparent reason.

KB_Barrett
Lois, I can believe it, we can't all be Sequoia sempervirens!

marylois
But we can try! *LOL*

John
Barbara - the heavy feeding must be the answer as I rarely feed (I shouldn't admit that!)

marylois
Your efforts on this program - so well put together - are greatly appreciated. We look forward to another in the not too distant future. *grin*

Barbara, John Kathy, and Lois all said good night -- with Kathy getting the lights!

-30-