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Program Highlights: Tom delivered a very informative program on bulbophyllums and their culture. It is extremely important to keep bulbophyllums moist at all times. Tom's bulbophyllum mix consists of pre-moistened fir bark and perlite. After plant are potted he then adds a handful of Fafard #3 potting soil and then tamps it down into the pot between the bark and perlite mix. Under his greenhouse conditions plants potted in this mix are watered twice a week. Also important is the fact all his bulbophyllums are in shallow bulb pans not tall pots. Tom also mentioned several other growing mediums used by other noted bulbophyllum growers. Bill Thoms pots all his bulbos in slat baskets with sphagnum moss and suspends then in water so that capillary actions keeps plants moist. Others grow plants mounted on cork slabs with large cushions of sphagnum moss which are them misted for 5 minutes twice daily, The real point is keep bulbophyllums wet. Also important in the potting process is the need to keep the active lead growths secured down in contact with the medium. If this is done the plants will produce abundant roots. If the lead growths are not kept in contact with the medium root growth will be minimal. Abundant roots are important to good culture.
Also important to good culture is temperature. Most bulbophyllums prefer temperature 60F or above. The warmer you keep them in winter the better they will reward you. If kept warm enough they will not stop growing and multiplying
Light is also important for producing copious flowers. From experience Tom has learned the more light you can give bulbophyllums, short of burningthe foliage, the more floriferous they will be. In fact bulbophyllums grown in optimum light reward the grower with larger and more abundant flowers on more flowering spikes. The flowers will also be better-shaped and have richer color.
As for fertilizing, bulbophyllums are not heavy feeder, but do benefit from steady feeding. Tom uses nutricote to keep his plants growing well. Date: Sunday, September 9, 2007 "Bulbophyllums and Cirrhopetalums" by Tom Nasser of Carolina Orchids in Fort Mill, SC Program Description: Tom's program will be on Bulbophyllums and Cirrhopetalums and will introduce you to many of the different species in both genera and cover their culture. Bulbophyllums are found throughout the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa, North and South America, although most of the species are Asian in origin. Tom and his wife Shan are the owners of Carolina Orchids located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Tom has been growing orchids since the early 1970s when he received his first plant as a gift. As with most of us that plant was not long for this world, but he was determined to learn how to grow orchids. After meeting Shan they gave each other a greenhouse as a gift and the rest is history. He and Shan Currently have three greenhouses stocked full of plants, most of them species. They grow a wide variety of plants including Bulbophyllums, Maxillarias, Paphiopedilums, Lycastes, Pleurothalids and Angraecums. And everything in the greenhouse is for sale "No Red Tags." Refreshments Provided By:
Please Remember to Bring Your Blooming Plants in for the Show & Tell Table! Download a Map of the meeting location. |