- Approximate light
- 1000–1800 fc
- Day temperature
- 20–28 °C
- Relative humidity
- 70–85%
This is general guidance by genus. Species, hybrids, potting mix and your home conditions may call for different care. Check moisture and actual growth before following a schedule.
Light and position
Light shade, like a Paphiopedilum. Nearly all of them live under the forest canopy.
When and how to water
Constant moisture: the creeping rhizome dries very fast, especially when mounted on cork.
Potting mix and container
Mounted on cork with a little sphagnum, or in a shallow pot with a fine mix.
Feeding during growth
Mounted, it dries within hours, so feed little and often: an eighth of the dose with nearly every watering, and plain water once a week so salt doesn't build up in the moss.
When to repot
When the rhizome runs off the mount or pot. Mount it on cork or tree fern — that is how it grows in the wild.
Dormancy and seasonal changes
Seasonal-climate species want a slightly drier winter; cloud-forest ones want moisture year round.
Flowering and new growth
Flowers last a few days to two weeks, often in an umbel. Many smell bad on purpose. High, steady humidity while the new rhizome grows.
What to watch for
Mounted plants can dry quickly and need frequent checks. In pots, combine moisture with aeration and avoid leaving the rhizome in stagnant mix.
A FloraFlor care guide based on its app library, with editorial revisions for the web. Sources and further reading: American Orchid Society · Orchid care. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Let your plant set the pace
Save your Bulbophyllum in FloraFlor, note when you watered it and record photos of its changes. Adjust reminders to your season and hemisphere, and log care after you have actually done it.
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