Bulbophyllum lobbii – 15cm

Bulbophyllum lobbii is a medium sized, warmtohot growing epiphytic orchid native to lowland and montane rainforests across Southeast Asia. It forms wellspaced, eggshaped pseudobulbs (~35 cm long) along a creeping rhizome, each topped with a single, leathery, elliptical leaf (up to ~25 cm long). In summer, each new pseudobulb sends up a 15 cm erect inflorescence bearing a single large, fragrant flower (~710 cm across), typically yellow to buffaloyellow with olivegreen tones and sprinkled with purple, pink or reddishbrown spots, with a slightly curved, hinged lip .

Native to:
Southeast Asia: Assam (India), Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Borneo (Sabah), Sumatra, Java, Luzon and Palawan in the Philippines, at elevations from ~200 m to 2 000 m in lowland and montane rainforests. It grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks and main branches.

Water:
Keep the potting medium moist but not waterlogged. Avoid allowing the mix to dry out completely. In winter, reduce watering slightly so the medium is only just moist.

Light:
Provide bright, filtered lightsimilar to an east or northfacing window or beneath diffuse cover of a south window. Avoid strong direct sun, especially midday.

Humidity:
Maintain humidity around 7580%. Good air circulation is essential to prevent fungal issues.

Temperature:
Daytime: ~2426 C (warm). Nighttime drop to ~1415 C in cooler periods; generally keep above 15 C (avoid below ~15 C). A diurnal range of ~911 C encourages prolific budding