Bulbophyllum echinolabium

Bulbophyllum echinolabium

I bought my plant in May 2007. It had a small shoot which grew and developed into a mature bulb and leaf. In the latter days of Summer two spikes grew and the first bloom appeared early February [2008] on one of the spikes. The spikes have been successively and alternately flowering on and off, the most recent flower only just fell off a few days ago and each spike has another bud in development.

The smell is supposed to be bad but doesn't seem too bad unless you stick your nose right in it or it is a very hot day which tends to make the smell permeate the entire greenhouse. Over the winter it was kept probably at a minimum of 10 degrees celcius via an oil column filled heater I used along with a thermostat that would turn the heater off at 14 degrees celcius.

This winter I will be placing it inside a wardian case of sorts, located in my greenhouse but with a 3ft fishtank containing a 250W heater which will help keep the temperature in the case much warmer than the rest of the [unheated] greenhouse.

The lip structure is hinged and will 'swing' from air movement.

More photos can be found on my blog:
http://pleurothallidinae.blogspot.com/