Bulbophyllum umbellatum

Bulbophyllum umbellatum is found throughout tropical South and Southeast Asia, including the western and eastern Himalayas, Assam (India), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, southern China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Features:

• Growth Habit: A mini to small-sized epiphyte (occasionally lithophytic), with creeping rhizomes and ovoid-to-conical, wrinkled pseudobulbs (~0.4–0.8″ apart) each bearing a single narrowly elliptic, leathery, emarginate (notched) leaf perched on a short stalk.

• Inflorescence & Flowers: Flowering in spring, it produces a thin, basal inflorescence (~20 cm long), often shorter than the leaf, topped by an umbel of 5–8 small, fragrant blooms.

  • Flowers measure approximately 2–4 cm in size, with sepals often greenish-yellow to dark brownish with purplish tips, and a whitish lip—typically emitting a strong (sometimes described as “foul” or rather distinctive) scent.

• Taxonomic Placement: It’s the type species for Bulbophyllum Section Brachyantha, notable for its distinctive floral morphology—long lateral sepals, a mobile lip on a ligament, and characteristic column structure.

Care Tips:

Environment

• Temperature & Elevation: Naturally growing at altitudes of 1000–2200 m, it enjoys cooler to intermediate conditions, with temperatures ranging roughly from 4 °C (winter lows) to 24 °C (summer highs).

• Light: Thrives in bright but indirect or shaded light—avoid harsh sun that could scorch foliage.

Humidity & Watering

• Prefers moderate to high humidity (51–84%).

• Water sparingly—only when the plant looks to be “thirsty.” Allow slight drying between waterings; avoid constant wetness that may cause root rot.

Potting & Mounting

• Performs well in mounted setups (cork or tree fern) or in baskets.

• Use well-draining, moisture-retentive media like fine bark, sphagnum moss, or perlite blends. Repotting or remounting may be needed annually.

Fertilization

• Apply a balanced orchid fertilizer at half strength regularly.

• Leading up to blooming, a higher-phosphorus formula supports flowers; during vegetative growth, opt for higher nitrogen. Always flush the medium periodically to prevent salt buildup.