Bulbophyllum wendlandianum

Bulbophyllum wendlandianum is found in parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, typically growing epiphytically or lithophytically in warm- to cool-growing montane forests at elevations between 200 and 1,800 meters. It produces creeping, branching rhizomes with yellow-green pseudobulbs spaced about 4 cm apart, each bearing a single stiff, leathery, lanceolate leaf. In spring, the newly developed pseudobulbs produce umbels of up to seven fragrant, red-and-yellow striped flowers, with fringed dorsal sepals that form a distinctive “cap” over the bloom.

Care Tips:

Light

• Provide bright, indirect light—partial shade is ideal. Avoid direct sun to prevent leaf scorch.

Temperature & Humidity

• Thrives in warm to intermediate conditions: daytime 20–30 °C (68–86 °F), nighttime lows around 15 °C (59 °F).

• Maintain high humidity, between 60–80%, to mimic its native forest environment.

Watering & Moisture

• Keep the growing medium consistently moist but well-drained—avoid waterlogging. Let the medium dry out slightly before watering again.

• Greg App recommends approximately 0.5 cups of water every 9 days for a plant in a 5″ pot not in direct sun.

Potting Medium & Mounting

• Ideal media include a mix of bark, sphagnum moss, and perlite, or mounting on cork or tree-fern slabs for a natural growth display.

Fertilizing

• Feed with a balanced orchid fertilizer diluted to half strength, applied regularly during the growing season. High-phosphorus fertilizer can encourage flowering, followed by high-nitrogen during new growth phases.

Repotting

• Repot or refresh the medium every 2–3 years, or when the substrate degrades—preferably during active growth to reduce stress.