Pleione bulbocodioides

Also known as: The Bulbocodium or Pleione bulbocodioides h.f. alba Pleione communis var. subobtusum Coelogyne pogonioides Pleione communis Pleione smithii Pleione fargesii Pleione ganchuenensis Pleione henryi Pleione mairei Pleione rhombilabia Coelogyne henryi Coelogyne delavayi Pleione delavayi Pleione pogonioides Pleione bulbocodioides h.v. formosana in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: China

General Information

The Bulbocodium is a cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to China. It is named after a genus in the Iridaceae.

Plant Description

Grows to 13-15cm. Each new growth has numerous elliptic leaves that grow to 15-18cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 2-2.5cm

Flowers

Numerous blossoms appear during Spring

Blooming Season

• Spring

Substrate(s)

• Coarse

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Climate

Grows at high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 8mm to 264mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in December. Humidity ranges from 48% to 82%, highest in August and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 3C to 25C, highest in June (17C to 25C) and lowest in January (3C to 16C).

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser year round.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,

Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly