About
Bulbophyllum Louis Sander gx is a warm to hot-growing epiphytic orchid, a hybrid resulting from the cross of Bulbophyllum longissimum and Bulbophyllum ornatissimum, developed by Sanders in St Albans in 1936. This orchid features compact, angled pseudobulbs that are egg-shaped and green, designed for the storage of water and nutrients. These pseudobulbs emerge from a creeping, rooting stem and are topped by a single leaf that is oblong to lanceolate in shape. The plant blooms year-round, producing clusters of pale pink flowers with darker pink stripes at the ends of slender stems, each flower measuring 8 cm in diameter. The upper sepal has a slightly hairy texture, while the lower sepals extend to 25 cm. The lip, which serves to attract pollinators, is tongue-shaped and yellow, and the plant emits a faint, unpleasant odor.
About the genus
This genus encompasses a broad range of primarily epiphytic, sympodial tropical orchids. These plants form clusters of small pseudobulbs that function as reservoirs for water and nutrients. Typically, each pseudobulb supports a single leaf. There are more than 2,000 recognized species within this group.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil pH
- Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1A
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Clump forming, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in an open, well drained but moisture-retentive mix of medium orchid bark, sphagnum moss and perlite. Shallow, wide pots or baskets are best used to accommodate its spreading habit. Bright filtered light is best as direct sunlight through glass can scorch its leaves. Prefers a minimum night temperature of 15°C and a maximum of 30°C in the daytime. Nighttime temperatures should be 10°C lower than daytime temperatures for good growth and is beneficial to induce flowering. High humidity is required along with gentle air movement. Allow plants to freely drain when watering and avoid plants sitting in water as this can cause roots to rot. Plants may be intolerant of hard tap water, so irrigate with rainwater at room temperature. Orchid fertiliser can be applied regularly throughout the growing season, March to September. Reduce watering and feeding in winter months. See indoor orchid cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required. Remove spent flower stem at the base
- Propagation
- Propagation by seed will not produce plants true to type as this is a hybrid cultivar. Mature plants may be divided when the plant overgrows its container. Each division should have at least 3 older pseudobulbs with a sufficient amount of stored energy and water, to support new growth and reduce stress after repotting
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free