Cirr. Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry' Culture

[MadSeaCow]

I recently purchased a Cirrhopetalum Elizabeth Ann 'Buckleberry' and I can't seem to find a culture sheet online for it. Does anyone know of a good resource? Thanks.

[berniep]

G'day MSC

Try here Orchid,Bulbophyllum Orchids,orchids,Bulbophyllum orchid culture

Cheers
Bernie

[MadSeaCow]

I came across that, but it seemed so generic. Are Cirr. really that easy? It looks like it's a good candidate for mounting too. I was thinking of trying to mount one of my babes onto driftwood. Maybe this is the one!

[berniep]

G'Day MSC

I don't grow them but there are plenty who do on the forum, so I'm sure one will be along soon, to advise you.

Cheers
Bernie

[Brooke]

Hi MadSeaCow - I grow my Bulb. E.A. 'Buckleberry' in catt light, moist and warm.

The Cirrhopetalums have all been changed to Bulbophyllum now and yes they are that easy if you give them what they want. The Elizabeth Ann gets quite large and might not make the greatest mount material due to her need for moisture and the length of the spikes and petals.



If you want to mount one, there are many smaller pbulbs/leaves/spikes bulbos who would love to come live you

Brooke

[katrina]

Brooke I sooooo hope that one day my Elizabeth Ann grows up to be just like yours!!

[MadSeaCow]

OMG Brooke!!!! That plant is AMAZING!!!

How is yours potted? Basket with Sphag moss? I bought mine in a very shllow 6" clay pot with sphag and time release food. It's very healthy but it think I might like it hanging.

[edgy]

Wow Brooke!!!!!!!! amazing plant.

[orchids4me]

@ Brooke,
OMG its absolutely amazing!!!!!!! How old is it? Just wondering how long it took to get that big... I know you said they get big but WOW!
Thanks
Emmaye

[Brooke]

Thanks glad you like it. Emmaye I've had it since I grew under lights and I think it came in a 6" pot.

The original potting was the basket lined with sphag and a CHC mix. It slowly disintegrated and is now like a mount with pbulbs holding it together.

Bulbos are very hard to keep potted in a normal pot because of their rambling nature and the shallow root system. Most of them are water hogs and they need to be able to attach to something to receive the moisture. I've changed to net pots, lined with sphag, then a layer of p'nuts and then the CHC. This permits it to ramble over the sides and grab the moist sphag. You can grow them sitting on a table until the growths wrap around the entire pot.

Brooke

[koshki]

Brooke, thanks for your potting secrets! This is timely...I'm repotting mine now. It did not like s/h.

[MadSeaCow]

are you in the bay area? I noticed my flowers dropped today when i got home. should the moss be really wet all the time? should i let it dry out? how do you keep yours warm?

[Brooke]

I grow in a g/h and my temps never go below 60. The individual blooms do not last for an extended period of time - just guessing, maybe 10 days or so. Each blooming pbulb will produce two inflorescenses and each pbulb will produce two new growths. The big display comes when the plant is older and will then bloom for a couple of months.

The Bulbo family is huge and while most of them are warm, moist growers, there are some that need a winter dry period so know which type you have. I do keep the warm grower's sphag wet year round. Elizabeth Ann falls into the warm, moist category.

If you are growing outside in the Bay area, cool and wet could be a problem. I really can't offer any growing tips for that type of environment.

Brooke

[koshki]

Originally Posted by Brooke

Each blooming pbulb will produce two inflorescenses and each pbulb will produce two new growths. The big display comes when the plant is older and will then bloom for a couple of months.

That's interesting. No wonder they need room to grow!

[MadSeaCow]

oh. i see. mine lasted about a week and it was in bloom when i got it. the guy at the shop probably told me longer so i would buy it. i'm not growing outside. I have a big quintessential SF bay window that has now morphed into an orchis jungle. i think my bulbo will like it there. thanks for the tips.

[Stitz]

Hi MadSeaCow,

Elizabeth Ann is a primary hybrid between two species, Bulbophyllum longissimum and Bulb. rothschildianum. The longissimum is a relatively warm grower.

What is frequently overlooked is that the other component, Bulb. rothschildianum, is a relatively cool grower. The average night time lows for this species (per Baker) are in the mid to low 40s (F) for three months each year (Dec-Feb)! It is important to recognize that during those three months, the species gets virtually no water.

While your Elizabeth Ann might grow optimally under certain conditions as previously described, it is also important to recognize that it is a very tolerant hybrid. It will grow & perform well when it is grown outside of that warm and moist range.

Last year, I grew my Elizabeth Ann in an environment where the average winter night temp was ~ 52F with lows occasionally to 48F. It flowered well. I hope for improvement this year!

--Stitz--

[Brooke]

Katherine the description I gave of the growth pattern only refers to the Elizabeth Ann. There are more with that growth pattern but there are some that are VERY slow growing and test my patience

Brooke

[koshki]

At the moment I only have the Elizabeth Ann, but there is a medusae on it's way to me now!

[Brooke]

You will love love love the medusae.

She has a slightly different growth pattern, light requirement than E.A.

Brooke

[koshki]

I've read it needs warm shade. I've got bright and warm, or cool and shade. I've also got several aerangis in a west window that is relatively warm, and not too bright. Do you think I should try the medusae with the aerangis, or can I give it more light with warmth?

It's on a wood mount. Currently, it's hanging on the outside of my lights, with its back to the lights, but hopefully still warm from them.

So many variables!!!

[Brooke]

Hopefully Madseacow won't mind us highjacking the thread or maybe the Mods could move it?

Warm, moist and shade is correct, no bright lights for this lady. Do you mean the medusae is on a wood mount? We never discuss a lady's size but she isn't a small growing bulbo - not huge either but definitely not small.

If you mean the Aerangis is on a wood mount then I can't be any help regarding growing them the same. I just got my first Aerangis about a month ago and it's still green

Brooke

[koshki]

Sorry MadSeaCow for the hijack...I'll start another thread! (And thanks, Brooke!)

[FLBob]

After seeing Brooke's first post of Bulb. E.A. 'Buckleberry' I decided to attempt to add Bulbs to my collection. I got a piece of Bulb. E.A. 'Buckleberry' from a friend and have been growing it in my mango tree in a clay pot with NZ moss as the medium. The mango provides a dense shade with some dappled sun. I've been keeping the moss moist and at this time it is producing inflorescence on about 3-4 of the new psudeobulbs.

[lmartiny]

I'm interested in trying more of these. I think they are really neat.

[koshki]

I was just peeking around at my EA, which I repotted on October 7th (rescued from s/h), and suprise! TWO new growths emerging...one from the lead bulb and one from a way back bulb!

Thanks Brooke for your advice! I used an 8" net pot with a 3" net pot upside down in the middle (I didn't have enough p'nuts on hand) and sphag, and have kept it wet since then. Two new growths! It hasn't done ANYTHING since I put it in s/h last March except shrivel up.

I wish I had known about those vanda baskets (another post)...this one is very deep for the size of the plant and I think the shallower vanda basket would have worked well.

Orchids are amazing plants!

[Brooke]

IMO you picked the correct basket for this plant. It is a rampant grower and will quickly grow over the sides of the pot. The shallow vanda basket would need to be hung within a year or so and makes maintenance difficult in a home situation. At least for a couple of years it can sit on a surface. The net pot is an excellent idea.

Yes the lady is a warm moist grower and will reward you in a couple of years with a gorgeous display.

Brooke