Bulbophyllum Dearei - Mount or Basket

[MSPProductions]

I picked up this Bulbophyllum Dearei at an auction. I've read up on the culture. I don't know really if it's logical to keep this guy in a pot. I did read that they naturally will clump together. I'm trying to figure out if it might like to be mounted or maybe put in a basket. Any advice?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I do put Bulbos in pots, but it is a lot of work training the new growth to bend and wind around a 5" bulb pan, but mine have smaller bulbs. If a basket works for you it would be a lot better than a pot. That looks like a pretty substantial sized plant, which would make me think mounting would not be as desireable. Bulbos don't like to dry out completely, so again, I think a basket would be better than a mount, but I defer to those that do mounts with bulbos.

[jerrymeola]

I have several serious Bubo growers and they generally like the look and growth of them in a wide shallow basket.

A specimen in a 20 inch basket by 3 inches deep can look fabulous.

I am a big fan of mounting but was more impressed with the look of bulbos in baskets (no hanger - sitting on a table)

[Ellen]

I grow all my bulbos mounted, even the big ones. Some of them grow all over themselves and form clumps. When pieces start to hang down, you can just break them off as divisions. I've tried both tree fern and cork, and they seem to like cork better. Mounting works best for me because I use all my basket space for vandas.