From the largest genus of orchids, Bulbophyllum, welcome a very popular, awe-striking plant Bulbophyllum Maquilingense. This plant grabs everyone’s attention due to its unique but adorable appearance. It definitely makes you question nature that how come it has such beautiful wonders.
This plant is miniature in size and maintains its beauty all year round. Hence, there will never be a time when you feel this epiphyte is losing its charming beauty. Although they are evergreen, they still demand extra care. Well, shouldn’t every attractive thing be given extra protection and care?
A maquilingense can be used in multiple ways- decoration pieces on shelves, on tabletops, as an aesthetic piece, and more. It seems that your interest in Bulbophyllum maquilingense is developing. Want to learn more? Keep reading to get further amazed.
Bulbophyllum Maquilingense Classification
Family: Orchidaceae
Genus: Bulbophyllum
Specie: Maquilingense
Genus: Bulbophyllum
Bulbophyllum is a Greek word in which ‘bulbo’ comes from the word bulb and ‘phylum means leaf. It was named this since this plant contains pseudobulbs. This genus was described in 1882 by Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars.
This wide genus consists of epiphytic and lithophytic orchids. it is the second-largest genus of flowering plants. This species is found in warm areas mostly which include south Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc. They are also found on islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans. In appearance, this genus has roots that resemble threads and are fibrous.
The stem has a pseudobulb and a rhizome. On the top of the pseudobulb, there is often only a single leathery leaf or a maximum of two. From the base of the pseudobulb, there is another unbranched stem.
This stem has a large number of flowers and the petals are apart from each other. they are of a size 2mm to 400 mm. They are adapted to survive in humid conditions since they belong to rainforests. These warm growing species are a major attraction to flies.
Features of the Bulbophyllum Maquilingense Plant
Size:
The Bulbophyllum maquilingense plant also known as mount making Bulbophyllum are tiny in size. Although, if we compare them to other orchids, they do have an impressive height of about 5-8 cm. Provided with a suitable environment, this is the maximum height they can reach. Hence, they are suitable to keep indoors since they do not occupy a large space. If they are kept in a suitable environment, their growth is pretty fast.
Flowers:
The flowers of this plant have an average height of 1 cm. At first, from the base of the pseudobulb, a cluster of flowers develop. The bracts of these flowers are in the shape of a funnel which has a height ranging from 3-5 cm. These evergreen plants have yellow flowers, on which there are spots in different shades of red.
As a cherry on top, they also have a purple outline adding to their beauty. the stems of flowers are also short in height and can only grow up to 1 to 2 inches. The beauty of these flowers makes this plant suitable to be used for the indoor decoration piece.
Toxicity:
As long as Bulbophyllum maquilingense toxicity is considered, there is no specific research conducted yet. This plant is still being studied to know if it contains any toxic elements. Most of the plants have toxic elements which can harm ones if ingested. Like others, this plant could also be toxic.
Other than this, plants often have bacteria and germs on them. They get these through ants, bugs, etc. Hence, it is highly suggested that children are kept away from this plant to avoid any health issues.
Similarly, pet owners are also advised to keep pets away from this plant. They could be toxic hence precautions must be taken. If you have toddlers who have a habit of licking every other thing, you should think before adopting this plant.
Bulbophyllum MaquilingenseCare
Like any other plant Bulbophyllum Maquilingense also requires a suitable environment. This plant also demands specific humidity, water levels, temperature, etc. Although, a beginner can take care of this plant, still, you should be a plant lover to take care of this epiphyte. Most importantly, it requires extra attention if it is being grown outside a greenhouse.
Let’s have a glance at a quick guide of how to take care of this plant:
Water levels: high
Light: indirect sunlight, shaded spot
Humidity: high levels
Fertilizer: Once a week, during summers and less often during winters
Following is an in-depth guide of how to help these epiphytes grow into healthy, beautiful flower plants:
Water requirements
The Bulbophyllum Maquilingense is a water lover and will do great if it is watered enough and on time. By nature, they are adapted to survive in wet conditions. This is why they are widely found in tropical rainforests. This plant demands to be watered three to five times a week. However, it is even better to water it daily in a certain amount to avoid the possibility of dehydration. This is the key to keep this plant healthy and happy.
Keep in mind, anything over the limit causes destruction even if that thing is water in this situation. Like other Bulbophyllum, this epiphyte also has a hydration limit. If that limit is crossed often, it could be the reason for this plant’s death eventually.
Although there are different techniques to know if your plant needs more water, you should know the easiest one. Observe your plant if it has already soaked the previous water intake. Make sure that the plant is a bit dry before you plan to add more water to it.
Another method is to use a moisture meter to know accurately how the plant’s exact moisture levels. Alternatively, you can also use your finger to feel what texture the soil has. If it seems to be dry, do not hesitate to add more water. If it seems wet, wait for a day or so before watering it again.
Light requirements
These plants are not much demanding when it comes to light requirements. They can thrive well even in a shaded spot. In fact, they are much happier if you keep them away from direct light falling on their flowers. You can place them anywhere according to your liking- a shaded corner, or even a bright room. But, do remember that ‘bright’ does not mean near sunlight. They should always be kept in a spot where there is indirect sunlight. Artificially well-lit rooms also work pretty well.
If by any chance, they are exposed to direct sunlight, there can be a drastic effect on the leaves of this Bulbophyllum. They can lose their color and take up a shade of yellow or even worse, get burnt. Or, the leaves can also lose their texture and get wrinkled.
The flowers are also pretty sensitive to the scorching sun rays, hence be careful. Overexposure can also hinder the growth of flowers. However, sometimes there is a worst-case scenario that you cannot stop sunlight from hitting the plant. In this case, you can always use a shade cloth to block sun rays from falling directly on the plant.
Soil requirements
Bulbophyllum maquilingense has healthy growth when the soil is moist enough. Here, watering plays a pretty important role. Hence, if you are still unsure about how much water should you provide, scroll up. Go up and reread how much water should be given and at what intervals. However, the soil must also not be waterlogged otherwise roots will get damaged.
Overwatered plants cause roots to not breathe properly. Soggy soil will only create problems for you and do no good to the plant as well. Always let the top layer get dried before you water the soil again. Apart from this, make sure the soil is full of nutrients and minerals. It should be fertile and rich in quality. This is something you should never compromise on no matter what.
These epiphytes prefer moss-based potting like sphagnum moss or even fine bark. Whichever it is, make sure the mix is well-draining to avoid water retention. Also, another tip is to use a well-draining pot which can allow good drainage.
Temperature and humidity requirements
Maquilingense is a warm temperature-loving plant. They love summers and do not thrive well in low temperatures or cool climates. The temperature should ideally be above 60 Fahrenheit for healthy, fast growth. The suitable range for growth is between 55-85 Fahrenheit.
If you live somewhere where winters are not harsh, then only you should consider adopting this plant. In short, during winter, you should relocate the plant to a cozy spot. If you can afford it, you can also invest in-room heater. Regardless of the weather, never keep this epiphyte in front of a fan, air cooler, or air conditioner.
This species is pretty particular when it comes to humidity needs. They require a very high amount of moisture in the air. These hydration-loving plants can be kept hydrated all year around by quite a few techniques. You can do misting now and then.
Other than this, you can also keep the pot pebble tray with some water in it. When the water will evaporate, moisture will be produced that will increase the humidity levels.
Fertilizer
There is nothing major to worry about in this aspect. Just get any organic fertilizer from any nursery nearby. Make sure you do not over-fertilize. Once a week during the growing season is more than enough. And, during winters, do it less often. However, there should be no compromise on the quality of fertilizer otherwise it can also damage your plant.
Repotting requirements
Good thing is that these plants do not require repotting now and then, however, if you feel the plant has overgrown its pot and needs a bigger one, the steps are pretty simple. Just take out the plant, remove excess soil and replant it in a larger pot.
Pruning
There is no limitation in this aspect. You can clean the plant as soon as you feel it needs some grooming. You can easily do that by removing dead leaves from the base of the plant and misting the leaves.
Yellow/Brown Leaves
The major reason behind maquilingense’s leaves turning yellow is the growth of bacteria or fungus. Keep checking the undersides of leaves and roots to notice any bacterial growth.
If there is any, isolate the plant and prune the affected leaves, roots, etc. You should spray a fungicide after it and keep it away from fellow plants for a while.
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Summary
The Bulbophyllum Maquilingense is an epiphyte native to tropical rainforests of Asia, Latin America, and Africa. They have gained popularity due to their striking beauty and different appearance from fellow plants.
It is one of the most unique plants from the family of orchids. The blooming time for it is spring during which it blooms yellow flowers with a hint of red and purple.
They are pretty much beginner-friendly since their requirements are not that hard to meet. However, for top-notch care, the owner must have a love for plants. This adorable species can be decorated on coffee tables, shelves, etc to add beauty to the room.
