Bulbophyllum frostii

Description

Bulbophyllum frostii (Synonym; Cirrhopetalum frostii), commonly known as Frost's Bulbophyllum or Dutchman's shoes is a species of orchid, In the wild it grows as an epiphyte, inhabiting evergreen lowland rainforests in Vietnam and more rarely in China and Thailand, including the Malay peninsula. This plant is usually found at elevations between 1450 and 1500 meters above sea level. Bulbophyllum frostii has green to purple pseudobulbs spaced roughly 1/2" (1.25 cm) apart on a creeping rhizome. Each pseudobulb features a single dark green, oblong-elliptic leaf. This species has a flower size of roughly 1" (2.5 cm). These flowers possess characteristics such as an unpleasant scent and flowers that mimic carrion, which is a common trait in many other members of the genus bulbophyllum. Both of these characteristics attract flies, which are the main pollinators of this plant. Blooms emerge in small clusters from the base of the pseudobulbs, and can be quite variable from plant to plant, ranging from flowers with fused sepals, to sepals that are completely detached from one another. Depending on the climate, B. frostii and other epiphytic orchids can be grown in pots filled with fine bark or sphagnum moss, They are also often grown mounted, usually on a wood of some kind such as cork. It thrives in an environment with high humidity and good ventilation, and grows best with frequent but diluted fertilisations.