Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Lobb's Bulbophyllum bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Lobb's Cirrhopetalum (Bulbophyllum lobbii).

More about lobb's bulbophyllum

About Lobb's Bulbophyllum

Bulbophyllum lobbii · also called Lobb's Cirrhopetalum · flowering

Bulbophyllum lobbii is a widespread Southeast Asian epiphyte bearing large, solitary, nodding flowers in shades of yellow to tawny gold, often with a delicately hinged, quivering lip that moves in the breeze. A warm, humidity-loving grower, it does well mounted or in a basket with bright shade and steady moisture, and is one of the more forgiving large-flowered Bulbophyllums for beginners.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Sparse flowering: Often too dim or an immature plant. Provide bright shade and warmth, and let the rhizome ramble to build multiple flowering-size growths.

The reasons lobb's bulbophyllum isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming lobb's bulbophyllum traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding lobb's bulbophyllum a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get lobb's bulbophyllum to flower

Maximise sun. Give lobb's bulbophyllum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for lobb's bulbophyllum and get the feeding right with the lobb's bulbophyllum fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Lobb's Bulbophyllum flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full lobb's bulbophyllum care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Lobb's Bulbophyllum blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my lobb's bulbophyllum flower?

Lobb's Bulbophyllum blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make lobb's bulbophyllum bloom?

Give lobb's bulbophyllum the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does lobb's bulbophyllum normally bloom?