Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Lobb's Bulbophyllum (Bulbophyllum lobbii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Lobb's Cirrhopetalum.
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.
Growth habit: Sympodial creeping epiphyte: a rhizome spaces ovoid single-leaved pseudobulbs along its length. Each flower spike carries a single large, pendulous bloom, the lip often loosely hinged so it rocks with air movement to aid pollination.
What fertiliser lobb's bulbophyllum actually wants — and why
Lobb's Bulbophyllum is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for lobb's bulbophyllum: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed lobb's bulbophyllum, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For lobb's bulbophyllum:
Feed at quarter strength with a balanced orchid fertiliser every one to two waterings during growth, as frequent watering leaches nutrients quickly, and flush with plain water periodically. Reduce feeding in cooler, lower-light months. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when lobb's bulbophyllum is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for lobb's bulbophyllum
Half strength is the safe default for lobb's bulbophyllum — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water lobb's bulbophyllum first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the lobb's bulbophyllum watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding lobb's bulbophyllum
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for lobb's bulbophyllum:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding lobb's bulbophyllum
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full lobb's bulbophyllum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of lobb's bulbophyllum with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for lobb's bulbophyllum
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising lobb's bulbophyllum — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does lobb's bulbophyllum need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Lobb's Bulbophyllum is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed lobb's bulbophyllum?
Feed at quarter strength with a balanced orchid fertiliser every one to two waterings during growth, as frequent watering leaches nutrients quickly, and flush with plain water periodically. Reduce feeding in cooler, lower-light months. Feed at quarter strength with a balanced orchid fertiliser every one to two waterings during growth, as frequent watering leaches nutrients quickly, and flush with plain water periodically. Reduce feeding in cooler, lower-light months. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for lobb's bulbophyllum?
Half strength is the safe default for lobb's bulbophyllum — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding lobb's bulbophyllum look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding lobb's bulbophyllum year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of lobb's bulbophyllum?
Flush the pot of lobb's bulbophyllum with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Lobb's Bulbophyllum care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water lobb's bulbophyllum — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise peace lily
- How to fertilise bird of paradise
- How to fertilise hoya
- All 1284 fertilising guides in the Growli library