Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Wendland's Bulbophyllum (Bulbophyllum wendlandianum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Wendland's Bulbophyllum, Cirrhopetalum wendlandianum.
More about wendland's bulbophyllum
About Wendland's Bulbophyllum
Bulbophyllum wendlandianum · also called Wendland's Bulbophyllum, Cirrhopetalum wendlandianum · tropical
A miniature to small epiphyte or lithophyte from the forests of northern Myanmar and Thailand, Wendland's Bulbophyllum spreads along a creeping rhizome bearing spaced pseudobulbs, each tipped with a single leathery leaf. In spring it produces clusters of up to seven fragrant flowers with striking red-and-yellow fused lateral sepals. It grows best on a slab or in a wide shallow basket with consistent moisture.
Growth habit: Creeping, branching sympodial epiphyte or lithophyte. The rhizome spreads horizontally with pseudobulbs spaced approximately 4 cm apart, each bearing a single stiff, lanceolate leaf. Slowly forms an extensive mat.
What fertiliser wendland's bulbophyllum actually wants — and why
Wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum:
Apply a dilute orchid fertiliser (quarter strength) every two to three weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Low fertiliser requirements compared to many orchids — over-feeding causes salt build-up on the mount. Flush with clean water monthly. Minimal or no feeding in winter. Treat that as monthly 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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum
Half strength is the safe default for wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding wendland's bulbophyllum
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does wendland'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. Wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum?
Apply a dilute orchid fertiliser (quarter strength) every two to three weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Low fertiliser requirements compared to many orchids — over-feeding causes salt build-up on the mount. Flush with clean water monthly. Minimal or no feeding in winter. Apply a dilute orchid fertiliser (quarter strength) every two to three weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Low fertiliser requirements compared to many orchids — over-feeding causes salt build-up on the mount. Flush with clean water monthly. Minimal or no feeding in winter. Treat that as monthly 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 wendland's bulbophyllum?
Half strength is the safe default for wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland'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 wendland's bulbophyllum?
Flush the pot of wendland'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
- Wendland's Bulbophyllum care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water wendland'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 tsubo bamboo grass
- How to fertilise kuril bamboo
- How to fertilise masaguno sasa
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library