Bulbophyllum blumei

This species is usually not found in orchid nurseries as it is quite difficult to grow. Hobbyists who are fond of rare species takes great pride as flowering them is tedious. But once established in the garden, it would be a pleasant sight to witness the beauty of its unique flowers. It blooms once a year around November.

Fruit Flies

Bactrocera cucurbitae on

Orchid species.

Recorded from our orchid collection pictures are the visits of fruit flies.

The Bulbophyllum macrantum attracted the fruit flies due to its secretion of a sweet smelling liquid sometimes like strawberries. Until today, the B. macrantum still bring in the flies.

Our Bulbophyllum vinaceum (below)attracted the most flies because the smell is sweeter.

Close up of the Bactrocera cucurbitae.

Another view of the flies on the B. macrantum

The other orchid species the flies love are the Bulbophyllum patens

and the Bulbophyllum ecornutum.

The Bulbophyllum medusae, having smaller flower per cluster also attracts flies but not this type of fruit fly.

You can watch that fly on my video of the B.medusae time lapse HD Video here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6boDFu_abzg&feature=g_upl

Cymbidium finlaysonianum

Another Cymbidium

This the commonest Cymbidium usually found growing at lowlands especially on old durian trees. Its pendulous flowers is very striking to look at.

My posting below (1st. August 2009) is another Cymbidium called C. atropurpureum which is less common and found at higher elevations.

This C. finlaysonianum featured here, usually flowers twice a year.

Geodorum citrinum

At last!

Obtained a cluster of leafless bulb from a road-side slope after a small landslide, we grew this species after dividing into pots.

The plant grew profusely with many leaves but did not flower at all. That was many cycles for the last nine years.

Last week, one of the pot flowered. Only then we can safely describe and name this species.

We shot an HD Video of the Geodorum citrinum here.

Bulbophyllum rufinum

HD Video

Coelogyne rochussenii

Necklace Orchid

Our Coelogyne rochussenii also known as 'necklace' orchid bloomed early this week.

This beautiful species is usually found growing in cooler highland areas such as in Genting Highlands and Fraser's Hill. The flowers are sweetly scented and is very attractive especially in a large clump with hanging strands of garlands usually up to 60 flowers each stalk.
We have posted a video in HD (High Definition) here on You Tube.

HD Video

Phalaenopsis violacea- The Opening

Just completed another HD Video on an orchid blooming.
This time it is the Malaysian species, Phalaenopsis violacea
(Phal bellina)

Now In HD Video

Nervilia aragoana

We have updated newer information and edited videos in full HD. This is to let our viewers experience sharper, clearer and better videos never seen before. We would be consistantly adding updates for other species that we have.

The HD Video for Nervilia aragoana is here.

Please visit this site or bookmark it.

Thanks for dropping by.

For the First Time!

Time Lapse Video on
Bulbophyllum medusae

Yup, it's up. It took us four solid days to record the flowering of this Malaysian species.
That would be almost 100 hours non-stop interval video recording with the Panasonic HDC TM300 AVCHD camcorder in full 1080p HD.
We also believe that this is the first time anyone shot a video or a movie on this plant.
Click here to see the video at Youtube.
Enjoy

Slide Show ....Part 2

Orchid Species of Malaysia

Here is the slide show part2 of our collection.
Enjoy!

Cymbidium atropurpureum

A Malaysian Cymbidium
Unlike to common lowland Cymbidium finlaysonianum, this species features heavy red and maroon colors and the flowers are somewhat smaller at sea level. This is from Gua Musang, Kelantan. The plant there have better showing with larger flowers and longer inflorescence stalk. We can conclude that it maybe due to the cooler weather there as compared with Klang's badly poluted air for the last 2 months.
Also shot a HD Video here.


Also to note:- We lost numerous species here in our home in Klang due to the heat and pollution.

Grammatophyllum speciosum Bl.

Giant of the Orchids

This species the Grammatophyllum is the largest orchid plant in the World and is found in Malaysia to Papua New Guinea. G. speciosum have been recorded to weigh several tons!! The cane-like growth can reach up to 14 feet in height and is usually found growing on very large timber trees along river banks .
It is also known that this species, when removed to be grown elsewhere outside their natural environment, can be notoriously stubborn for not flowering even up to ten years! Our plant, a cutting of the one we have from Kelantan was grown here in our home here in Klang, Selangor for 6 years.
It flowered for the first time . The first bloom was at the last 4 days during the Chinese New Year i.e 17th. February,2008 and it lasted for over a month. The second bloom started 15th. June until today. The parent plant is still in Kelantan and usually flowers around Mederka Day in August.. We can safely conclude that orchid species like these, do not follow its flowering pattern when grown out of their location/recorded season.

We are very proud of its robust growth especially at lowland. We started with a total of 28 canes and as at today, we have over 82 canes! It is very healthy and easy to grow. In a specially built trough to grow this species, we have this G. speciosum from five different locations throughout the Peninsular. They are from Kelantan, Pedu(Kedah), Gentings(Pahang), Muar and K.Rompin (Johore). Only the one from Kelantan flowered and did it twice!

This is our planting which is next to our fresh water pond.
This is a picture of the single flower. It measured around 4ins x 6 ins each and the first stalk consists of 61 flowers!

We tested for self-pollination and it produced 3 large fruits measuring 8ins x 5 ins weighing 300gms each! We had to support its flower stalk too. The photo below was taken at its development stage. When the fruit ripens, normally takes about 3 months, bursts and showers the area below with millions of powder-like seeds. It is rare that new plants would be formed if the environment is not conducive. In nature, new seedlings are formed this way. This is due to the absence of nutrient-giving mycorrhiza. Many artificially germinate the seeds in the laboratory.
The total height of the flower stalk stands at 6 ft. (below)
The second flowering produced 80 flowers!
This picture (below) was taken Kuala Rompin, Johore. The Grammatophyllum speciosum was just grown under full sun outside the home but with strong sea breeze everyday.

It is also known that many orchids such as these have been used as traditional medicine. This article which appeared in 'The Star' Malaysia, reported that in Sarawak, the Kelabit people uses it as a food dish.
A very interesting reference book on how orchids are being used by humans is written by Professor Emeritus Joseph Arditti

"Fundamentals of Orchid Biology" [Wiley, ISBN 0-471-54906-1]

in the chapter 'Commercial and Ethnobotanical Uses of Orchids'.

I was glad to have meet him here in Petaling Jaya in August 2005 when he gave a presentation at the invitation by PRIME College.

Goodyera viridiflora

Grammatophyllum speciosum Bl.

This giant of the species is still blooming in our garden. This is the second time after the one started during the Chinese New Year.

Bulbophyllum corroliferum