GardenBanter.co.uk - Fragrance 4: Bulbophyllum leysianum

Very attractive, Tennis. But once I grew an Amorphallus titanum (I think).
The 6' tall single leaf was very attractively mottled and curiously
interesting in shape. When the bulb grew to over 1' across, I told myself
that was the last repotting I was doing with this plant. Several weeks later
it sent up a flower stem about 6' tall and made the whole greenhouse smell
of rotting meat (to be very polite) and I have a decent sized greenhouse
(about 24x100'). My wife said that either the plant went or she did. After
serious deliberation I decided that my wife was worth a lot more than the
plant, not to mention the cost of a hernia operation if I had to lift the
plant one more time. Seriously, I couldn't take the smell either and since
then we don't grow anything that remotely has that odor. I do have some
Bulbophyllums, but they are carefully screened before entering our domain.
Beautiful plant, Tennis. And more power to you.
Gary

"tenman" wrote in message
...
The greenhouse was very fragrant today. I smell the Sharry Baby the
second I open the door. Fortunately it, the trichopilias, and the
various cattleyas are strong enough that I don't smell this one. It's
fragrance isn't really that strong, but is very pungently fecal. Hard to
equal for depth of color, this is the first 3" flower out of three to
open on this inflorescence out of the four inflorescences now maturing.
A lot to recommend a plant that tops out at 6" and is in a shallow 6"
plastic pot. I keep the bulbos up high for warmth and light and never
let them dry out.