Bulbophyllum lobbii var, Malacca, blooming with multiple flowers for the second time in 2014

In the past I had tried to grow this orchid without sucess.  In January of 2013, I received this plant and the nominate variety.  Both were treated identically, potted in the same media and in the same type of basket, they were growing side by side.  The nominate type died a low and messy death, the var. Malacca has thrived and blooms very well.  I wonder what is the difference that caused the different outcomes in the cultivation of plants that are essentially identical in their needs.

Bulbophyllum lobbi, Malacca form, Very different from the Bulb. lobbii that I had seen locally.

In January I received a two pseudobulb piece of this orchid.  Needless to say I gave this orchid the best care possible.  Given that it arrived at the start of the local dry season I had to drench it daily for months to ensure that it would not suffer from the low humidity.  The reason for all that zeal at watering was that the plant was sent bare root and lacked a good root system to use the moisture.   Once the rainy season arrived, with its high humidity, the plant thrived.    The reward for all the effort caring for this plant was this stunning flower that opened today.

As you can imagine I am extremely happy with this orchid whose flower is strikingly different from the most common Bulbophyllum lobbii forms.   I am mystified by the fact that my other Bulbophyllum lobbii plant has been growing slowly and weakly in comparison with this one.    My plan is to grow this plant into an specimen.

Bulbophyllum lobbii is a member of the Sestochilos section of the genus Bulbophyllum.   This species is widespread in Asia, from northern India to the Phillippines¹.   Malacca is the third smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang.

¹La Croix, I. F.  2008. The new encyclopedia of orchids: 1500 species in cultivation