Habitat and Ecology
 
​Bulbophyllum polliculosum is a miniature, often deciduous epiphyte or lithophyte native to Indochina, with a distribution including Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is found in lower montane forests on sandstone, growing on tree trunks or river boulders at elevations between 400 and 900 metres. This species is adapted to a monsoon-like climate with a warm, wet growing season followed by a cool, bright, and semi-dry winter rest, which is necessary for flower induction. Due to its small, flat pseudobulbs, it is part of a group (Porpax-habit species) that look like lichens when leafless and dormant.
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Description
 
​This is a super tiny, rhizomatous miniature orchid highly valued by collectors for its unique form. It produces small, flattened, discoid (button-like) pseudobulbs that are spaced along a creeping rhizome. The leaves are typically deciduous (shedding annually), thin-textured, and usually borne singly from the apex of the pseudobulb. The remarkable flowers are produced in a single pair on a short spike emerging from the base of the pseudobulb, typically blooming in spring. The waxy flowers are small (8-9 mm), often pale yellow or greenish with bold dark purple veination on the sepals and a large, mobile lip that is covered in tiny hairs, giving it a 'funky' or textured appearance. The species name polliculosum is Latin for 'little thumb' or 'small finger', perhaps referring to the small, fleshy floral segments.
 
​Cultivation
 
​Bulbophyllum polliculosum is an intermediate to cool-growing orchid that requires a clear seasonal cycle. It is often best mounted on cork bark or tree fern fibre or grown in a very shallow pot in an open, moisture-retentive mix of fine bark and sphagnum moss. It requires bright, filtered light—providing more light in winter when leafless is beneficial. The plant must be kept moist during active growth (spring to autumn), allowing the medium to just approach dryness before watering again. A crucial cool, dry winter rest must be provided to initiate flowering and prevent rot.
 
​Optimal Daytime Temperature (Growing Season): 21-27C (70-81 F)
​Optimal Nighttime Temperature (Winter Rest): A cooling period is essential, ideally 10-15 C (50-59 F).
 
​High humidity (60-80%) is preferred during the growing season, but the roots must dry out rapidly after watering. Fertilize lightly (half-strength balanced feed) during the active growth phase.
 
​Unique Features
 
​This miniature is a truly distinctive collector's orchid, prized for its deciduous nature and its ability to completely rest in winter, mimicking a tiny lichen or button on its host. The unusual flower morphology, featuring a large, darkly veined lip and waxy, paired flowers on a miniature growth habit, is highly appealing. Successfully providing the correct dry winter rest ensures a rewarding flush of its unique blooms in spring.
 
​Specifications
 
​Plant Size: Flowering sized and on a mount
​Plant Family: Orchidaceae
​Plant Passport: A Bulbophyllum polliculosum B 140084 C [buyer to input number on the label] D GB