Phalaenopsis equestris and bellina culture advice

[InspirChid1712]

I love growing Phals, and have within the last year started a small species collection. So far its only equestris (Phal. equestris X self) and bellina (Phal. violacea 'Tequila Sunset' X Phal. violacea var. borneo). Could anybody offer SPECIFIC culture details with these two so they can develop into ideal specimen plants? Both plants came from Hausermann's, and I wondered if anybody has already flowered that specific bellina, and might you have pictures of it? I'd love to know what to expect!!!! Thanks!!!!

[Dorothy]

I have posted my Phal voilacea x voilacea var Borneo from Hauserman here - My avatar is Phal voilacea 'Tequila Sunset x Tequila Sunset'
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ar-boreno.html
They get a western exposure of shaded to dappled light in the afternoon (around 3-5 hours) - Mine tend to dry quickly so I water every other day especially the 2 equistris (sometimes everyday) as their medium is very fine. Here is my most recent post - http://www.orchidboard.com/community...d-society.html
I was fertilizing instead of just watering but I have cut my fertliziing down to once a week. I have the top of the medium covered in sphag moss to keep the roots moist and I keep the air circulating over them with a fan. Other than that, they are healthy and blooming happy
I love voilacea's fragrance
How specific in detail ? Do you want to know candlelight intensity? % of humidity?
I grow mine indoors in front of a window and I am in the northeast so far they have adapted well to my in-house environment.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

I was fertilizing instead of just watering but I have cut my fertliziing down to once a week.

D. Any particular reason you cut back on fertilizer? Maybe you explained earlier and I missed it, but I'm curious because I understood Phals like lots of nutrients.

[Dorothy]

It hasn't been that long that I have cut down on the constant fertilizing. I felt I was fertilizing excessively and thought I would cut back for a while and see if there is any difference.

[quiltergal]

I'm not treating mine any differently than my other phals, and the equestris is blooming away, and the violacea x bellina is growing a new leaf and a new root. I have them both in the slotted clear plastic pots and during the hot weather they were getting watered with fert once a week and a mid-week plain water. Now I've cut out the mid week water since it's not so hot out and they don't dry out as fast. They both seem perfectly happy.

[Phantasm]

If you can grow phalaenopsis, then these plants won't be any different than standard culture. Almost all phals required warm temperatures to grow well along with less than cattleya light. Find a good culture sheet or book on phalaenopsis growing. They grow very well in the house.

[justatypn]

My bellina is still in it's growing stages and the patience are wearing thin...so overly anxious for this little bugger to bloom. Normal phal culture for this guy but the wonders of stubborness is puzzling.