in search of Phal. bellina var. coerulea

[LynnZ]

I would really like to add a (or two or three LOL) Phal. bellina var. coerulea to my collection. But the only ones I find online are prohibitively expensive. Actually, i would consider paying $100 for one if and only if I were positive it would be okay here. I live in Colorado and have my currently-flowering-phals out in the house where we can enjoy the flowers. The other more sensitive orchids I have in my glass cabinet with grow lights and a humidifier and fans. Our house is 75 - 65 during the day/night. If Phal. Bellinas are warm to hot growers, are they going to be okay in my home??? The phals I have now are all cool to intermediates... Thanks for any help! -Lynn

[Ray]

IMO, 70° is "the ragged edge" of lower temperature for bellinas, especially if they're ever going to go to be wet (which they prefer) and the RH is low enough to favor evaporative cooling.

I'm down here in hot, humid coastal NC and I won't grow them because my indoor winters are not up to the task.

Don't get me wrong, there are things that can be done to keep them warmer and more humid, but you'll have to gauge the effort/risk/reward potential for yourself.

[LynnZ]

Thanks Ray. *sniff* that's what i was afraid of as I was trying to research this... I will just continue to admire from afar

[realoldbeachbum]

Hello LynnZ. I have purchased bellina var. coerulea from both Hausermann's and Orchid Classics and have had much success getting them to bloom. I place them on heat mats in the Winter. Summers are fine.

Happy growing. ROBB

[gdupont]

Originally Posted by LynnZ

Thanks Ray. *sniff* that's what i was afraid of as I was trying to research this... I will just continue to admire from afar

Just as another data point - I grow Phalaenopsis violacea (closely related, similar requirements) in Massachusetts indoors year-round and it certainly does well enough.

It blooms reliably once or twice a year, seems to always have a flower spike of some stage. Might be a little slow at putting out new leaves, but the flowers are fantastic. Actually one of my easiest bloomers.

Night temps in winter probably 68, in summer around 74. I keep it in a glass cabinet, and it gets quite wet at times, but I do let it dry more in the winter. Obviously not the most ideal temps for the species, but not bad!

I got mine from Big Leaf back in 2020. I say try it!!

[Jmoney]

I think a heat mat is a great idea. Having no common sense, I procured a violacea and bellina, neither of which appreciated the southern New England winters (66-68F day and night in my house), although they "hung" on. Spending summers outside really helped them get strong enough to make it through the cold winters.

Now they have moved to a new warm, humid greenhouse, and love the conditions, but I have a heat mat ready to go for the upcoming winter.

[Clawhammer]

A heat matt will solve the problem. I grow a couple Bellina at similar temps on a heat mat and they are very happy. I brought one back from near death and bloomed a seedling out after a year with this method. Warm roots = happy phals.

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