Paphiopedilum bellatulum spiking now? - Orchid Board

u bada · #1 02-17-2016, 11:01 PM

Hello everyone,

I have this paph bellatalum that I've head since last summer or spring, not sure. i know it reputedly is tough and i grow mainly mini's and not really paphs but since i love this one i got one... so considering there are people saying grow it warm, grow it cool and other varying ideas, i haven't been sure what to do with it, so it's stayed indoors (in LA) in a windowsill where it gets pretty hot and dry in summer and cool (and also dry) in winter (when I barely watered it) and now it's february and it's spiking (granted it it's been close to 90 for last week)... which i think is odd as i believe it's more of a late spring, summer bloomer... this a bad sign? or do you think it actually might bloom out ok?

thanks in advance!

Leslie · #2 02-18-2016, 04:56 AM

This is bellatulum season so it is not out of sync ... Make sure you water as it is ALMOST dry. Never let it dry completely or you will blast the bud by dehydration. Good luck!

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u bada · #3 02-18-2016, 02:26 PM

Awesome thx Leslie! i drenched it the other day, so i guess I'll wait a while before i water again... and it's getting fairly direct sun in the window for at least a couple hours, should I keep it better shaded while it's budding?

Leslie · #4 02-18-2016, 05:12 PM

No direct sun, bright shade is good. Use a wooden skewer stuck in mix to the middle part to help watering. If the skewer is dry moist, water. Hope that helps.

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SFLguy · #5 02-18-2016, 05:59 PM

Do you think the flower would get burned if it's in the same amount of sunlight as it's been in since the summer? I feel like it would do fine but then again, I'm no expert

SFLguy · #6 02-18-2016, 06:01 PM

Skewers are definitely the way to go!

u bada · #7 02-18-2016, 06:26 PM

thanks! Well I'm afraid to move it so i just placed slightly taller plants around it to diffuse the direct light... but it goes to show ya, I've read a lot of online info and posts on forums saying the thing has been seen growing in direct sun on cliffs in nature... but sun in LA is super intense these days, so better to err on lessening light in this case... but it is one of those paphs that prefers higher light levels correct?

This would be its first bloom and it's a pretty small pot so it's easy to just lift pot and touch and see the bottom of pot, although i generally underwater everything, it's just way too dry in LA these days anyway and I'm too busy to water too much, but the skewer method is a good one...

SFLguy · #8 02-18-2016, 08:03 PM

No, I don't think this is one of those that grows with all that much sunlight, look at the bottom of the leaves. Generally plants that have purple on the bottom of the leaves are plants that live in low light. Mine also get a couple of hours of sunlight through a window but, sunlight through a window is not the same as direct sunlight

SFLguy · #9 02-18-2016, 08:05 PM

That being said, I haven't had mine all that long but they've been there long enough that they would have burned if there was a problem with light levels.

Leslie · #10 02-18-2016, 10:38 PM

The diffusion of light is a good call. Mottled leaved paphs can tolerate a few hours of morning light if cool enough. But generally all in shade or bright shade. The last thing you want is to blast the buds or burn the leaves. Most of the bellatulum I have or at friends grow in bright shade 1200-1500 fc. The green leaved paphs can tolerate 2500 fc!

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