Phal. violacea x bellina culture help - Orchid Board

RNCollins · #1 05-16-2014, 04:25 PM

Hi! I have a Phal. Samera coerulea (violacea 'Blue Jay' x bellina 'Blue Moon'). It is potted in spag moss. Can anyone with experience growing either Phal. violacea or bellina offer me cultural tips or suggestions? Thanks!

quiltergal · #2 05-16-2014, 04:50 PM

They like to grow warm, and really and truly stay evenly moist. I'm also growing both species fairly bright (2500fc). I had a Samera for awhile and grew it the same way. HTH

RNCollins · #3 05-16-2014, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

They like to grow warm, and really and truly stay evenly moist. I'm also growing both species fairly bright (2500fc). I had a Samera for awhile and grew it the same way. HTH

Thanks quiltergal. Did your Samera die?

In the winter I had it on a seedling heat mat (because my room would get down to 55-60 F at night. I use R/O water and fertilize weekly very weakly. My Samera is a seedling in spag moss, but I'm nervous because I've only ever killed phals in moss.

orchidsarefun · #4 05-16-2014, 05:36 PM

I have a violacea in moss - I prefer it as its easy to tell when the plant needs watering ( its light vs. heavy when watered well ). I have a Samera in a bark/moss mix. Both do well, with plenty of foliage growth.
I am hoping to get blooms as the weather warms up. They do like it warmer than other phals that do not have bellina or violacea - or other warm growers - in parentage. I have a Jennifer Palermo ( violacea x speciosa ) that also likes it warmer - I have that one in moss too.
I water the Samera the same time as the moss-grown ones. If I don't get blooms this Summer, I am going to have to possibly grow them on a timed seedling mat year round.

RandomGemini · #5 05-16-2014, 05:52 PM

I have my Bellina potted in bark with a layer of spaghnum moss on top of the pot to keep it a bit more moist than my other phals, without keeping that moisture directly on the roots. I keep it in the warmest spot in my growing rack and also in the brightest spot where I grow my phals. I'm planning a heating mat for mine too, if I don't see good growth between now and October.

I wonder if potting it in a glazed pot might help keep it warmer.

RosieC · #6 05-17-2014, 05:23 AM

I grow bellina in fine bark in a plastic pot. I keep it in a south west window, which is much brighter than I keep my other phals. Temps are my standard house temps which are probably no less than 15C (and it rarely gets that low) and usually around 19-20C because that's how I like the house for my own comfort. I don't worry about humidity for it, so not really sure what it gets. I let it just dry before watering again.

quiltergal · #7 05-17-2014, 10:53 AM

I sold the Samera to someone on the board. It bloomed well for me and was much less fussy than my bellina. I also have a blue violacea that is growing like a weed. It put up another spike about a month ago, so I should have blooms this summer. Both need to be repotted. I grow both in medium CHC, charcoal & perlite. I also top dress the pots with a layer of sphagnum which keeps them from drying out too quickly.

Tkuemmet · #8 05-27-2014, 12:59 PM

I grow mine in a basket, in a south window in winter and east window in summer. It is giving me 3 spikes this year and has one old one with buds. It has bark in the basket, and spagh around it and on top. It is a quick drying basket. It never grew well potted. I don't believe that it likes to be kept more moist than any other phals, but does seem to like a little bit more sun (it gets direct sun in the afternoons through the window)