Phalaenopsis violacea and bellina temperatures?

[smweaver]

For anyone who grows either of these species, I would appreciate any cultural information you can provide, especially in regards to their temperature preferences and/or tolerances. I know they are warm-to-hot growing species. But what is a safe minimum that they can handle without experiencing problems with growth, flowering, rot, etc. Thank you.

Steve

[Ray]

Hi, Steve.

Do you really want to know what you can get away with, or what the plants would prefer to do their best?

For the latter, lows in the low-to-mid-70's is probably best.

For the former, I think a lot depends upon the root system and potting medium wetness. In sphagnum, which stays pretty moist, but is "dense" enough that evaporation is fairly slow, I try to keep a minimum of 75°, never let 'em go below 65°.

[smweaver]

Hi, Ray. Yes, I would like to know what I could get away with in regards to minimum acceptable temperatures. However, I agree completely with the implication that I really should be aiming for "what the plants would prefer to do their best." I find the blooms of this species almost mesmerizing. So I think I should probably just avoid looking at pictures of them to save myself from doing something stupid. :-)

Thank you for your reply to my question.

Steve

[Leafmite]

I have the same problem. I really love the bellina but I have cooler temperatures (N: 60'F- D: 68'F) in the winter. I have tried and failed a few times trying to grow this one. I decided to try one more time and I currently have bellina 'Star'. No heat mat or any extra efforts and it did just fine during the winter. It must be a little more tolerant.

[smweaver]

Interesting that your plant has been able (so far) to tolerate the cooler winter temperatures that you described. Maybe it is a little more adaptable than the literature claims. Still, I will probably just have to wean myself from staring at all of those lovely bellina and violacea pictures online instead of giving in to temptation. Thanks for your feedback.

[Ray]

Cooler is OK if kept fairly dry. Cool + wet = dead roots.

[smweaver]

Excellent point. So maybe--just maybe--I'll go have a shot of whiskey and then place an order for a cheap one somewhere. Thanks, Ray.

[ColoradoBirddog]

FWIW, my violacea 'Indigo` and bellina are grown in a vivarium at high of 80 or so, and I try to get it to cool to 70 at night, but I think it might stay a few degrees warmer. Humidity at about 60%.

P. violacea `Indigo` is in spike. Couldn't be happier.

[Fredmax]

I have the same issue as the OP, I can say my Phal Bellinas have reached around 7-10c without any signs of decline in winter.

Obviously not ideal but for those of us not lucky enough to be in the tropics and still trying to culture these that was the threshold I determined.