Phal. violacea var. indigo - care tips

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I’ve just ordered this species and I was wondering what difference in care, if any, it might have with a Phal bellina?

I’ve found bellina to be a vigorous plant growing happily in S/H provided that:
a) temperatures don’t fall below 75°F — I have a sticky thermal tape on top of the pot and I use a shallower pot with a plastic barrier on top to reduce evaporative cooling as much as possible. It also lives on a heat mat year-round. Winter is tricky due to drier air so I’ve been considering having this plant live in a terrarium.
b) it doesn’t dry out - in winter I water every day or every other day at 5 ppm N, plus twice/once a week it gets 25-50 ppm N alongside my other plants.
c) it gets plenty of light, on the “upper” Phalaenopsis range.

My understanding is that violacea is more cold and drought tolerant than bellina and that needs less light as its known to grow lower under the canopy, vs the bellina’s tendency to grow higher up. Most of my Phals are either in S/H or bark+perlite in aircone pots. Both work well and neither dries out between waterings, however S/H does allow more flexibility when it comes to watering schedule. My concern with Sphagnum Moss is that I find getting the watering right really difficult under my conditions in which humidity changes drastically.

Any tips, pointers on how much this plant can differ from the hot loving bellina?

Thank you!

[tmoney]

howdy!

not having grown bellina i can only offer our experience with a violacea indigo that we overwintered for a friend.

it came in full moss, the type typical of nursery orchids. we watered it when the top felt crispy, as per general guidelines. it is in one of those soft plastic trade pots, i think an 8cm one. but it got pretty cold here over the winter and the plant went into dormancy basically. it has yet to start growing a new leaf hopefully we did not set this plant back too much for our friend.

the roots look good, and it certainly isn't dead, but it is not vigorous, that's for sure. probably needed to keep it over the near 55 temps on winter nights that we had this year....but it did at least survive those temps in full moss

[Dalachin]

I can’t offer a ton of experience, but my bellina us on a warm shelf (85 degree highs) potted in bark topped with spagnum and is slowly making leaves and roots, and my violacea var pink is mounted and in bloom. They both seem happy! My mounted plants get it a bit shadier and breezier, with summer highs in the high 70s low 80s and nights about 10 degrees cooler.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Dalachin

I can’t offer a ton of experience, but my bellina us on a warm shelf (85 degree highs) potted in bark topped with spagnum and is slowly making leaves and roots, and my violacea var pink is mounted and in bloom. They both seem happy! My mounted plants get it a bit shadier and breezier, with summer highs in the high 70s low 80s and nights about 10 degrees cooler.

How’s your humidity? Do you need to water the mounted Phals very often?

[Dalachin]

I have a clear tent over my grow shelf to increase humidity. It’s usually around 60-70 percent. I water the mounted plants every morning, and they sometimes get a spritz in the evening.