DESPERATE for Bellina help! - Orchid Board

InspirChid1712 · #1 06-24-2009, 08:56 AM

Hi Everybody...

MY BELLINA WON'T BLOOM!!!!!!! I have had the plant for 3 years, I give it perfect light, water/fertilize regularly... it just won't do anything but grow new leaves! It is certainly of a size where it should be producing flowers. I have tried everything, but at this point it has just become extremely frustrating. All of my other Phals are doing very well and flower once or twice a year. The plant appears extremely healthy, but could it require something different than the rest???? My only other suspicion is that perhaps it resents yearly re-potting. What should I do?!?!?!?!?!

Royal · #2 06-24-2009, 09:23 AM

Lots of Nitrogen can inhibit blooming. Try to neglect it more.

Psyched · #3 06-24-2009, 10:08 AM

Sorry to hear that. How about the temperature? Bellina original habitat is humid and hot rain forest of Borneo. Try to replicate its original habitat as close as you can. Sometimes to induce blooming, hot growing species need to be water stress: no watering for a period of time then gradually increase watering.

cb977 · #4 06-24-2009, 10:29 AM

You might just have to find it's "happy place"

It's not always all about the "correct" numbers in lighting and temps...sometimes a chid wants to be in a place that makes no sense (according to the books) but it's the place they like

try moving it a bit out of the range it's in now. It won't hurt the chid and may give it the boost it needs

Tindomul · #5 06-24-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

You might just have to find it's "happy place"

It's not always all about the "correct" numbers in lighting and temps...sometimes a chid wants to be in a place that makes no sense (according to the books) but it's the place they like

I guess these plants don't read the books as they should. "How to be a Phal. bellina"

Royal · #6 06-25-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb977

You might just have to find it's "happy place"

It's not always all about the "correct" numbers in lighting and temps...sometimes a chid wants to be in a place that makes no sense (according to the books) but it's the place they like

try moving it a bit out of the range it's in now. It won't hurt the chid and may give it the boost it needs

This is extremely good advice for just about any shy bloomer. It's a permutation of "do what works for you" and that is also one of my favorite pieces of advice.

A few years ago, moving things around or slightly out of their current spot actually made my Paphs bloom for me. I had almost given up on them. I still don't grow them very well, but they sure are happier.

quiltergal · #7 06-25-2009, 04:06 PM

The first thing I try with any of my reluctant bloomers is to bump up the light. I'm growing all of my species Phals in Catt light, and they're all doing great, and most have bloomed. I also agree with the cooler temps in fall. That seems to work for all my Phals, species and hybrid alike.

cb977 · #8 06-24-2009, 10:59 AM

Cookiemonster · #9 06-24-2009, 11:15 AM

Hello there, it seems my bellina is related to yours. I've had it for a little over a year and it sprouts new leaves and roots AND DOES NOTHING ELSE, ITS SLOW. Its known that they are slow in their growing process when they are mature they speed up quite nicely, I would think light might be the determining factor. Are you having temperature differentials during the day/night?

Ben Belton · #10 06-24-2009, 09:58 PM

You've probably tried these things, but I'll post just to double check. I've found that bellina (and violacea) like a little more light than most Phals. Also, a period in the fall where the temps drop 15-20 degrees at night is important to induce spikes. I don't think repotting every year is a problem as I know someone who grows great bellinas that does just that. Also, I wouldn't withhold moisture.

Just some ideas. It could be something completely unrelated.

Good luck. Bellinas are wonderful plants!