New Phal bellina... does it look too pale?

[nenella]

Hi Rosie,
As already said above the leaf colour looks perfect to me & nothing to worry about.
In my opinion they are quite easy once you've understood it's needs in your growing conditions.

I have had 2 phal violaceas bellinas (in my life); one (a seedling) I killed by over watering/root rot (within the first 18 months it was in my posession) and the second I have now had for 4 years.

This one I have was a bloom sized plant similar to your size (with minature spike when bought .This spike has still not grown a millimeter to this day.)
It took nearly 2 years before it threw out another spike & flowered (and in between lost a couple roots although nothing major) I believe I have now sussed out its requirements in my conditions & I hope this helps..
I have it in a ' bottle ' like a mini greenhouse - lined with about 5cms of Leca in front of a south facing window (about 70cms from the window (net curtain) It makes a new spike every year and flowers from each one as well.(I'll have 3 this year + the original 'frozen' one ) I water mine by immersion for a good 15 mins every 2 weeks+ a few days sometimes.. It also gets direct sunshine for a couple hours each day (early/mid afternoon) but, I do put a screen (A4 photocopier white paper ) on the 'sunshine part of the bottle' in july/august when the sunshine it gets lasts longer & this is also when it usually blooms...
IMO - they tolerate alot more sun than what you read about on the web and also better to be on the 'drier' side before watering.. (mine is in a mixture of Leca, bark, sphag and perlite)
Voilà, hope this helps
Good Growing ! (the scent is fabulous!!!!!!!)
& I'd love to know how you get on in the future!