Phal Bellina questions - Orchid Board

nenella · #1 06-21-2008, 01:13 PM

I have had this plant since july 2007.Arrived with a forming flower stem..which has since grown only a couple of millimeters although put out a new leaf which was growing very very slowly!
In January I decided to house it in a huge plastic water bottle on a bed of leca and it has been growing lots of new roots...and the growing leaf developped .Today when I took her out to water her I have noticed that it looks like she is sending out an other flower stem !? Can anyone confirm this is what it is? Do you think they will both flower eventually?
Thanks in advance for your help

here's a photo, the one on left is the one it's always had the one on the right is the 'new' one

jkofferdahl · #2 06-21-2008, 01:35 PM

She certainly appears to be spiking! Congratulations.

Gin · #3 06-21-2008, 04:50 PM

Sure is

and yes both will probably bloom , they are slow slow to develop .. Gin

justatypn · #4 06-21-2008, 06:31 PM

hehehe, very slow to develop, would love to give mine a kick in the behind to wake it up. I have had mine for over a 1 1/2 yrs and has produced one new leaf, not as sure formed as yours, mines wavy, not sure it's a natural curly leaf or something I have done in the past culture. Recently I put mine in aliflor and has started to take off, no bloom like yours so with this I am jealous, but my day will come.

with your's...great growing.

nenella · #5 06-21-2008, 07:13 PM

well, thanks guys !!
You've reassured me enormously ! guess I'll just have to be keeping on being patient !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can I ask you one more question ....what kind of light levels does it need ideally?
I used to have her with other phals but has been in the 'bottle' next to my cattleyas since I bottled her... she seems to like it..so I guess I'm leaving her there...
merci beaucoup!
Nenella

nenella · #6 06-21-2008, 07:16 PM

oops sorry Cheryl I really hope yours 'wakes up soon' my new leaf had one bend in it before I bottled it... I believe it's got more humidity now....

Gin · #7 06-21-2008, 08:07 PM

The species Phals. do like a little more light then the hybrids but beware of burn , yours looks great .. gin

Dorothy · #8 06-21-2008, 08:17 PM

I would keep it out of direct sunlight but adapt it to as bright a light as it can take ..

nenella · #9 06-21-2008, 08:48 PM

Thanks Very very much all of you !
I believe Dorothys point to be a very valid one for pointing out that the 'trick' is as much light as 'tolerable' !
I hadn't thought of this before.. but

a couple months ago I noticed that the sun was shining directly on the bottle so, I'd put a magazine over the bottle..but took it off about 3/4 weeks ago as sun no longer shines on it!..
Thanks again guys I'm feeling happier & happier at thinking I may have got the bellina 'cracked'

&

cheryl !Keep us posted ! Please keep up the link with what happens to yours as I would love to find out different peoples experiences in growing Violaceas/ Bellinas as there's not that much written about "nurtureing" them.
nenella

quiltergal · #10 06-21-2008, 09:08 PM

Congrats Nenella!

I have a violacea x bellina that is going to bloom from last years spike and is sending up 2 new ones. I'm just over the moon that it's doing so well. Gin is right they are very slow to develop. Mine is getting pretty bright light, it's sitting with my catts. No direct sun though. Cheryl mine has curvey leaves too. I don't think it's anything to worry about. I'll try and get a

of mine tomorrow.