Get Growing with Lou Lodyga… Phalenopsis bellina
Anyone who has been growing orchids for years will know this species by its former name, Phalanopsis violacea v. Borneo. It was given full species status by Eric Christensen in 1995 and renamed bellina. Whatever name it goes by, this is a definite must for the Phalenopsis grower.
Since it comes from Borneo and
Malaysia, it requires shady, humid conditions, like one would find in a tropical forest. The flowers are produced in the summer and fall on short inflorescences and can have 2 to 3 highly fragrant flowers open at a time. One nice item about this plant is that the inflorescence on older plants can rebloom year after tear so don’t cut off any green viable inflorescences.
There are many excellent line bred forms available at nurseries. This species does well mounted, but since Phalanopsis are subject to crown rot if water stands in the crown for any length of time, mount them upside down. If you decide to grow them in a pot, you’ll need to repot them yearly if they are in sphagnum moss.
Native to Mexico and Central America its found in forests growing on large tree branches. The bright, long-lasting flowers are produced in the summer on an 15 inflorescence.
The flowers are produced during the winter and early spring. New growth begins shortly after flowering finishes in the early spring and continues to August. The sheaths are formed when the growth matures but the flower buds do not start to grow until November. Give typical cattleya growing conditions – very bright light is a must. There are some additional varieties available such as C. trianae v mooreana which has a dark splash on each petal. At one time there were more named variety of this species than any other Cattleya. Cattleya trianae is endangered in its natural habitat as a result of environmental degradation and urbanization.
Species of the month: Eria rosea
Of these, M. picta is one of the prettiest. This warn to cool growing species is native to Brazil and Argentina and blooms from winter to spring. The fragrant yellow flowers are marked with red and have white lips and a mature plant can make a spectacular display when it’s in bloom.
A Florida native, also found in the Caribbean and Mexico in dry scrub forest and tropical deciduous forests as a hot to warm growing miniature to small sized epiphyte. It is found from sea level to 150 meters in elevation, it is commonly called the dollar orchid for the shape of it pseudobulbs; it grows best on a mount in bright light and blooms in the summer.
Like many cattleya species, other color forms include alba, semi-alba, and coerulea, as well as its normal pink. These plants are fragrant, although the scent is not pleasing to all.
It is an easy to grow miniature which blooms from summer to fall on an inflorescence which carries between 6 to 8 inch long flowers in a loose umbel above the foliage. Well grown plants can be very floriferous and give quite a display.
It will thrive in temperatures from 20 degrees F. (-5 degrees C) to 100 degrees F (32 degrees F) as long as it is given enough moisture. It is known as a vigorous grower of medium size with long inflorescences from which it will have 3-5 lavender flowers measuring three to four inches. They are known for their Christmas blooming period although they can bloom from November to January.