*sigh* I have a problem...

[Mervin]

We grow them here with a average day time temp of 86'F and night time temp. of 77'F.

Therefore to me, perhaps its a little too cold.

[Pilot]

Thanks everyone for the input. Allow me to clarify a bit on some matters.

I wasn't expecting these plants to spike as I think their too small, though maybe not too young now... But I wasn't really trying to get a spike rather just grow them larger for better blooming.

I do have air circ in the room... Two fans in fact so I don't think it is that.

I don't fertilize with every watering, but I will flush the pot every week with fresh water. The plants are in sh and despite my attempts to boost humidity, at this alt, things simply evaporate quickly and this is also why I keep the plants on a heat mat. Evaporative cooling in my environment is a very powerful thing. This is why we get away with not using any air conditioner, and use a swamp cooler for our house in the summer! I really doubt that the temp of the roots is much above 70 to 75 based on this natural principle.

With that said, I only have had my hi lo thermometer in the area for 24 hours now and it looks as if the temp swings between 78 and 70, day vs night. Not ideal but not bad, either. Again I have several other warm growing phals that are doing very well and even spiking right now in these conditions.

To also clarify, not all of the leaves of these plants have spots and are yellowing. I checked again last night on my bellina and it is only the oldest leaf that is doing this so maybe its the natural life of the leaf coming to an end? Do bellinas and violacea not keep many leaves? I'm used to large plants with 6-8+ leaves on the plant all the time. But these guys have four or five at most and one is always on the way out and none of the leaves are terribly big.

I forgot about the calcium and mag components of my orchid feeding plan... I haven't done that in a long time! So the next watering I'll definitely add a bit of that to the mix.

Thank you everyone for your input and please keep discussing... Not convinced I have my solution for this yet but I'm learning from your perspectives so please keep going!

[Vanda lover]

My first orchid was a violacea that I bought through the mail, not realizing that it isn't a good bloomer. It came in bud and had 1 flower. For years afterward I was still trying to get it to re bloom. By that time I had several hybrids which bloomed with no problem. A grower told me they need more light than other phals.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

My first orchid was a violacea that I bought through the mail, not realizing that it isn't a good bloomer. It came in bud and had 1 flower. For years afterward I was still trying to get it to re bloom. By that time I had several hybrids which bloomed with no problem. A grower told me they need more light than other phals.

Yes I believe I am giving them proper light, though. I work hard on trying to pinpoint the range of foot candles for all of my plants. They are under new lamps now and so time will tell but before that all of my orchids enjoyed a solarium.


Ryan

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[Ben Belton]

You're being too nice to them.

Mine dry out often because I get too busy. They get lots of light. My humidity is way down right now for reasons I won't go into. I have an indigo violacea that has put out bloom after bloom for months, but its winding down. The others have bloomed but quit. They can be picky.

I don't get the black spots. I'm not sure where yours are coming from.

I know this isn't much help. Just giving you a point of reference. Sounds like you're doing right.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Ben Belton

You're being too nice to them.

Mine dry out often because I get too busy. They get lots of light. My humidity is way down right now for reasons I won't go into. I have an indigo violacea that has put out bloom after bloom for months, but its winding down. The others have bloomed but quit. They can be picky.

I don't get the black spots. I'm not sure where yours are coming from.

I know this isn't much help. Just giving you a point of reference. Sounds like you're doing right.

Ben that can't be... Because I say the most horrible things to them because they aren't growing as I'd like! Lol

Yeah I can't figure out. Maybe it's because they're still so young? Don't phals like to be in groups when they are not mature blooming sized plants? I dunno...I'm at a loss but I won't try anything drastic...slow and steady.

[Ben Belton]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Maybe it's because they're still so young? Don't phals like to be in groups when they are not mature blooming sized plants?

I've never grown many bellinas but the ones I have are fine, and I've not had trouble even with smaller ones. Violaceas on the other hand I've grown plenty, and when they are little, they are hard to grow.... especially these indigo ones. They are just like cats. No matter what you do, they do their own thing. One will like it wet, and the one beside it will rot. One will like it bright, and another beside it will burn. They grow like weeds at Orchidview, and I take them home and they sulk for years.

I say just keep pluggin along and buy a few spares

Try letting them get a little drier than you have been.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

One thing usually overlooked in the orchid world is the PH of the water.Find out the pH of the rain in the area it grows in the wild.Adjust the water accordingly.
Easy enough. A little acid or baking soda to adjust it, and that's that.
It makes all the difference in the world with ANY plant.
Think Hydrangeas.

[Mervin]

I agree with Ben.

From my limited experience I find that bellinas are a lot easier to bloom while violaceas are tricky, especially Indigos.

Mine never grow at bit for past few months......it still has the 'baby' small round leaves which still has not elongate.....

Something else I realized is that violeaceas tend to need more light and heat too.

[Vanda lover]

That's just what a grower told me. I eventually lost mine, but I wasn't too heart broken because it refused to bloom for me. It's possible that it wasn't warm enough, now that I look back on it.