About
Phalaenopsis bellina is an epiphytic orchid endemic to Borneo and one of the most commonly cultivated species in its genus.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA, Phalaenopsis spp.). General guidance for the genus
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Bright, filtered light.
- Water
- Let the medium approach dryness between waterings; use rain, distilled or reverse-osmosis water if tap water is hard or high in dissolved salts.
- Humidity
- High humidity. General guidance for the genus
- Temperature
- Warm temperatures.
- Soil
- Bark-based orchid mix with excellent drainage, or a mount; avoid pure sphagnum, which is hard to rewet. General guidance for the genus
- Pot
- Move to a new pot or mount while new roots are growing, once it has outgrown the old one.
- Growth rate
- Large plants grow quickly and benefit from regular feeding in the growing season.
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender; outdoors only in USDA zones 10–12, elsewhere a houseplant or greenhouse plant. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Distribution & habitat
Parts of Borneo, in tree canopies where it gets abundant light and marked wet and dry cycles.
Cultivation notes
Likes bright, filtered light, warmth and good air movement around its roots. Let the potting or mounting medium approach dryness between waterings to avoid root rot, and use rain, distilled or reverse-osmosis water where tap water is hard, since salt build-up can kill roots. Feed large plants regularly in the growing season and repot while new roots are growing.
History & etymology
The genus name comes from Greek phalaina, moth; bellina comes from Latin bella, beautiful. It was first treated as P. violacea var. Borneo but was raised to its own species because of differences in habitat and plant form.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- Warm temperatures.
- Humidity
- High humidity.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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