The much neglected species of the Coelogyne Orchids are perhaps making a little more impact with the hybrids now becoming available
Coelogyne Orchids including species such as Coelogyne cristata, the lovely white flowering C. mooreana (see picture right), and C, mossiae.
These are cool growing orchids originally from Asia including India, Southern China, the Philippines through to New Guinea. They are a long lived and large flowering fragrant orchid not commonly found in nurseries. Many species and hybrids have been popular with collectors for a number of years.
Relatively unknown Coelogyne Orchids are becoming more readily available especially Coelogyne cristata.
Coelogyne Orchid Care
- These orchids like humidity, so a the old trick of a tray of water beneath the container will help. Warm daytime temperatures and cooler nights, but not cold. So from around 10 to 25 C
- Good filtered light is best, and good air circulation
- In the winter hold back on the water a little and make sure they get a cool spell. This is the rest period.
- Like many orchids Coelogyne do not like to be water logged, but they do like to be moist
Care Details
- Light Bright filtered or indirect light. Never in direct sun.
- Darkness at night, this is important if growing under lights.
- Water from below. Sit the pot is room temperature water for 20 – 30 minutes and allow to drain well.
- Just back on watering in winter, water enough to stop the growing medium from drying completely.
- Keep humidity at around 65%. You can sit the pot on stones in a saucer of water, always with the pot above the water level.
- Keep the temperature at 20 – 24C in the daytime and 16-18C at night. A little cooler during winter.
- Fertiliser should be used every 14 days from spring through summer. A liquid orchid fertiliser is best.
- Propagate by division when you see the first signs of new growth in spring.
- Winter Rest Period. In winter lower temperatures to around 7 – 14 C for around 8 weeks. Noe fertiliser, minimal watering.
Coelogne Varieties
Like so many Orchids species Coelogyne are a varied group, pictured right is Coelogyne miniata, the flower is very small and orange as the name suggests.
What makes this such an interesting species is the pure orange flowers (miniata is a botanical name that indicates orange flowers).
This one is from the low foothills of the Bali and nearby areas, it is epiphytic and lithophyte and prefers a slightly cooler habitat than some, but humid.
A huge contrast in flower size to many other Coelogyne Orchids, one for the collector.
Species
- Coelogyne pandurata with its ‘black lip’ is known as the ‘black orchid’ and is a native to Borneo
- Coelogyne mem W Micholitz is one of the more sought after hybrids.
- Coelogyne usitana with its white petals and brown lip is from The Philippines.
- Coelogyne fimbriata with its fringed lip is from China ,Northern India,Malaysia Thailand and Vietnam.
- Coelogyne mooreana is from Vietnam and is white with a pale yellow lip.
- Coelogyne graminifolia is a beautiful species from Burma.