Coelogyne orchid are distributed from India through Southeast Asia, southwest China, the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia to as far east as New Guinea and islands of the southern and eastern Pacific. They can be found from tropical lowland forests to montane rainforests. A few species grow as terrestrials or even as lithophytes in open, humid habitats.
Coelogyne orchid also called as Gomphostylis, Hologyne, Ptychogyne, is a genus of the family Orchidaceae. This genus was described by John Lindley in 1821 and was named refers to the frontally hollow column.
IDENTIFY COELOGYNE ORCHID PLANT
Coelogyne orchid are distributed from India through Southeast Asia, southwest China, the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia to as far east as New Guinea and islands of the southern and eastern Pacific. They can be found from tropical lowland forests to montane rainforests from sea level up to 4000 meters. A few species grow as terrestrials or even as lithophytes in open, humid habitats.
The plants from this genus have creeping or pendulous, usually with rather dense nodes rhizome. The pseudobulbs are distant or close, ovoid to cylindric, usually covered with leathery sheaths, usually with 2 leaves at apex but sometimes with only 1 leaf. The leaf blade is often oblong to elliptic, usually thickly textured, usually petiolate at base. The inflorescence is either terminal or lateral to mature pseudobulbs and either heteroanthus, proteranthous, or synanthous with partially to entirely developed leaves, or hysteranthous with fully developed pseudobulb and leaves, inflorescence erect or pendulous, with or without distichous-equitant, persistent sheaths at base or imbricate, sterile, convolute sheathing bracts at interface between peduncle and rachis, sometimes its apex enclosed in a large bract or several bracts, usually several flowered, rarely more than 20-flowered or reduced to a solitary flower; floral bracts caducous, often large.
These orchids bloom in late winter and spring with flower colour ranging from white to cream or pale green. Some species may flower several times a year. They only flower from new growths. Flowers of some species are very fragrant. The flowers are opening successively or simultaneously, large or medium-sized, sometimes heteroanthus. Sepals similar, often concave. Petals often linear, much narrower than sepals; lip often concave at base, 3-lobed or rarely unlobed; lateral lobes erect and embracing column; callus with longitudinal lamellae. Column rather long, winged on both sides and around top, without column foot; anther terminal, incumbent; pollinia 4, in 2 pairs, waxy, attached to 1 sticky substance; stigma concave; rostellum rather large. Capsule medium-sized, often ribbed or narrowly winged. In some species, such as Coelogyne cristata, the flowers develop from the base of mature pseudobulbs, but in others, such as Coelogyne mooreana, they appear from the center of new growths.
COELOGYNE ORCHID PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Coelogyne orchid prefer medium light (20000-40000 lux) and need to be shaded in summer with 50- 70% shade cloth but they can be given more light in winter. Some species, such as Coelogyne nitida, grow in areas receiving lower light levels around 15000-25000 lux. It is common for the tips of leaves to brown off and is difficult to prevent. Possible causes include too low humidity or insufficient water.
Temperature:
The temperature requirements will vary with their origin however most prefer cool to intermediate temperatures. They must be kept cool over summer with misting if necessary. Coelogyne cristata, the largest flowering member of the species, is native to the Himalayas from 1500-2600 m and experiences temperature extremes of -7°C to 33°C. It requires cold nights to induce flowering. Night temperatures in winter in its natural habitat are typically 2°C to 4°C.
Another cold tolerant species, Coelogyne mooreana, comes from lower altitudes (1200-1300 m) in Vietnam with milder winter minimum temperatures of 12°C although lows of 5°C are possible in its native environment. It can flower several times a year.
A few species from lowlands in Malaysia and Vietnam require higher temperatures and are not cold tolerant and require glasshouse conditions in cool temperate regions, with a minimum temperature requirement of 12°C.
The optimum temperature range for highland cold tolerant species is between 12°C and 28°C. They will tolerate daytime temperatures in summer as high as 40°C for short periods providing they are shaded, kept humid through misting and night time temperatures are lower (20°C). Growth will be slower, however, if optimum temperatures are exceeded. Humidity and airflow must be kept higher as temperature increases.
Although many are tolerant of low temperatures down to 0°C, they will not tolerate frosts and overhead protection is essential.
The flowers last for up to 6 weeks if plants are placed in a cool area with low light during flowering.
Humidity:
They prefer a humid environment with humidity of around 80% year round and preferably more than 50%, however local experience is that they will tolerate 20% humidity for short periods in summer if misters are used to temporarily raise humidity levels during the day. Cold tolerant species are best grown in a shade-house and tend not to flower as well in a heated glasshouse. They like unrestricted strong fresh air movement, so avoid areas with poor airflow. Species such as Coelogyne nitida grow in year round mist in their natural habitat.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Most Coelogyne are grown in squat pots, although Coelogyne ovalis can be grown on a mount provided moisture is maintained. Those with pendulous flower racemes or long rhizomes such as Coelogyne flaccida are best grown in baskets.
A bark perlite mix with good drainage is suggested as a potting medium with 80% bark, 10% river gravel and 10% perlite, but some growers use a perlite and vermiculite mix. Some growers also include some chopped sphagnum moss to maintain moisture, particularly where there is very good air movement.
Most Coelogyne have very few roots and new growths younger than 3 years can have none. When making divisions it is important to try to have roots on each piece. If roots are very sparse it is best to pot them in moisture retaining sphagnum moss where they should quickly develop roots. If potted directly in an open bark mix, the pseudobulbs may shrivel and take up to 2 years to retain the plump condition.
Coelogyne orchid have a reputation for not liking to be disturbed and will frequently not grow or flower for 2-3 years after repotting. As a result they should only be repotted and subdivided when absolutely necessary. The best time to repot is when new growth commences or immediately after flowering. To avoid disturbing them, old bulbs can be cut out to make more space. Alternatively simply pot the plant on into a larger container.
Watering:
The plants of this genus from cool growing areas have a well defined growing and resting period and require a drier rest period over winter. This dry rest is considered essential to promote flowering in Coelogyne cristata.
They come from very high rainfall areas and should be kept well watered during their growing period and particularly in hot weather. They should be misted or infrequently watered though winter, about once per week or less, to prevent the pseudobulbs from shriveling excessively. It is not uncommon for the pseudobulb of some species to shrivel somewhat during the resting period but they plump up again when they resume growth. If they don’t shrivel a little they may not flower because of too much water. Conversely if leaf tips die back excessively this could indicate too low humidity or insufficient water.
Some overhead cover is beneficial in winter to protect them becoming too wet and from frosts. Flowers will mark if wet.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizer strategies are vary. Some recommend frequent application of half strength fertilizer during the growing period but not in winter. Other growers find the application of slow release fertilizer in summer and autumn best. A low nitrogen, high phosphorus fertiliser is recommended in late summer-autumn to promote flowering.
To prevent salt buildup, leach the pot every 3 weeks during periods of high or frequent fertilizer use . This is done by watering the plants and then an hour later flush the pots again once the salts have had time to dissolve.
BUY COELOGYNE ORCHID PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF COELOGYNE ORCHID WITH CULTURE SHEET AND CARE TIPS:
- Coelogyne asperata
- Coelogyne barbata - The Bearded Coelogyne
- Coelogyne beccarii - Becarri's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne brachyptera - The Short-Winged Coelogyne - The Greenish Coelogyne
- Coelogyne corymbosa - The Umbrella-Like Coelogyne
- Coelogyne cristata - The Crested Coelogyne
- Coelogyne fimbriata - The Fringed Coelogyne
- Coelogyne flaccida - The Loose Coelogyne
- Coelogyne fuscescens - The Ocher Yellow Coelogyne
- Coelogyne glandulosa - The Coelogyne With Glands
- Coelogyne lactea - The Milk White Coelogyne
- Coelogyne lawrenceana - Lawrence's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne lentiginosa - The Freckled Coelogne
- Coelogyne mayeriana - Mayer's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne mooreana - Moore's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne mossiae - Mrs. Moss' Coelogyne
- Coelogyne nervosa - The Nerved Coelogyne
- Coelogyne nitida - The Shining Coelogyne
- Coelogyne odoratissima - The Fragrant Coelogyne
- Coelogyne ovalis - The Oval Coelogyne
- Coelogyne pandurata - The Lute-Shaped Coelogyne
- Coelogyne parishii - Parrish's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne peltastes - The Sheild Shaped Coelogyne
- Coelogyne prasina - The Leek Green Coelogyne
- Coelogyne pulverula - The Powdery Flower Coelogyne
- Coelogyne rochussenii - Rochussen's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne sanderiana - Sander's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne schilleriana - Schiller's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne speciosa - The Beautiful Coelogyne
- Coelogyne stricta - The Rigid Coelogyne
- Coelogyne sulcata - The Sulcate Coelogyne
- Coelogyne tomentosa - The Necklace Orchid - The Hairy Coelogyne
- Coelogyne usitana - Usita's Coelogyne
- Coelogyne viscosa - The Sticky Coelogyne
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