Generalities

The genus Coelogyne comprises about a hundred species of orchids, native to central-southern Asia; C. cristata is a species of Nepalese and Chinese origin, found at fairly high altitudes, in cool climates. It produces fleshy, oval-shaped, rather large pseudobulbs, from each of which two long, strap-shaped, leathery, bright green leaves emerge; already during winter, at the base of the pseudobulbs, the stem that will bear the flowers is produced, which will bloom in spring, gathered in an arched inflorescence, 15-20 cm long. The flowers are large, very showy, pure white, characterized by arched petals and sepals, and a trilobed labellum, which has some golden yellow streaks. Coelogyne flowers are very showy, and a single plant can produce several floral stems, each bearing 3-6 flowers. The flowers of other Coelogyne species are always large, some even fragrant, and the colors are quite delicate, from white to beige, from yellow to light green.

Exposure

These orchids should be placed in a very bright location, preferably away from direct sunlight, although it is possible to expose these plants to sunlight for a few hours a day, during the cooler periods of the year and in the early morning hours. To achieve good flowering, it is advisable to cultivate the plants in a fairly warm climate from March to September, while during the cold months it is good to place them in an unheated room, or even in a cold greenhouse, with minimum temperatures close to 7-10°C.

The ambient humidity for this type of plant should be high, even up to eighty percent during the warmer periods.

Watering

From April to September, water abundantly, keeping the soil always slightly moist; during the same period, we will take care to mist the leaves, to increase ambient humidity and to lower the temperature during hotter days. During the colder months, we can reduce watering, intervening only if the pseudobulbs tend to lose turgidity.

It is also good to provide proper fertilization, using a fertilizer with a good phosphorus component in spring and autumn to increase flowering.

Substrate

The roots of Coelogyne are quite thin and delicate, so it is advisable to use a fairly fine soil, consisting of small pieces of shredded bark, perlite granules, and pieces of vegetable fiber.

Propagation

The propagation of these orchids occurs by dividing the clumps, although often division leads the plants to a prolonged decline; therefore, it should be done with all due precautions, using clean and disinfected tools.

Coelogyne also propagate by seed, keeping in mind that the new plants may not have the same characteristics as the mother plant.