Coelogyne cristata
Coelogyne orchid, Crested flower, Coelogyne orchid
- Height × spread
- 0.3m × 0.8m
- Position
- Part shade
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This orchid is delightful when in flower. The arching strappy green leaves are partially hidden beneath the cascade of elegant flowers. These are largely white but have a large and noticeable yellow crest on the lower lip of the bloom. It flowers in spring. This is an epiphyte which means it will grow on rocks, or attached to the bark of another plant. It is an orchid of the cloud forest and likes high humidity so is unsuited to conditions in an ordinary house. It can be grown in a pot or basket with orchid compost that has plenty of bark within it. It likes a cool partly shaded position and requires moisture at all times.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.3m
- Spread
- 0.8m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes part shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- bright spot, no direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 12C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Keep dry during dormancy
This plant should be watered regularly while it is growth. It likes to be completely dry during its rest period which is usually in winter.
Spring-Winter · Outdoors
Keep dry during dormancy
This plant should be watered regularly while it is growth. It likes to be completely dry during its rest period which is usually in winter.
Spring-Winter · Planting
Divide when too large for pot
Orchids that are too large for their pots can be divided when dormant. Cut through the rhizome and root ball if necessary. Treat cuts with sulphur powder, repot the plant and stake it to ensure it is not going to move in its pot.
You can also remove offsets and bulbils etc. at this time, but be sure to leave some pseudo bulbs and put bulbs back in place. Research specialist literature on this if you wish to get the very best from your orchid.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Summer-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with orchid feed
Use a standard orchid feed regularly at every third watering during summer, applying it as directed on the packet.
For specialist feeding, you can buy a group of orchid feeds. Apply a high nitrogen feed in spring as the plant is coming into growth, a balanced feed during growth, and a high potash feed in autumn.
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
12C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 12 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a bright spot, no direct sun
Give this a bright position away from the direct sun, especially direct sun at the height of the day. (Direct sunshine is too hot and can burn the leaves.) Move the plant to a brighter position in the room during winter and early spring.
Compost · Planting
Orchid-epiphytic compost for repotting
Buy a standard orchid mix for orchids that are epiphytic in character i.e. they grow on other things, generally other plants.
If making one's own one recipe create a mix that is half fine bark chips, and a mix of fine gravel and perlite and charcoal for the other half. Opinions vary on 'recipes' and if your interest develops, you can research the views of specialist growers.