Coelogyne

The genus name comes from Greek koilos – hollow, cavity and gyne – woman: referring to the shape of the flowers, whose stigma has stigmatic pits. Epiphytic rhizome-bearing plants. About 125 species occur in nature, growing in shady forests and on vertical cliffs in Southeast Asia. In cultivation the crested Coelogyne (Coelogyne cristata), Coelogyne massangeana and the fringed Coelogyne (Coelogyne fimbriata) are grown.

Crested Coelogyne (Coelogyne cristata) - one of the best orchids and at the same time one of the most undemanding in care. Flowers have a delicate fragrance, in a racemose inflorescence (up to 9 cm in diameter), 3–8 flowers. Sepals and petals are elongated, strongly undulate; at the base of the snow-white lip there are five bright orange-yellow comb-like protuberances. Shading from hot sun is necessary from spring through autumn; during the rest period and before flowering provide a fairly bright location. Adequate air circulation is desirable indoors. It is good to place it outdoors for the summer. Summer daytime temperatures 21-24 °C, nights 14-15 °C. In winter daytime temperatures 11-13 °C, nights 2-4 °C. A cool, dry rest is necessary for healthy growth and full flowering; the rest period should be two to three months. During this time plants are watered very rarely, only to prevent the pseudobulbs from drying out, but are frequently misted; fertilization is completely excluded. During active growth water abundantly, allowing a short drying between waterings. The amount of water should be gradually reduced after the new growths have fully matured – this is mid-autumn, the beginning of the rest period – and in winter limit to infrequent, light waterings or misting the plant early in the morning (dew). A balanced fertilizer should be applied weekly during periods of active growth. It is recommended to use a fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus at the end of summer and in autumn to ensure better flowering the following season and to strengthen new growths before winter. Plants are usually grown in small pots or baskets using a light, fast-draining medium. Good substrates are medium-grade bark pieces or coconut fiber in combination with charcoal, perlite, or sphagnum moss.

Fringed Coelogyne (Coelogyne fimbriata) - a miniature plant with small but very expressive solitary (rarely paired) flowers reaching 3 cm in diameter. With its brownish-yellow coloration and general appearance the flower resembles a bumblebee. The plant occurs in Southeast Asia from Nepal to Vietnam and southern China and grows mainly as a lithophyte on stones and cliffs. During the year it can produce several successive shoots, each capable of flowering. Therefore in cultivation flowering plants can be encountered both in summer and in autumn.

Coelogyne massangeana (Coelogyne massangeana) - one of the most beautiful Coelogyne species and fairly undemanding. This warmth-loving Coelogyne is distributed from Thailand to Indonesia. Leaves are oblong up to 50 cm long and 10 cm wide, arranged in pairs at the tops of the pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs are flattened, up to 12 cm long and up to 5 cm wide; after the formation of each new pseudobulb a flower stalk emerges from beneath it. A long pendent inflorescence (about 45 cm) bears up to 20 yellow-brown flowers, each reaching 5–7 cm in diameter; the base color is creamy or pale yellow with brown and white markings. Petals and sepals are pale yellow, the lip has red-brown lateral lobes and three comb-like longitudinal ridges, which in the center of the front lobe turn into fringed projections. Because of the flower coloration, in the East this Coelogyne is called the "golden swallow." Grow in special "epiphytic" baskets, shallow hanging pots with additional drainage holes, or on mounts. Recommended potting mix composition: fern roots or pieces of pine bark 0.5–1.5 cm in size and sphagnum (2:1), with the addition of charcoal. During the growth period water abundantly. Optimal winter temperature (October-February) 15-22 °C; during this time the plant is only misted.