Coelogyne Cristata Orchid Care

Botanical Name: Coelogyne cristata

This species of coelogyne orchid is native to the high Himalayas, where it thrives in the cool, misty air.

All orchids in the coelogyne genus are epiphytic and have fat, round pseudobulbs, with long, narrow arching leaves emerging from the top. C. cristata flower stems can grow to 1 ft (30 cm) long, each carrying several fragrant flowers. And, those pristine white flowers are stunning, with golden-yellow fuzzy markings on the lip and slightly ruffled petals.

With a cool winter rest (see below), you can expect an abundance of blooms in winter and early spring.

Coelogyne Orchid Care Tips

Shed some light. Put your orchid where it'll get plenty of light, but out of direct sun. If you don't have a spot near a window, fluorescent lights work beautifully. Use 1 warm white tube and 1 cool white tube under a reflector. Place orchids about 8 inches (20 cm) beneath the light for 14-16 hours a day. It's also important to give them darkness at night. Plants need a rest, too.

Without question, coelogynes love humidity. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, use a humidity tray or cool room humidifier. Grouping plants also helps to maintain the moisture in the air around them.

To repot...or not. Fir bark medium breaks down after a couple years and needs replaced. The best time to repot your orchid is when new growth begins, shortly after blooming.

Give it a rest. Coelogynes need a cool winter rest for 6 weeks to produce flowers. Give your orchid cooler temperatures (45-55°F/7-13°C) and water sparingly.

Although coelogynes are not the easiest orchids to grow indoors, the sheer number of white-and-gold blooms make the prospect of cultivating them quite tempting.

Origin: Himalayas

Height: Up to 12 in (30 cm)

Light: Bright indirect light year-round.

Water: Water from the bottom to avoid getting pseudobulbs and leaves wet. Stand pot in tepid water for 15-20 minutes. Aim to keep the soil moist during the growing season. During the winter rest, water just enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Coelogynes have water-storing pseudobulbs, making them more tolerant of dry soil than wet.

Humidity: Moderate to high, preferably 50-70 percent humidity.

Temperature: 60-65°F/16-18°C nights and 70-75°F/21-24°C days; requires a cool rest period to flower (see above).

Soil: Orchid potting mix

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half while plant is growing and flowering. Don't fertilize during the winter rest period.

Propagation: Division. Cut off a piece of a rhizome with a few pseudobulbs attached and pot it separately in orchid potting mix.