Coelogyne Jannine Banks 'Snow White' (coel. Mooreana x coel. Flaccida)

[greyblackfish]

Help justify my purchase of Coelogyne Jannine Banks 'Snow White' by keeping it alive. I just wanted it so badly. I just imagine how pretty it would be and I become a sucker.

I have gotten the culture sheets for both mooreana and flaccida. For now I have kept it inside. The reason is that it is 96-99 F highs outside and I have a magnificent oak tree that is bombarding us with acorns this season. But when it gets colder, I think it will be great conditions for this one. I plan on hanging this one up under a lattice covered awning. Our temp doesn't get lower than 40 F. Average humidity is 70% year round. However there isn't a lot of air movement in the hill country of Texas.

Currently I'm getting the hang of watering in a way that'll keep it happy. At first it seemed like the media stayed wet for too long. But now I am wondering if I'm not watering enough. It arrived with in about 2 inches level of fine bark, the same kind that some of my cattleyas came in. The pot has drainage on the bottom but no slits. I keep under the same lights that keep my cattleyas happy. And they get some hours of afternoon sun on good days. I keep a table fan constantly blowing on my orchid shelf.

So I watered it by running water through the pot before I left the house for three days. I guess it's just been hot, all my pots were dry. And I came home to the older bulbs of my coelogyne more shriveled than ever and the oldest has some black specs. A leaf that has been getting some browning on the tips is more yellow.

My problem with orchids has always been too much water. I have never lost an orchid from under watering. Coelogynes are said to require frequent watering during this season but they also cannot be water-logged. I think my best bet is to water more and trust that the seller potted the thing just fine.

Another suspicion I have is that maybe it's not getting enough light. The mooreana and flaccida require something between 1500-3000 fc between them. maybe I'm just not providing enough light for this one to photosynthesize.

Any tips will do. Thank you!

[K-Sci]

These plants have pseudobulbs so they can ride out dry spells. I don't know this genus, but suspect that being too dry is not the problem. This genus has a reputation for being cool-growing. I don't know about this one.

How much shade/sun does it get?
-Keith

[greyblackfish]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

How much shade/sun does it get?
-Keith

Well currently it's inside under some lights. They are 1200 fc at best. Not ideal. In the afternoon the sunlight comes through the window for 2-3 hrs

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by greyblackfish

Well currently it's inside under some lights. They are 1200 fc at best. Not ideal. In the afternoon the sunlight comes through the window for 2-3 hrs

Indoor temperatures often to have a very small day-night swing, and run a bit warm for cool-growing orchids. Do you think either of these applies in your situation?
-Keith
P.S. I'm hoping someone who grows/knows this genus will jump in.

[greyblackfish]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

Indoor temperatures often to have a very small day-night swing, and run a bit warm for cool-growing orchids. Do you think either of these applies in your situation?
-Keith
P.S. I'm hoping someone who grows/knows this genus will jump in.

Well usually the temp is around 75 f but since I was gone for a few days the AC gets turned up more and it probably got to as high as 82 f or so. Plus normally the humidity in the house is in the low 60% but lately it's been more around 50%

It's good to have somebody else run through the troubleshooting. My husband is sympathetic but not the most helpful.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by greyblackfish

It's good to have somebody else run through the troubleshooting...

If I had to, not having grown these, I'd guess that this plant is struggling due to a combination of growing a bit too warm (most of the species are from cool-growing mountain regions), a smallish diurnal temperature variation (many orchids do best with 15-20F or about 8-11C day/night change), and light levels and humidity that are not quite ideal. I feel terrible saying this because the biggest problem, if I'm right about the temperatures, isn't easily corrected.

You may find this a good read.

Cool-Growing Coelogyne Culture

It would be great if someone who has grown these and knows the requirements would chime in with an opinion better anchored in experience than mine. My suspicion is that this isn't happening because these are cool growing, so most collectors can't grow them.


Edit: That said, your plant doesn't appear to be on death's door. The new growth looks good, albeit a bit small.


-Keith

[greyblackfish]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

If I had to, not having grown these, I'd guess that this plant is struggling due to a combination of growing a bit too warm (most of the species are from cool-growing mountain regions), a smallish diurnal temperature variation (many orchids do best with 15-20F or about 8-11C day/night change), and light levels and humidity that are not quite ideal. I feel terrible saying this because the biggest problem, if I'm right about the temperatures, isn't easily corrected.

You may find this a good read.

Cool-Growing Coelogyne Culture

It would be great if someone who has grown these and knows the requirements would chime in with an opinion better anchored in experience than mine. My suspicion is that this isn't happening because these are cool growing, so most collectors can't grow them.


Edit: That said, your plant doesn't appear to be on death's door. The new growth looks good, albeit a bit small.


-Keith

Thanks for the link, Keith. I'm still working on studying the contents.

Yeah I am concerned about the amount of light this one is getting. The grow lights I have are on the lower end of the light requirements. They're maybe 1500fc, but that's probably an overstatement.

I also found this link Cologyne Jannine Banks ‘Snow White’ HCC/AOS is in bloom | Ken Joy's Orchid Blog

This person isn't the only one who keeps the coel. inside but other people have the unchained melody. Anyway, my house hardly ever gets over 78F. I think what caused the fussiness was that my house got really hot when we left on our three day vacation. The AC was not turned on and I think it must have gotten up to 85-90 in my orchid corner.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by greyblackfish

The AC was not turned on and I think it must have gotten up to 85-90 in my orchid corner.

I think you're probably right about this causing the noticeable change.

-Keith

[estación seca]

Sorry, I just saw this.

In bark almost every Coelogyne will need watering every day. They are wet growing plants. The cautions against overwatering are really cautions against growing them in decomposing media that compress and have no air spaces. They all need heavy watering. Your plant has wrinkled pseudobulbs because it isn't getting enough water. Your 70% humidity is great for them.

Your plant got sunburned and/or overheated. It will probably recover.

Unfortunately you chose a hybrid of two cool to intermediate growing species. That refers to night temperatures; they can get quite a bit warmer during the day if nights cool down nicely. I know it's hard, but try not do do that until you have a refrigerated greenhouse. There are some warm-growing species and hybrids.

Do some browsing here, Coelogynes.com and look up the ancestors on the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Sorry, I just saw this.

In bark almost every Coelogyne will need watering every day. ...

Your plant got sunburned and/or overheated. It will probably recover.

Unfortunately you chose a hybrid of two cool to intermediate growing species.

Do some browsing here, Coelogynes.com and look up the ancestors on the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia.

Thank you e.s.!
-Keith