Coilostylis (Epidendrum) oerstedii

[RosieC]

Great looking!

[fisx]

Coiliostylis ciliaris is easy to tell from C. oerstedii if it is blooming. C. ciliaris has the distinctive 'eye-lash' fringe on its flowers that C. oerstedii lack. The lateral lobes of C. oerstedii are kidney shaped and the mid-lobe is spearhead shaped. Vegetatively
both oerstedii and ciliaris strongly resemble unifoliate Cattleyas.
I enjoy growing these two Coiliostylis species in addition to parkinsoniana and falcata. All four of these species get about the same treatment in my intermediate 'Cattleya' Wyoming greenhouse. I find that oerstedii and ciliaris are particularly easy to grow and reliably reward with a profusion of interesting flowers. These two live in hanging net pots in extremely bright light in a mix of large coconut husk, charcoal, perlite, and Leca clay pellets. Falcata and parkinsoniana thrive with the exact same treatment but I usually mount these two on tree-fern or cork swaddled with some coconut fiber.Since these latter two C. species are pendant somehow mounts look better to me. I water and fertilize all my Coiliostylis species heavily during the summer [always with the given that they MUST dry out very quickly] then lower the humidity, watering, and greenhouse temperature from about November until March first when heavy watering and feeding resume.
All four have unique fascinating flowers that come in profusion, and all four are very easy to grow and seem tolerant of a wide range of temperatures.
The only divisions of these four species that refused to flower for me did flower when moved to the brightest available spot, close to the glass.
I highly recommend growing some Coiliostylis orchids in your mixed collection. I apologize for not having some photos, but I promise to post some as my plants come into bloom [only if anyone is interested!]

[Paul]

Thanks, Fisx. Based on what you said, I suspect mine may be a ciliaris -- albeit one in which the 'eyelashes' are much reduced.

[fisx]

Originally Posted by Paul

Thanks, Fisx. Based on what you said, I suspect mine may be a ciliaris -- albeit one in which the 'eyelashes' are much reduced.

I thought about a couple of things I perhaps should add:

I try to keep a minimum 50% humidity during the warmer rapid growth months and although this is not at all required for Coiliostylis they do benefit substantially from it.

If there is anything at all fussy about this genus [which, truly, there is not] it MIGHT be that they are strongly resentful of root disturbance. Although some growers stress the sensitivity of Coiliostylis species to root damage honestly I have found them no more, or less, sensitive than the average Cattleya. All the basic transplant guidelines apply here: try to make divisions only when the new leads have just sprouted roots. Soaking the plant to be divided in Physan 20 solution for a good half hour greatly increases the roots flexibility resulting in fewer breaks, with the added benefit that the injuries that are bound to occur are immediately treated with a fungicide/bactericide.