Coelogyne Mossiae (possibly not)

[NYCorchidman]

I bought this plant with a tag that says Coel. Mossiae.
The seller himseld told me it's not really mossiae but a hybrid.

It has been almost one month since I brought this plant home, but there has been no activity at all.

Just five spikes of different sizes that seem to have stopped developing any further. quite frustrating...

By the way, I read lots of stuff on the internet and it seems like I have a hybrid called Unchained Melody.

One of the pbs looks like it had originally two spikes but one got lost somehow. oh, well...

[NYCorchidman]

An update after over 6 months, all five "spikes" (told so by the seller) turned out to be new growths. All five of them grew (during the heat of summer to my surprise) larger than their preceding pbs, which is a good news to me. They all matured over two months ago. and two largest ones had one "spike" each.
They just stayed there in the past two months or so driving me crazy. I was going to dumpt them if they were going to be pbs with no flowers again.
Well, they finally started to slowly elongate two weeks ago and under the light, I could see some tiny flower buds in them.
Well, I accidently broke off one spike on Christmas Eve. I examined the broken piece and there were at least 6 little buds. I was so upset!
Well, at least I still have one left and will find out what the flowers will look like finally.
heartache and excitment at the same time!

By the way, this plant is about to walk out of its pot now. I plan to repot after flowering. I read about how coelogyne resents repotting and will sulk for a year or longer.
Any suggestion about repotting this plant???
Is this group really that sensitive??

[WhiteRabbit]

good luck

[Stray59]

So sorry to hear of the spike breaking off! I have done many times, most memorably once when I purchased a HUGE phalaenopsis with four spikes in bloom to give to my Mother for her birthday ( you know -give it to her then I take care of it - ) I entered her house, the screen door slammed behind me and two of the spikes were sheared off. The words I said cannot be repeated - mainly because I was so mad I was making most of them up......I was in a practically hysterical, foaming at the mouth ranting, fury. But as I was at my Mother's, no curse words were heard - at least not English curse words - As I say, I was making things up, so I could have been cursing up a storm in Swahili or something.
But about your Coelogyne, I know they really resent re-potting. I wish, when I first saw you post which was, prior to the present growth maturing, I had mentioned that the pot looked rather small for all the new spikes. But as I didn't, it doesn't help now does it? The Coelogyne experts will be chiming in soon which is great; I have worked with them, but never had one myself.
Just wanted to so Congrat's on the growth and blooming that you reported. Glad to hear you didn't throw it!! Be sure and post the pics!
Have a great New Year!
Steve

[Brooke]

The best time to repot is when the next new growths appear. I've heard they are picky about repotting but regardless of when I do it, they don't seem to mind.

Brooke

[Orchidreamer]

My first coelogyne (mooreana) arrived with broken down potting mix, so I had to repot it as soon as possible. At that time it had no active growths and no new roots, so I was a bit nervous at the time, afraid that the plant would sulk. It was early spring, and my plant settled down and put out the best growth spurt ever that summer. It even grew a spike but unfortunately the spike broke. Not that I'm advocating repotting an orchid when it's not actively growing, but this goes to show that not all of them hate repotting as I had feared.

[Picotee]

Ouch! I hate it when I break off buds but we all do it one time or another. Knowing that, it still makes me furious when it happens. I don't grow that genus (Coel.) but when my catts start climbing out of their pots, rather than disturb the roots, I often just 'pot them on' which is to just set them into a larger pot and add some media between the two. Just a thought.

[NYCorchidman]

Thank you, everyone for all the input!

The base of the broken spike is fattening up, so I'm hoping it's maybe growing a backup spike? myabe too wishful thinking but time will tell I guess.
The other spike is very slowly progressing. I can see one or two buds inside the sheaths. I'm ready to see them but they are not opening up for me.

I thought about just sliding the pot inside a larger pot too mainly because some of the roots are firmly attached on the outer surface of the pot, but I have no idea what the condition of the bark mix is like in the center of the current pot.

I think I'm going to wait until flowering is over and then repot the whole thing in fresh media in a larger pot.

[NYCorchidman]

I got lazy and finally posting these pictures taken on friday and saturday.
Two white little buds just popped out of the spike overnight and now they are fully open and even began to emit the "odor" which I really don't like much. yuck!

The flowers look nice though!

I see about four more buds on the way.

It is almost confirmed that this plant is Unchained Melody.

The base of the broken spike has developed small green sphere like structure. How interesting!

[Lagoon]

Uh oh a stinky flower,LOL! Strange on how such beautiful blooms can make you want to walk away from them
Very well grown and the flowers are still gorgeous