this time its bigger flower and with more vivid colors....a single flower per blooming cycle....I hope to grow this as a specimen (I have seen pictures of several blooming flowers) but with a new bulb per year, I might wait for a long time to achieve that....
Coelogyne speciosa, endemic to equatorial areas from Indonesia and Sumatra is warm to hot tolerant but is surprisingly tough and grows at altitudes up to 2000 feet. That is why I don't expose it to frost and I keep it evenly moist and humid.
The name 'speciosa' in common to several plants and is named because the flower is huge and spectacular. Coelogyne speciosa justly deserves its illustrious tag. Fortunately, it is very commonly grown and freely available. This is because it is an attractive, tough, hardy and easy to grow orchid that is popular with both beginners and aficionados.
This has led to much taxonomic debate (as well as discussion among growers) and there is still much more to do. Barbara Gravendeel; in Holland has initiated detailed research into Coelogyne speciosa, backed by extensive DNA analysis. There are about 16 very closely related species in the same taxonomic Coelogyne subgroup (Speciosae) as Coel speciosa. However, the old adage, "a rose is still a rose"; applies to all growers. Just admire them and let the scientists do their work.
Because it comes from monsoonal rain areas, the flowers face downwards to prevent the rain washing the pollen onto its own stigma and causing self-pollination. This may be a clever trick on the part of the plant but it means that the plant should be presented above eye level so that the flowers can be appreciated to their fullest.
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