Coelogyne: Am I doing it right?

[Masdyman]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

I killed 5 orchids in CHC before I realized how damaging it was and stopped using it. My Coelogyne Cristata is in a mixture of 50% NZ sphagnum, 25% fine bark chips and 25% styrofoam chips, and it's in bloom right now. I keep it on a chilly windowsill through the winter, give it water about once a week, very lightly from a sprayer, and the temp is about 15 deg during the day and 10-12 at night.

CHC is very bad for hanging onto fertilizer and then becoming toxic with it. It also can have lots of salt which is very difficult to leach out.

Hello, Can you elaborate on this quote? and what are you basing this quote on?

Regards

---------- Post added at 09:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

I grow my to a min of 7-10c in winter, on the dry side(too dry at times) bright light. In summer I would say wet and warm with feed at every watering.
Anything above min of 10c I would say is too warm.

My C. cristata and Unchained melody always flower very very well.
I haven't given them or my collection enough care this year and they have over shrivelled already which isn't great, some take the winter rest to extreme which may lead to dessication. I have seen some measly C. cristata with small bulbs, if the bulbs are not similar to the size of hens eggs then you are more than likely not watering and feeding enough in summer.
Mine used to sit in water.