Species help - coelogyne or coryanthes? Or other?

[Aussie42]

Hi folks.

I need some suggestions here. I had assumed the pictured plants were coelogyne but…ants! The plant came originally in a hanging basket which suggests either a pendulous coelogyne (eg massangeana) or a coryanthes.

It used to be in a bark mix and when I repotted about a year ago it was completely swarming with ants. The roots are a little strange, with some kind of fuzzy outer coating.

I need to know if I have to get it back in a bark medium and let the ants back in.

Also – are there any coelogyne species that have a symbiotic relationship with ants?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated, it doesn’t seem too happy in the new medium.

Cheers,
Aus.

[RandomGemini]

Just giving this a bump. There's not a lot of information on coelogyne species available and I'm really growing fond of them, so I'd love more info! The leaves do look reminiscent of my coelogyne, but the bulbs are nowhere near as large as that.

[kindrag23]

White fuzzy stuff could be mold or it could be your plant growing this to be able to attach to its pot. The ants I know some folks do not mind them. Me personally I dont want them. If your plant is seeming to thrive and you don't mind them leave it be. Sometimes plants want ants to come in order for extra protection against non friendly beings. Such as grasshoppers. Other than that I am of no use sorry.

But good luck and good growing.

[Aussie42]

It's not mold, it's...a kind of fuzzy, hair-like outer coating. From what I've read Coryanthes roots are known to attract ants and their roots provide good ant habitat so it could be that. I've not seen roots like this on my Coelogynes (but I only have flaccida and trinevis). So given the massive amount of ants that were in the old bark/soil mix - I had the plants communally planted in a large basket - I've been thinking it could be coryanthes.

And if it is, then ants/ant poo would be good for the plants and I should be switching media back to bark to allow the ants some room to move in.

And I've only recently become aware of the Coryanthes group.

I really am in the dark on this but...ants...there were millions of ants...

Cheers,
Aus.

[kindrag23]

Ugh....ants....

[Aussie42]

Re-potting was not much fun ;-)

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by Aussie42

Re-potting was not much fun ;-)

been there did that w a 10lb hibiscus full of fire ants.....I got a little bit to happy with the liquid amdro...

[Rico13]

I can almost positivly tell you its not a Coryanthes, their pseudobulbs are not as tall, and have deeper ridges. But I have been wrong before.

[euplusia]

I second Rico, not a Coryanthes. Just because there are millions of ants doesn't mean it is Coryanthes. Probably some species of Coelogyne.
The potting medium depends very much on your growing conditions. Coelogyne often suffer a longer time after repotting. Maybe it is best to give it some more time, in a shadier more humid place.

[Aussie42]

From pics I viewed I had suspected it wasn't Coryanthes but I have no experience of them, it's mainly the plethora of ants made me suspicious. It doesn't like being disturbed, I can attest to that. I can't help feeling that when a plant attracts ants in that quantity it's because there is a symbiotic relationship of sorts and the ants are important for the plant.

More shade for all and some more coco peat on some of them (aka more mositure), then see how they fare sounds like the right kind of experiment.

I figured the more common plant (Coelogyne) was the more likely but the ants...the super-abundance of ants... It certainly made the query a worthwhile one, IMO.

Cheers,
Aus.