Coelogyne cristata

[spetrizio]

I have a few questions for the more experienced growers.
My Cristata is flowering now. I have put the photos in the blooming section http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-cristata.html
so here I will repeat only one photo



I know I do not have the proper conditions for Cristata growing. my GH is intermediate to warm. but it is flowering so I suppose it has adapted somehow.

The questions are regarding leaves and bulbs.

Tips of the leaves become dry and brown so I have cut them off. Is it normal or not?

Bulbs are not tighten, they are slightly shriveled. Do you think that too high temperature could be the reason or something else?

[Aki_James]

Wow, those are fantastic flowers. Most beautiful. But I'm afraid I cannot help with your questions. Looks great to me though.

[Brooke]

Most Coelogynes prefer pure water and can get leaf tip die back.

Here's a pic from last year


Coel cristata LUR_5618 by kentucky4, on Flickr

I grow this is a g/h where the temp is never below 60 and I grow it very wet. The first couple of years I actually grew it sitting in a shallow tray of water but now I have to hang it. I water it every other day, winter and summer.

If given enough water the pbulbs will stay plump and round.

Brooke

[spetrizio]

wow. yours is unreal. fantastic.

I use rain water. min night temp is between 60 -65 F
but I am not watering much more then phals.
I will increase the water. will see results.

thanks for info.

[escualida]

I got mine a few months ago and it was looking really sad. I put it in S/H and it seems to be doing OK, nothing's really happening but it's not looking worse either. The tips are a little brown, is that from the fertilizer? Should I ONLY give it pure water and never feed it?

[monocotman]

Ideally cristata likes to grow cool and fairly dry in the winter. Average light. The bulbs can shrivel a bit.
In contrast in the summer it likes lots of water when in growth. It can sit in a bit of water during this phase.
Think Dendrobium nobile type conditions,
Regards,
David

[Brooke]

Adriana mine gets fertilizer almost every time I water it but it is a reduced amount. Fertilizer could be the issue if you are getting brown tips but use rain water.

Spetrizio hopefully you can get the pbulbs more plump in the future. I've found they have more energy to bloom if the pbulbs remain plump.

Brooke

[GregorK]

WOW Brooke your Coelogyne looks stunning!
I can see its in the basket. what kind of media do you use for it?

[Brooke]

Originally Posted by GregorK

WOW Brooke your Coelogyne looks stunning!
I can see its in the basket. what kind of media do you use for it?

Gregor this plant has been potted for a very long time. I am pretty sure the top portion of the basket has CHC (coconut husk small chunks) as the media. The bottom of the basket has p'nuts in the bottom, then lined with sphag, then a CHC mound with the roots going into the media.

If I were potting this today I would use Orchiata seedling bark because I got tired of soaking and rinsing the CHC mix.

Brooke

[GregorK]

Thanks for the tip!

Have to buy one of these one day! they are stunning

Orchiata seedling bark? Does it retain a good amount of moisture? where do you buy it?