Coelogynes with no flowers...

[Milda]

Hi.
I think I need some help. I have got several coelogynes, some are easy to flower, some are not. Just now I am a bit confused. I have had a lawrenceana for several years and it's happily growing in spaghnum, medium temperature, hanging under roof windows with some shade by summer. It grows a lot of new bulbs every year, but not a single flower in sight. I have read that it takes a long time for the plant from spike to flower, but I haven't seen any photos of such a spike.
The other plant is a Burfordensis which I bought last year. It's also a fantastic grower, and has grown 2 new bulbs this summer. It has the same growing conditions as the lawrenceana. But I can't see any spike....
I am afraid they get to easily dry because they are potted in sphagnum. What do you think?
Do any of you have photos of these plants in spike?
Milda

[bellini girl]

Hi Milda, I too have some coelogynes sans flowers . A cristatta and masengeana. I believe that some of them benefit from a brief rest in winter. Others on the board may have suggestions

Lecent

[Marleneann]

Originally Posted by Milda

Hi.
I think I need some help. I have got several coelogynes, some are easy to flower, some are not. Just now I am a bit confused. I have had a lawrenceana for several years and it's happily growing in spaghnum, medium temperature, hanging under roof windows with some shade by summer. It grows a lot of new bulbs every year, but not a single flower in sight. I have read that it takes a long time for the plant from spike to flower, but I haven't seen any photos of such a spike.
The other plant is a Burfordensis which I bought last year. It's also a fantastic grower, and has grown 2 new bulbs this summer. It has the same growing conditions as the lawrenceana. But I can't see any spike....
I am afraid they get to easily dry because they are potted in sphagnum. What do you think?
Do any of you have photos of these plants in spike?
Milda

I'm having the same problem as you with my coelogyne Milda.

[Mike O'C]

Originally Posted by Milda

Hi.
I think I need some help. I have got several coelogynes, some are easy to flower, some are not. Just now I am a bit confused. I have had a lawrenceana for several years and it's happily growing in spaghnum, medium temperature, hanging under roof windows with some shade by summer. It grows a lot of new bulbs every year, but not a single flower in sight. I have read that it takes a long time for the plant from spike to flower, but I haven't seen any photos of such a spike.
The other plant is a Burfordensis which I bought last year. It's also a fantastic grower, and has grown 2 new bulbs this summer. It has the same growing conditions as the lawrenceana. But I can't see any spike....
I am afraid they get to easily dry because they are potted in sphagnum. What do you think?
Do any of you have photos of these plants in spike?
Milda

Hi Milda and you other ladies. I have quite a few Coelogynes. I think that what you need to do is every 6 months move them to a new spot and see if you can get them to bloom. I do not flower my Coelogyne lawrenceana now because I think that the fibreglass sheeting on my greenhouse has yellowed after 36 years and the light is bad. My Coelogyne mooreana also only flowers sporadically and I think for the same reason - too dark). Coelogyne tomentosa (syn. Coelogyne massangeana) on the other hand flowers regularly sometimes twice in a year (coming into spike now). I grow them in pine bark (Pinus radiata) covered with a layer of sphagnum moss. The moss does tend to dry out and become difficlut to rehydrate in my clay pots but if you let copious water run onto it, then it does become wet and retain water. In winter I water once a week or fortnight depending on the outside temperature, light and time that I have available.In summer I water more frequently (every second day sometimes). Also watch your fertilising. After 6 months change from a high nitrogen to a high K/P fertiliser. Don't have digital photos of Coelogyne lawrenceana but on (in flower) was bought to our meeting on Monday night and will probably be exhibited on one of the orchid society shows this weekend. Will try and get a photo and post.Good luck.

[Psyguy10]

i think mike has a good point, one thing you girls may want to know is that a lot coelogynes need A BUNCH of bright light. hope they bloom

[David Morris]

This is a photo of Coelogyne lawrenceana `Riopelle' in spike and a photo of it in flower. I do find this Coelogyne to be a more reluctant bloomer than most. I grow it in strong indirect light and a 55f minimum (90f maximum). Sometimes they abort the inflorescence seemingly without reason. I have no answer for the Burfordiense.

[Bolero]

From my experience with cristata only so far (I have others but they haven't flowered yet) they need a fair amount of light in winter and some need a rest period whilst others don't.

I rest the cristata through winter and it is outside in 50% shade all year round.

Not sure if that helps or not.

[Mike O'C]

Originally Posted by David Morris

This is a photo of Coelogyne lawrenceana `Riopelle' in spike and a photo of it in flower. I do find this Coelogyne to be a more reluctant bloomer than most. I grow it in strong indirect light and a 55f minimum (90f maximum). Sometimes they abort the inflorescence seemingly without reason. I have no answer for the Burfordiense.

David thanks for posting the picture. I was going to take my camera down to the show that we were going to judge at and if there was a Coelogyne lawrenceana there I was going to take a photo and post it to show Milda what it looked like. But I forgot to take the camera! Senior moment. There were 2 plants exhibited.