Coiliostylis ciliaris is easy to tell from C. oerstedii if it is blooming. C. ciliaris has the distinctive 'eye-lash' fringe on its flowers that C. oerstedii lack. The lateral lobes of C. oerstedii are kidney shaped and the mid-lobe is spearhead shaped. Vegetatively
both oerstedii and ciliaris strongly resemble unifoliate Cattleyas.
I enjoy growing these two Coiliostylis species in addition to parkinsoniana and falcata. All four of these species get about the same treatment in my intermediate 'Cattleya' Wyoming greenhouse. I find that oerstedii and ciliaris are particularly easy to grow and reliably reward with a profusion of interesting flowers. These two live in hanging net pots in extremely bright light in a mix of large coconut husk, charcoal, perlite, and Leca clay pellets. Falcata and parkinsoniana thrive with the exact same treatment but I usually mount these two on tree-fern or cork swaddled with some coconut fiber.Since these latter two C. species are pendant somehow mounts look better to me. I water and fertilize all my Coiliostylis species heavily during the summer [always with the given that they MUST dry out very quickly] then lower the humidity, watering, and greenhouse temperature from about November until March first when heavy watering and feeding resume.
All four have unique fascinating flowers that come in profusion, and all four are very easy to grow and seem tolerant of a wide range of temperatures.
The only divisions of these four species that refused to flower for me did flower when moved to the brightest available spot, close to the glass.
I highly recommend growing some Coiliostylis orchids in your mixed collection. I apologize for not having some photos, but I promise to post some as my plants come into bloom [only if anyone is interested!]
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