Coelogyne asperata

Base Price: $50.00

Intro:
Coelogyne asperata is native to South East Asia and can be found growing in the Philippines, Borneo and Burma (now Myanmar). This plant is not often seen in cultivation. In Burma it was once considered a holy orchid and the penalty for collecting and possessing one was beheading! Fortunately the ones we have are not from Burma and they have been cultivated in our nursery since the early 1980's. This plant has wonderful foliage with smooth somewhat stiff pleated leaves borne atop an ovoid egg sized pseudobulb. The flowers last for two to three weeks but the sheer number of flowers and the rapidity with which they develop make up for any shortness in longevity. They are fragrant as well.
**Click on the highlighted text for direct links to product pages**

Light:
This plant prefers medium light and will do well in conditions that range from Phalaenopsis to cattleya. They will do well in east windows or under artificial light culture.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.

Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate to warm temperatures with winter nighttime lows from 58 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime highs from 70 to 85 degrees. Summer temps can be up to 10 degrees warmer.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. The use of room humidifiers, humidity trays or even misting the plants leaves will be of benefit.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering. Keep an eye on the pseudobulbs and if they begin to shrivel step up the frequency of your watering.
Over watering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This plant typically flowers in the late spring to summer months with sprays of 20 to 40 tawny white flowers that have a lip richly striped in chocolate. The flowers are one and a half to two inches in size. They have an unusual fragrance that is not unpleasant smelling like a combination of an aromatic tropical wood with floral overtones. The flowers emerge quickly from the centers of the undeveloped new growth. The last for 2-3 weeks but are well worth the effort with their spectacular cascading display.

Repotting:
Repot this plant as soon as the flowers have finished blooming as this is when the new growths will develop and establish roots. Repot only as the plant out grows the pot. They can be divided when there are several pseudobulbs. Be sure to leave at least 4 pseudobulbs to each division. It is really more appropriate to allow these plants to become specimen size, as that is when the best floral displays occur. Use a medium grade bark mix for best results.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.