Coelogyne

(They are  Epiphytes)

The name Coelogyne comes from the Greek words "Kailos" meaning hollow and "gyne" meaning pistil, referring to the plant's prominent depression found in the stigma. The principal cultivated species occur in Indonesia, the Philippines and the Himalayas.

Many Coelogyne species prefer a shady location and intermediate temperature. They require abundant water during their growing season which is from February to August, but excess water left in the leaf sheaths and among the leaves can cause the buds and plant to rot. They dislike being repotted frequently. they prefer to be planted in baskets or mounted only when new roots are just coming out of the new growths

Light and Temperature

Bright filtered light with no direct sun. Leaves should be medium green in color with a slight pinkish tinge which indicates maximum light levels around 1000- 1500 foot-candles-bright filtered light with no direct sun. 75°- 80° F(24-27 Celsius) in daytime and 55°- 60°F (13-16 Celsius)nights are the preferred temperatures.

Good Light and. Bad Light
Light is a key factor in growing healthy orchids. Direct sunlight may cause plants to burn, and too little light will prevent plants from flowering. An ideal location is behind curtains or window blinds. If you receive your plant by mail, expose it to light gradually in stages over a period of several weeks.
Leaf color is a good indicator of the amount of light a plant is receiving. Orchids should have bright green, healthy leaves. Dark green leaves indicate that a plant is getting insufficient light, and yellowish-green or red leaves indicate that a plant is getting too much light. If you suspect a plant is exposed to too much light, feel the leaves. If they feel noticeably warmer than the surrounding air, move the plant to a location with less intense brightness.

Watering and Feeding

 Never allow Coelogyne to remain dry for any length of time. Crinkled leaves are a sign of insufficient water. Feed Dyna-Gro™ Liquid Grow 7-9-5 at the rate of 1/4 tsp./gal. with each watering.

To promote flowering, feed Dyna-Gro™ Liquid Bloom 3-12-6 or Mag-Pro™ 2-15-4 at the same rates and frequencies beginning 4-5 weeks before flower spike initiation.

Humidity

Coelogyne  enjoy moist air, requiring a minimum of 40-50% humidity in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Humidity should be increased with higher temperatures. The ideal humidity is between 55 and 75%, with as much ventilation or air movement as possible without any cold drafts. Humidity can be increased around the plant by placing the pot on an inverted saucer in a baking pan filled with pebbles, rock chips, etc., and water. Keep water level below top of pebbles so that the plant will not have "wet feet" from setting in water. Morning misting of foliage is also helpful, especially during periods of hot weather.

Repotting & Repot

 Coelogyne should be repotted at least every two years in a fine grade of fir bark or Fine Dyna-Rok II. They prefer to be somewhat crowded in the pot, so do not over pot.

Laelia

(Most are Epiphytes, but a few are Lithophytes)

Light & temperature 

 Laelia  need good light 600-2,000 foot-candles-bright filtered light with no direct sun, but they cannot stand much of the heat which usually accompanies high light intensities. You may reduce temperatures in south or west-facing summer windows by drawing sheer curtains across them.  mottled leaf or warm growing Paphs prefer a day temp with a maximum of 75- 80 F 24-28 C and a night minimum of 50-60 F 10-16 C, If daytime temperatures exceed 90 F 32 C you'll have to move the plants to a cooler window such as an east-facing exposure. It's doubtful whether orchids would bloom in a north window.

Many people grow their orchids successfully under fluorescent tubes. Place them so the lights are about eight inches above the orchids' foliage, and keep the lights on from twelve to fourteen hours daily.

Laelia may fail to bloom if night temperatures are very close to daytime levels. A two-week period in spring or fall where temperatures at night are kept ten to fifteen degrees cooler than during the day should initiate flower development, assuming the plant receives adequate light levels.  

 Humidity and  Watering  

 Laelia need extremely high humidity, they do benefit from added humidity in winter. Placing pots on top of gravel in moisture-filled trays might help. You just need to be careful that their pots are set above the water line so no moisture will be drawn in through bottom drain holes. Room humidifiers also help increase relative humidity without jeopardizing orchid roots.

 Neither of these orchids should be allowed to dry out completely between watering. How often you water will depend on how bright their growing conditions, how humid, and how warm it is, all factors that impact how fast the potting mix will dry. Always use room temperature or barely lukewarm water that will not shock the orchids' roots, and avoid softened water if at all possible.

Laelia Make a point of holding the container over a sink or washtub and watering thoroughly so moisture drips right through and is discarded. Lift the pot right after you've watered to get a feeling for its weight, then hold off watering again until it feels lighter. Don't rely on the calendar to tell you when to water.

 Fertilizing and Problems

Laelia Use a special orchid fertilizer such as 30-10-10, mixed half-strength, once a month - more often during growth spurts in spring and summer. Every three months fertilize them with a complete fertilizer containing minor elements along with the major elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Almost any ratio of the major elements in this complete fertilizer is acceptable.

Laelia Besides failing to bloom when night temperatures are too high Laelia orchids will not bloom if light levels are too low or too high. Low light is often accompanied by the presence of dark green foliage. Too much light may result in leaves that are pale yellow-green and bleached looking.