About Coelogyne cristata Lindl.
Coelogyne cristata Lindl. produces many short stems, and its flowers carry a fragrance. Flower petals reach up to 8 centimetres (3.1 inches) in diameter, are snow white, and have a yellow spot on the lip. This orchid blooms in late winter, as snow begins to melt. Its leaves are deep green, narrow, and grow between 10 and 15 centimeters (3.9 and 5.9 inches) long. Its bulbs are the size of walnuts.
For potted cultivation and care, Coelogyne cristata orchids need plenty of light, but not direct sunlight. They should be kept cooler than room temperature, between 16 and 18 °C (61 and 64 °F) during the day, and 12 °C (54 °F) at night. In summer, they can be kept outdoors in partial shade. If temperatures are too high, they will not bloom. During the growing season, they need plenty of water, as they require high humidity. They should be watered with lime- and sodium-poor water. After blooming, gradually reduce watering until November, when the resting period begins, and stop watering once the resting period starts. No more liquid fertilizer should be given during this time. Since it is an epiphyte, it grows well with very little nutrition. After the resting period, when Coelogyne cristata resumes growing in spring, it can be replanted in porous, fibrous growing material such as pine bark, charcoal pieces, and a small amount of sphagnum, all of which are favorable for orchid growth. It should not be replanted until its roots completely fill the current pot. Propagation is done by division, and this process can be difficult to manage. In cultivation in the UK, this plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
