Coelogyne Fimbriata is a very popular botanical species, with small-sized flowers, highly variable, leading to confusion among specialists, who initially described the varieties as different species until modern DNA analysis techniques clarified this aspect. The Dutch researcher, Dr. Barbara Gravendeel, in her doctoral thesis, recommended that most species in this group, including fimbriata, fuliginosa, ovalis, padangensis, and pallens, should all be included in the species Coelogyne fimbriata.
The valid synonyms for Coelogyne Fimbriata are Broughtonia linearis Wall. ex Hook.f. 1890; Broughtonia linearisWall. 1830; Coelogyne arunachalensis H.J.Chowdhery & G.D.Pal 1997; Coelogyne laotica Gagn. 1930; Coelogyne longiciliata Teijsm. & Binn. 1864; Coelogyne ovalis auct. non Lindley; Coelogyne padangensis J.J.Sm. & Schltr. 1911; Coelogyne primulina Barretto 1990; Coelogyne xerophyta Hand-Mazz. 1936; Pleione chinense Krzl. 1891; Pleione fimbriata [Lindley] Kuntz 1891.
A medium-sized species, amphitolerant to temperature, epiphytic or lithophilic, on limestone slopes and cliffs, in narrow crevices, in Nepal, Bhutan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Xizang and Yunnan (China), Hong Kong, northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, inhabiting primary, evergreen, deciduous forests in lowland areas, or primary montane forests, at altitudes from sea level up to 2300 m. In its natural environment, it has a wide distribution, which underlies the high variability of the species, providing collectors with multiple categories. Coelogyne Fimbriata is so easy to cultivate that it was among the first orchids exported from China for British collections in 1820.
The species has ellipsoid pseudobulbs positioned 3 - 4 cm apart from each other, each with 2 apical leaves of oblong-elliptical shape, acute, folded, with 5 veins, gradually narrowing towards the base, forming a petiole. It blooms in autumn, on the youngest mature pseudobulbs, with inflorescences ranging from single to three-flowered, located terminally at the apex of the pseudobulbs, with thin stems, 4 - 5 cm long, erect, fractiflex. The stems bear racemose inflorescences, with a narrow basal sheath, and the long-lasting flowers have a musk fragrance.
Beyond being a charismatic species due to its creeping habit and flower appearance, Coelogyne fimbriata, is also an easy-to-grow species, these aspects contributing to its high popularity among both beginner enthusiasts and experienced growers.
It can be grown mounted on wooden plaques or bark, or in any type of pots or containers with fast water drainage, preferring shady, humid locations that are not exposed to freezing danger. It will quickly exceed the limits of the growing container, whatever it is, without requiring repotting, as its creeping habit and epiphytic nature allow it to develop pendant rhizomes.
Coelogyne Fimbriata requires high humidity to remain healthy, as drastic dryness causes velamen degradation and root death. To prevent such events, it is recommended to place pots near trays filled with water and gravel or clay balls, which maintain high humidity but do not allow roots to come into contact with water.
For propagation, dividing the rhizomes is recommended, leaving enough pseudobulbs to allow easy regeneration of the plant and its acclimatization, since until new roots develop, the divided plants will feed on the nutrients stored in the pseudobulbs. In general, it is recommended to keep at least 4 - 5 pseudobulbs per division. The best time for dividing the plants is early spring, when new growths develop fully - in spring, when most orchid species bloom, Coelogyne fimbriata recovers after the long flowering just ended, entering the rest season for a few months; during this period many of the leaves will yellow and fall, which is why watering should be reduced, replaced by misting the new growths.
Planting is recommended to be done in hanging baskets, so that the plants and flowers can distribute more evenly, covering the growing medium 360°. When grown near other plants, it tends to invade their pots.
Only one variety of the species Coelogyne fimbriata is known: "Alba", pale yellowish-white in color, not pure white, probably the best-known variety, which however has numerous variations - but considering Barbara Gravendeel's studies, it is advisable to also take into account the taxa previously considered as species: C. ovalis, fuliginosa, pallens.
Known hybrids of this species are: Coelogyne Danielle de Prins (2001) - with Coelogyne speciosa as the seed parent; Coelogyne Orchideengarten Magdalene (2014) - with Coelogyne usitana as the pollen parent.
It prefers strong light and is capable of tolerating direct sunlight in the morning and evening, but during hot summer afternoons it is recommended to cultivate it only under filtered or diffuse light. Symptoms that the plants are overheating and receiving too much light are noticeable as yellowing and premature leaf drop, as well as the appearance of sunburns. Intense sunlight is a primary requirement to obtain blooming in this species, and in case of insufficient lighting, especially during the development of new growths, blooming will be completely absent due to underdeveloped pseudobulbs. Throughout the year, the photoperiod must be at least 10 hours, ideally 16 hours. The perfect maintenance model for this species is a combination of exposures - for example, initial maintenance during autumn and winter in southern and western exposures, followed by moving the specimens in spring and summer to eastern and southeast exposures; if specimens are kept all year round in northern exposures, the use of artificial lights to supplement the natural amount of light radiation will be absolutely necessary.
The recommended growth temperature is 20 °C during the day and 12 °C at night during summer, and 10 °C in winter, both day and night.
A humidity-loving species, since in its natural environment the relative humidity rarely drops below 70%, it will require ensuring good ventilation.
The recommended growing substrate for this species consists of wood plaques or bark, or low-height pots/containers with an aerated substrate that retains moisture, such as pine bark mixed with charcoal, dried ferns, humus, sphagnum moss, in proportions up to 50%.
The Coelogyne Fimbriata orchid does not tolerate transplanting well, reacting negatively by losing one or two bloomings, which is why it is recommended only when absolutely necessary, for example, in the case of excessive salinization of the substrate, or critical pH increase (a rate of 5.5 - 6.5). The most recommended time for transplanting is in the spring period.
Waterings will be done depending on the general temperature of the environment: the higher it is, the more abundant, especially for specimens mounted on plaques, where daily watering in the morning will be necessary - to ensure the roots dry by evening.
For potted orchids, keep in mind that excess water during watering must be able to flow easily out of the container without stagnating, as the plant roots can rot very easily. Relative drying of the substrate between waterings is recommended, but not complete drying.
Fertilizations will be administered every 1 - 2 weeks during the growth period, at the concentration recommended by the manufacturer, both root and foliar, by spraying the leaves with a more diluted fertilizer. Alternating fertilization methods is recommended.
The resting period for Coelogyne fimbriata is winter, when, starting from mid-November, the plants will be placed in areas with medium lighting, with north or east exposure, and watering will be reduced and fertilization stopped. The ideal temperature for this period will be around 10 °C, day and night. Watering will aim to allow the substrate to dry completely, so only 2 - 3 waterings will be necessary during this period. With the appearance of new growth, the resting period will end, returning to the current routine. The absence of flowering can be caused by too high temperatures, insufficient light, or adaptive/biological stress, caused either by poor environmental conditions, substrate changes, or pathological conditions of the plants.
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