Coelogyne cristata

Coelogyne cristata

This is a lovely epiphytic orchid (ht 30 cm) that I was given by a friend whose father was a great orchid grower. It is sometimes called the angel orchid. I affixed the pseudobulbs my friend gave me onto my 'epiphytic tree' (where I grow a few other similar orchids), using old pantyhose stuffed with some orchid bark for them to grow into. It blooms in September with short sprays of scented white flowers with yellow markings, and has dark green, leathery foliage. It seems well suited to the Sydney climate. Spray the hose over the plant every so often and apply some soluble orchid food in the lead-up to spring. Propagation is by division of the pseudobulbs.