November orchids: Coelogyne foerstermannii

I actually missed a number of blooms last month, blooms from a few of my Bulbophyllum, Eria and other orchid species.

This month, with the start of the monsoon, many orchids in my “jungle” are flowering. Managed to take some photos and here’s the first species, Coelogyne foerstermannii.


This is an old photo, my first Coelogyne foerstermannii inflorescence!


This is a current bloom. In my experience, this species is not an easy or regular bloomer. I waited two years for this one to bloom. They usually bloom en masse in the wild.


The flowers are very fragrant. To me, they smell like pandan coconuts.


Not a new inflorescence, I was a bit too late to take better photos.


This one is grown on a tree and is smaller than the potted ones. Grown like this, it is maintenance free.


Also a bit too late to take any good photos, many blooms chewed by snails and bugs.

I grow them mounted on tree fern, in a pot with coconut husk, charcoal and bricks as well as tagged to a tree. There is also a large clump grown in a coconut husk pot (bought like that) which surprisingly is doing very well. I had thought the coconut husk would be too wet but didn’t bother re-potting it as it’s grown to a large size.

In situ photos
Often see this species in the wild, growing high up in the trees. Some branches are totally covered with them. Sometimes I come across plants which had fallen to the ground on rotten branches. Many die or start to rot on the dark and damp forest floor.


A tree trunk full of orchids, most likely Coelogyne foerstermannii.


A dead tree with branches full of Coelogyne foerstermannii and other small orchids.


When a tree with orchids, like this one with Coelogyne foerstermannii (photographed in Kalimantan, Indonesia) falls to the ground, the orchids on it often rot as well. This is because there is little light on the forest floor. It also gets very wet during the rainy season.



I often see them growing high up in the trees, so this was quite a surprise. Coelogyne foerstermannii growing on limestone! :D



Following below are two beautiful photos taken recently by my friend Michael Lo, of this species flowering in the wild. Visit his website by clicking here.


Fantastic species which blooms en masse in the wild. Photo by Michael Lo.


A tree full of Coelogyne foerstermannii. Photo by Michael Lo.