One corner of our greenhouse ‘classroom’ is temporary home to this wonderful Coelogyne pulverula with three spikes – the first to flower this spring.

The species is native to Malaysia, Thailand and Borneo where it grows on the trunks and lower branches of large trees in evergreen forest from 300 to 1800m. We find that the species enjoys growing warm but well shaded and kept moist throughout the year.  We find that leaves can become damaged by bright sun or by plants being allowed to become dry for long periods.

We have two distinct clones of the species with this longer spikes clone flowering in August and September and this one that flowers in March-April (a bit Early in 2022). Individual plants only flower once a year. Although the spikes are a little shorter they are still nearly 1m long and they contrast wonderfully withy the dark green leaves.

We have seen a number of warm growing Coelogynes in the forests of Sarawak during our visits and most were growing in shaded spots in the lower branches or on the trunks of trees where the large leaves are protected from too much intense equatorial sunshine.