Mature Size of a Coel. cristata?

[Brooke]

I have a small cristata I have resurrected from death's doorstep and would like to know the size potential of this plant. It grows in a straight line and I am trying to decide on the future home for this species.

Mount? Net pot? Shallow basket?

Needless to say, I want a rather permanent type solution so it can grow undisturbed for a long time. Pictures would be much appreciated.

Brooke

[JLu]

A small to moderate size plant. Six to 12 inches tall.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Brooke

I have a small cristata I have resurrected from death's doorstep and would like to know the size potential of this plant.

Hi Brooke, JLu has given you the typical size of a single growth when mature. Coel cristata can, as most of our commonly grown orchids, be grown into large specemin size plants with many growths. Here is a pic of a trophy Coel cristata at the 2008 Japan Grand Prix Orchid Festival. I estimate, based on the size of the ribbon, that this plant is 6-8 feet across. Of course, it would probably take decades of care to get this large.

Originally Posted by Brooke

It grows in a straight line and I am trying to decide on the future home for this species.

Mount? Net pot? Shallow basket?

I have 3 Coel cristata. 2 "larger" ones in the range of probably 60 pseudobulbs and one smaller one with about a dozen pseudobulbs. The larger ones are potted in hanging pots, one quite shallow like a bulb pan, the other a normal hanging pot, both plastic. The shallow pot, the one that looks more like a bulb pan dries out really fast. Too fast for my taste. I have a hard time preventing the pseudobulbs from wrinkling in summer. The deeper pot works fine. The small plant I just have in a normal plastic pot. Either later this year, or more likely next spring I want to transfer this to a tree fern pot.

Coel cristata is a very rambling species. Mine are coming out of their pots all over the place.

Here is a pic of one of my larger cristatas in flower in 07. It is in approx a 12-inch hanging pot.

[lmartiny]

That sure is a pretty orchid. That one is hugh!!

[FLBob]

Brooke it looks like you have a specimen in the making.

[Ron]

Hi Brooke.
I had one once, it was in a 2 inch tube and about 5 year later it was in a hanging basket about 12 inches across.
A friend grows them and his average size pot / basket would be 2 to 3 feet.
Just grow it to the size you feel comfortable with and then break it up every few years into pots that you can manage.
Makes a lovely display when in flower hung up at eye level.
Cheerio
Ron

[Brooke]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely eliminate the mount idea and try to decide on which type basket I want to use. I love the idea of a tree fern pot and will give that strong consideration. I just received a shipment of supplies, wish I had asked last week before I placed the order but I'm sure I can think of something else I must have :>)

Kevin your plant and the BIG specimen plant are gorgeous. I'll give a little pep talk to mine!

Brooke

[JLu]

Jerry said....no I think is was Kevin...I don't remember, it was one of them.

...."JLu has given you the typical size of a single growth when mature. Coel cristata can, as most of our commonly grown orchids, be grown into large specemin size plants with many growths. Here is a pic of a trophy Coel cristata at the 2008 Japan Grand Prix Orchid Festival. I estimate, based on the size of the ribbon, that this plant is 6-8 feet across. Of course, it would probably take decades of care to get this large...."

I would ask, How big is Bermuda Grass? I think the answer is about 3-4 inches tall and as big as the Roundup boundary.

If we assume that someone is growing the plant for its horticultural value and not some diabolical experiment to determine how many times you can cut the foliage off before killing it, then in the case of a rhizomic growth pattern it's impossible to say how large the plant is horizontally. The height will be some complex mixture of the plant's genetic potential and the cultural conditions allowing it to reach its potential. The horizontal size will be determined by the boundaries of acceptable cultural conditions or more likely the placement of the growers razor blade. If one could supply appropriate conditions, the plant could conceivably be infinitely large.

So I guess I left out part of the answer thinking that I did not need to be so precise. I amend the answer. The plant is 6-8 inches tall and covers any area that you choose.