If you like your plants to be free-range then this Coelogyne might be for you. In the left image of its growth habit you will note that it is growing out of the pot - not the tree-fern mount, but, if grown on the bench with other pots, it will quickly do its cuckoo imitation and put its roots into the nearest pot. Very little of the plant is actually in the pot and there is very little chance of containing it either in a pot or on a mount.

Plants that comprise masses of aerial roots such as this generally need high humidity and plenty of moisture or the roots will dry out and the plant will die back. In nature (in Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Sulawesi) it not only grows on trees but over mossy clumps on the ground. Try to imagine how much moisture/rain it takes to keep these conditions mossy.

The flowers are an attractive green but are so small relatively and sparse that they become insignificant. It brings to mind the saying, 'Only a mother could love it'.

Negatives: You will need a locked gate to restrain this orchid.

Rating: ♦♦

Varieties: Coelogynes rhizomotosa, modesta and vagans are all classified as Coelogyne prasina.

Hybrids: None registered

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