Troubleshooting
Ochre Coelogyne problems — and how to fix them
Ochre Coelogyne (Coelogyne ochracea) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Failure to bloom
Most often caused by skipping the cool, dry winter rest. Temperatures must drop to 8–12°C at night for 6–8 weeks and watering must be significantly reduced to initiate spike development.
Root rot
Overwatering or poor drainage during the rest period causes pseudobulbs to shrivel and roots to blacken. Remove affected roots, dust with cinnamon or sulphur, repot into fresh bark, and allow the medium to dry between waterings.
Scale insects
Brown scale can colonise pseudobulbs and leaf undersides. Remove with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol and follow up with neem oil or horticultural oil spray, repeating every 10 days for three treatments.
Prevent ochre coelogyne problems before they start
Most ochre coelogyne issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Ochre Coelogyne problems — FAQ
Why is my ochre coelogyne failure to bloom?
Most often caused by skipping the cool, dry winter rest. Temperatures must drop to 8–12°C at night for 6–8 weeks and watering must be significantly reduced to initiate spike development.
Why is my ochre coelogyne root rot?
Overwatering or poor drainage during the rest period causes pseudobulbs to shrivel and roots to blacken. Remove affected roots, dust with cinnamon or sulphur, repot into fresh bark, and allow the medium to dry between waterings.
Why is my ochre coelogyne scale insects?
Brown scale can colonise pseudobulbs and leaf undersides. Remove with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol and follow up with neem oil or horticultural oil spray, repeating every 10 days for three treatments.