Coelia bella

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<em>Coelia</em> <em>bella</em> Valeria Valkova

Synonyms

Bothriochilus bellus

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A medium-sized, evergreen orchid up to 70 cm tall. The plant produces a clump of round, egg-shaped, green pseudobulbs (storage organs for water and nutrients). Each mature pseudobulb is approximately 5cm tall and carries three to five, lance-shaped, bright-green, glossy leaves. The leaves are 30-60 cm long and 2-4 cm wide and last on the plant for couple of years. Short flowering stems up to 15cm long emerge from the base of plant in winter and carry up to 6 trumpet-shaped, scented flowers. Each flower measures 5-7cm across and has a pleasant, sweet scent resembling marzipan. The flowers are white with pink or purple tips and yellow lip

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open, free-draining, bark-based orchid mix. Provide enough bright filtered light, but keep away from direct sunlight or a heating source. Ideal temperatures are around 13 °C minimum at night and up to maximum 24 °C during the day. Water with soft water (ideally rainwater) when the pot feels light when lifted. Ensure that all water drains away, preventing the plant from sitting wet. Orchid fertiliser can be applied regularly throughout the growing season. Reduce watering and feeding in winter months. The orchid will naturally produce rhizomes with aerial roots growing outside the pot. As with many orchids, they grow best when well-established and slightly pot-bound. Re-potting should be only done if the plant overgrows its container or before the potting mix starts to deteriorate - approximately once in 2-3 years. See indoor orchid cultivation for more tips.

Propagation

Propagation by seed is only possible in a controlled laboratory environment. Well-estastiblished plants can be propagated by division. Ensure each division has young enough, mature pseudobulbs to support new growth. See indoor orchid cultivation for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required other than removing spent flower stems

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insect, aphids and mealybugs. Thrips can cause damage on flowers and developing flower buds

Diseases

Generally disease-free. Poor air movement may cause bacterial or fungal rots. Good hygiene practice and sterilising cutting tools prevent the spread of virus diseases