neofineta falcata culture

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by help

i figured out what they wanted!! they wanted mealy bugs !! i called asiatica, and im exchanging for healthy plants on friday. as for the ants, they went down the back "horn" of the flower, so im guess that is how they get polinated.

well, the windows are real close to each other. so you get one, you get the other. so thats what i get. is that ok?

The horn you're referring to is called the "spur".

Glad you got things sorted out and are getting the plants exchanged.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by help

so if i put spagh around the roots lightly in the basket, it should be fine? someone told me to put lava rock around the roots, to keep its in the basket, otherwise wouldnt it fall out?

I personally wouldn't use lava rock. Take some packing peanuts and insert them in between the roots in the center just under the plant creating an air pocket or cavity. Then take sphag and pack it in around the plant in the basket...don't worry trying to pack it lightly. I don't think lightly would keep them moist enough. You would be watering them daily at that rate in my opinion, but it also depends on your growing conditions such as heat and humidity. I grow mine in the sphagnum moss mounds with the cavity in the middle (I use packing peanuts in the center to keep it open). With my temps up around 80 degrees and humidity around 60 percent. I water about every other day. I don't let them completely dry out but I don't keep them soggy or moist all the time. Don't get me wrong, I've killed a couple starting out with them...but once you start growing them and learn what they want you'll get the hang of it. Don't be afraid to kill a few...that is how you learn!

[Call_Me_Bob]

im having a hard time trying to figure out how to make the mound and to the peanuts go around the roots?

[mspatt]

My plants are outside and the roots grow so fast that they grow around and through the sides of the basket and stabilize the chid (Note: come repotting time, the roots will not adhere to plastic as much as to wood--if you have a hydroponics store nearby, try net pots). Use the lava rocks if you need/want to, but try to position your neo in its new home, first, and see what you think. Do whatever works for you and your orchids

[Call_Me_Bob]

What if did a spaghnum mound in the wooden basket? Or what do you suggest I do If I don't do it the traditional way? I don't want to be watering every day.

[Becca]

If you do it the traditional way it will have more moss then just a light packing around the roots and you should have to water every day. the packing peanuts go in the center of the roots, you shouldn't have to put the packing peanuts outside of the roots...just in the center. Let me see later if I can find Tracy's link to her video's that shows how to pot using the traditional method.

[Call_Me_Bob]

okay thanks, i saw her thread. but the pic of the peanuts in the roots looked like it was roots in the peanuts.

you just confused me a little. if i do it the traditional way, will i have to water everyday? i know the traditional way is More than just a little bit of spagh

[Becca]

Well I guess if the some of the root system is growing straight down then some of the peanuts would be around the roots and maybe some roots will be over the packing peanuts. Either way would be fine. How often you would have to water will depend on how hot your temps get.

[Call_Me_Bob]

okay it gets low 90s once in a while in the summer. and i think it gets like, well i can control the winter temps. so what should they not go lower than?

[Becca]

Well in the winter if they are dry they can handle some pretty low temps. Here is a link to some growing info that Orchids Limited provides that might be helpful for temps and other growing recommendations. Just remember though, you have to find what works for you and a potting medium that you are comfortable with using.

Oops forgot the link...here it is: http://www.orchidweb.com/OrchidOfWeek.aspx?id=77