Help with Neo Falcatas!

[Pelepel]

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying your day. I'm having a problem with a few of my Neos. We had to do an emergency repotting due to some root rot. They were potted in sphagnum moss. They also had some pesky soil mites in there as well (tiny, tiny black dots that love to hang out on their roots. Not spider because they never made webs or were on the leaves).

We trimmed the dead roots and replanted them in some pretty bad sphagnum we later made the mistake of buying. Now those and my paph are covered, absolutely covered in mold. We sprayed them with some neem.

My question is, we are absolutely having the hardest time finding the AAAA New Zealand sphagnum that sells a decent amount and doesn't charge the price of your first born. I'm afraid we are going to lose them quickly if we don't do something fast as shipping takes awhile. Is there something we can pot them in the meantime that is just as good as moss? Does anyone know of a good source to get the better sphagnum? Would it be better to just mount them (obviously not the paph) after having rot? They are like little children.

Any advise from you seasoned orchid lovers will be very much appreciated! I'm not quite sure what to do because I know mold can be quite serious.

Thank you so much!

[WhiteRabbit]

I have a Neo. doing great in a small fir bark mix, they don't have to be potted in sphag. I killed my first Neo, probably by over-watering. I allow the one I have now to dry inbetween waterings. Also, they do like to be drier in winter than while they are growing.

As for high quality sphag, maybe check out ebay - I got some good quality sphag for not too much money.

[nutgirl]

I used LECA as a medium for mine, they did well.

I've since transitioned it to semi-hydroponic but you wouldn't have to.

Maureen

[camille1585]

Neos can be potted in any medium, the sphag mound is just the traditional way. I have no idea what you consider a 'decent' price, but New World Orchids (specialist of Neos) sells 3A, 4A and 5A sphag. 4A sells for $10 per 150g brick. It's very good quality, I got my long strand sphag for my Neos from there.

[Pelepel]

Thanks so much everyone! They are doing well thus far! Found some good sphag and LECA (which are amazing with Neos and sedireas).

I'll post pictures soon, some of my neos are in spike along with my zygo, sharry baby and goblin orchid!

[Paul Mc]

You might also consider checking out RePotme.com. They have a few kinds of sphagum although I don't know how you would rank their pricing in the scheme of things. I have found their products to be extremely good to my taste, and they have extremely fast shipping (usually 3 to 4 days or so for me). They are also extremely helpful if you have a question and email them. I even asked them about the appropriate medium for a few new babies that I had coming and they took the time to research it for me and give me good solutions.