Neostylis Pinkie 'Starry Night' specifications

[Kevinator]

Hi everyone. I currently have a Neostylis Pinkie 'Starry Night'. I want to ask is there anything special about this orchid that I need to know to care for it? Also, when would this plant flower? I had this plant for two years without any sign of flowers.

This is a picture of the plant compared with my hand. Sorry for the darkness, I couldn't get a good shot .

[dope.fatboy]

The number one thing that I would try to get a plant to bloom if it is otherwise healthy is increase the amount of light that it gets.

[cbuchman]

Neostylys is related to Neofinetia so I suspect that the culture is much the same. There is a large write up in the last issue of Orchids (from the American Orchid Society) on this clan of orchids. To summarize the article's culture requirements for Neofinetia:

Light: Medium light levels (1,500 - 3,000 foot-candles) - similar to Cattleya requirements. Higher light in winter mimics their native environment. Indoors with each, south or west exposure with some shading from direct sun.

Temp: 10-20 degrees nighttime differential. Tolerant of wide range of temps. Like below 70F. Nighttime Temps to 40F

Humidity: Ideally 40% - 70%

Water/Fertilizer: Hard water will leave spots on leaves. Use rain water (or RO) if possible. Dry out between watering. Lots of water in spring/summer while in active growth; reduce watering in cooler months. Use well balanced fertilizer during active growth

Medium/Pots: medium can range from coarse bark to sphagnum. Can be grown mounted (with more watering, of course). Ensure good drainage. Add extra holes to pot if needed.

Repot: every 2 years of sooner if needed. Roots will grow outside the pot.

I have Neofinetis and Darwinara (another Neofinetis hybrid) and grow in teak baskets as well as clay pots.

[WhiteRabbit]

I believe these need a fair amount of light to bloom.

[cbuchman]

Yes, lots of light has been my experience too. My Darwinara has bloomed annually (it is in bud now) and I finally realized that I need to provide the same high light to its relatives to have equal success. I read somewhere. that they can take full sun in early morning & late afternoon, just not at mid-day.

[Kevinator]

Hello peoplez

This is an old thread but I will want to ask another question. Now the little guy has a flower spike and it's growing VERY slowly. Unfortunately though, when it started the spike, the bottom leaves started yellowing, wrinkling, and falling off! I repotted it in sphagnum and fine fir bark today and saw no problems with the roots. Its been three weeks since the yellowing started and is coming almost up to the flower stalk!

[Pilot]

Slowly increase light until you begin seeing a purple tinge or even spots on the leaves...that means you're reaching the max amount of light a plant can handle and these guys do enjoy a lot of light. Mine lives under a t5 lamp, maybe 8 inches beneath it and bears dark purple color on the leaf ends. It blooms several times a year.

[cbuchman]

Mine is in spike too and it is growing very slowing. I don't grow in the traditional sphag ball, but rather this one is mounted on gorilla hair on cord and my others are mounted in teak baskets. Are your roots OK? I've always wondered if the spag ball would provide too much moisture.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

Mine is in spike too and it is growing very slowing. I don't grow in the traditional sphag ball, but rather this one is mounted on gorilla hair on cord and my others are mounted in teak baskets. Are your roots OK? I've always wondered if the spag ball would provide too much moisture.

I've grown these in sh before so its whatever the roots acclimate to... Neostylis really don't bare much resemblance to Neofinetia in terms of culture. I have found mine don't need a cool period and enjoy most types of growing conditions so long as its not too dry. Kept moist, they do very well.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Kevinator

Hello peoplez

This is an old thread but I will want to ask another question. Now the little guy has a flower spike and it's growing VERY slowly. Unfortunately though, when it started the spike, the bottom leaves started yellowing, wrinkling, and falling off! I repotted it in sphagnum and fine fir bark today and saw no problems with the roots. Its been three weeks since the yellowing started and is coming almost up to the flower stalk!

Not at all surprising. Most significant changes in conditions will cause a spike on an orchid, these guys included.