Neofenitia falcata puzzle

[Carpe Diem]

I've had my one and only Neofenitia falcata for about a year now. It had previously bloomed on the oldest fan(at the growers) and never grew for me well, only the youngest fan grew one leaf. A few weeks ago, a new growth appeared. Since the sphag looked yuck to me, I remounted it. Now the 2 oldest fans are growing new leaves, which has me puzzled. I thought once a fan is mature it can/will bloom and there will be no further leaf growth on that fan.
Calling on all of you Neo experts! Can you please straighten me out on this?

[cbuchman]

For a lot of monopedial growers the spikes form in association with the new leaves - typically peaking out from between the leaf axials. I'm not a neo expert, but I believe that this is the pattern for this orchid.

[Carpe Diem]

Thanks for the info! If I understood you correctly, I should/could get spikes in the near future, or do the leaves have to be mature before it will spike?

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

Thanks for the info! If I understood you correctly, I should/could get spikes in the near future, or do the leaves have to be mature before it will spike?

I don't think it's that simple. Light and temp requirements must be met too. Typically, a temp change is need to initiate spiked. Again, I'm not a Neo expert!

[Carpe Diem]

You are right, it's not that simple. Nothing is simple with orchids, at least not for me. *sigh* I will keep my fingers crossed that I can manage all the right conditions and get some flowers.

[AnonYMouse]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

I thought once a fan is mature it can/will bloom and there will be no further leaf growth on that fan.
Calling on all of you Neo experts! Can you please straighten me out on this?

You have your answer from the plant itself!

As for flowering, I have a bean leaf and a hybrid that should have flowered by now (4-5-6 leaves on a fan is mature enough). They haven't done anything, as a matter of fact. Same conditions as others.

I gave up on an Amami for the year when it surprised me. I'm pretty diligent about inspecting plants but I swear there wasn't any peeping spike until it was over an inch long.

Sorry, can't help with leave/spike relations since I've not paid attention. Yours still has time left for the season.

[Carpe Diem]

AnonYMouse, yes, the plant answered my question, but neglected to tell me if that is normal, good or bad. I'm still a Newbie and not well versed in Orchid Speak. Happy to hear there is still a chance for a spike this summer. When yours blooms, please post pics.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The orchid will normally produce a spike between the leaf axils of mature or near mature leaves, not between the leaf axils of newly emerging leaves.

Mine have spiked, and are about to bloom very soon.

[WhiteRabbit]

Neos are monopodial - new growth comes from the crown, like other Vandas, Phals - as opposed to sympodial like Catts, Dens, Onc. which grow outwards on a rhizome. The fans keep growing, and can bloom every year. New fans may not appear every year.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

New growth on a Neo can occur at the base or between leaf axils. The new growths don't have to be on fans that have stopped growing completely. New fans that will continue to grow for a few years can grow new fans, but they have to get to a certain size to do so.