Why is Neofinetia Falcata so expensive?

[Kingianum]

Hi,

We don't see Neofinetia Falcata very often in New Zealand though I think our climate suits her better than other orchids. When there is one showing up for sale, people go crazy for it. There is one on our local bidding site (trademe) at the moment, and it is already at 43 NZ dollars (about 30 US dollars).

How much does it cost you in your part of the world?

[Roberta]

It depends... one can buy seedlings for $15 at some shows... but of course one is not necessarily getting the specific variety one is seeking since some of the characteristics do not reliably reproduce. Or one pay thousands of dollars or even more for a specific prized cultivar. A division of a known plant will certainly cost more than a seed-grown plant that may or may not be the desired variety. One of the OB experts on Neos will have to tell what the record price is... but there are some that are priceless or nearly so.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

People set the prices for whatever it is they prize.

I'd personally just get a regular Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata that does not have a prized cultivar name and grow that. They're cheaper.

I got mine for $25 USD, and it was a no name Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata with several fans. It turned out to have nice flowers with a yellow-green and violet tip on the spur.

[AnonYMouse]

I think SE was selling 3 fan standard Amami types for $15 at POE.

I bet a lot of things are very expensive in NZ. That is the price of island life. Non-native things have to be flown or shipped in. Then there is the effort to protect everything native.

[ArronOB]

It’s all supply and demand isn’t it, but perhaps there’s an opportunity there for you to make some money out of your hobby.

New Zealand has strong quarantine laws but looking Neofinetia up on the NZ MPI database it’s in the ‘basic’ quarantine category for ‘nursery stock’. So it’s probably not too difficult or expensive to import them. You can ring them and find out more.

If it’s coming from Australia then it’s probably easier then any other country. I did once take some raw timber samples in my hand-luggage from NZ to Aus. I just declared it at the airport and after a few minutes deliberation the Ag guys just waved me through. I guess most of the agricultural pests are now shared.

So you buy some flasks, or maybe seedlings, and grow them on for a couple of years, then sell them off.

Flasks, of course, are little pots with dozens of tiny orchids growing together in an agar solution or something similar. Friends of mine bought back orchid flasks in their luggage (declared) from Thailand and were not subject to quarantine.

These people might do a deal
OoN Neofinetia falcata species orchid JQ833 50mm tubes | eBay

Cheers
Arron

Ps. I understand most of the Neos are grown in sphagnum moss. At least you have that covered.

[DVanVorous]

Originally Posted by Kingianum

Hi,

We don't see Neofinetia Falcata very often in New Zealand though I think our climate suits her better than other orchids. When there is one showing up for sale, people go crazy for it. There is one on our local bidding site (trademe) at the moment, and it is already at 43 NZ dollars (about 30 US dollars).

How much does it cost you in your part of the world?

Off the cuff... $35+ USD but thats just 1 place...

Neofinetia falcata at Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

[Subrosa]

I got some a couple years ago from Exotic Orchids of Maui, and they were about $10 each. There's a $100 minimum order, and I don't if they currently have them in stock or of they ship internationally.

[Roberta]

Contact Seed Engei for their current list (website page is "Under Construction" but you can email them or contact them on Facebook.) Since they are located in Japan and do shows in the US and elsewhere, I am sure they ship internationally. They have modestly-priced "vin ordinaire" plants that are very nice, as well as the high-end "connoisseur" Neos for those who specialize in these.