First Blooms (just sharing)

[SundayGardener]

So I have had a few NOID phals bloom this year, which was exciting for me because I had never accomplished that before, and phals have been quite the challenge for me during the winter months.

But more exciting is that a Neostylis that I purchased last August or September (not in spike) has spiked and bloomed! And has an ID. It is Neostylis Lou Sneary x christensonia vietnamica, and I like it a lot, because it has multiple growths and has just generally been very rewarding for someone with little experience.

Since I've posted a fair number of orchids not in the best of shape I thought I'd share a few pictures of orchids that have survived my care. Unfortunately at this point the blooms are aging, but I didn't get good pictures when they first opened. And I'm not a photographer, but I did get some black cloth for drama The phal seems to be missing a chunk out of a leaf but overall is doing well. I seem to have a sweet spot of about 18" of window that will trigger bloom in phals. Any phal out of that spot will carry on but won't spike. (exception being a NOID, not in picture, which I think must be mostly equestris because it has thrown multiple keikis and blooms almost nonstop--another very rewarding and unexpected orchid, since it was a NOID and I don't even know where I got it!)

[Dollythehun]

[Mountaineer370]

Congratulations! Isn't it nice to see our hard work and patience rewarded. It's interesting about that sweet spot in your window that you have discovered.

[camille1585]

Congrats on the blooms, they're gorgeous! I love that Phal, and it's a shame it doesn't have a name because I would love one like that! I'll have to keep an eye open for something similar looking.

As to your Neostylis cross, is there any chance that there was a tag mix up? That plant looks like pure Neofinetia falcata to me. I found a few photos online of the cross you give, and they look nothing like this. The plant looks more vanda-like, and the blooms are larger, light yellow, and with rounded petals.

Check out Subrosa's plant: Neostylis Lou Sneary x Christensonia vietnamica

[Mr Cattleya]

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing.

[Leafmite]

Both are very nice! Is your little Vanda fragrant?

[SundayGardener]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Congrats on the blooms, they're gorgeous! I love that Phal, and it's a shame it doesn't have a name because I would love one like that! I'll have to keep an eye open for something similar looking.

As to your Neostylis cross, is there any chance that there was a tag mix up? That plant looks like pure Neofinetia falcata to me. I found a few photos online of the cross you give, and they look nothing like this. The plant looks more vanda-like, and the blooms are larger, light yellow, and with rounded petals.

Check out Subrosa's plant: Neostylis Lou Sneary x Christensonia vietnamica

You are completely correct! I was all prepared to go on about how persnickety I have become about labels, but I went back and pulled up a picture I took when I first got it and sure enough! It is a Neofinitia falcata. The label mistake will be addressed! And this is why I started taking pictures upon purchase when I realized the orchid obsession wasn't going away.

As for the phal, it either came from a local plant nursery (I don't know where their orchids come from), or from an mixed nursery which I believe used to be Chuck Ackers. They have a lot of phals but all NOIDs and then kind of a seasonal rotation of orchids. Or it came from a local grocery cooperative. It amazingly produced a really nice spike with lots of blooms. Blew me away. Most of my other NOIDs did not spike, although I have one in spike right now. I have no idea what to expect from any of them, I did take pictures when they were blooming but now they all kind of look the same.