hi to everyone from New Zealand

[Ross]

Welcome to the board. I am sure that you will end up increasing your collection if you aren't careful. But then, that's what this is all about.

[bazza]

thanks for the welcome. Really like the idea of orchids along the fence so am adapting the concept to suit our climate probably with polystyrene infil panels behind the trellis and some removable poly panels for the sides and front which I can install for the winter.

Can anyone give me some pointers on growing Neofinetia falcata. Yep could not help myself , it became available and of course I just couldn't say no.

[shakkai]

Baz, You should have no problems growing Neos in NZ. They are well suited a wide variety of climates, and if you are successfully growing Masdies, your Neo will love it!

The only thing to keep in mind is that they really, really like air around their roots (they are related to Vandas after all!). They are traditionally grown in NZ Sphag, so you have an advantage there too!

There is loads of information in the threads of our newest section of Orchid Board - all about Neofinetia and its hybrids. Have a browse through the info there: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ce-neofinetia/

And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!!

Enjoy your Neo! And remember, its no good having just one!!

[bazza]

Originally Posted by shakkai

Baz, You should have no problems growing Neos in NZ. They are well suited a wide variety of climates, and if you are successfully growing Masdies, your Neo will love it!

The only thing to keep in mind is that they really, really like air around their roots (they are related to Vandas after all!). They are traditionally grown in NZ Sphag, so you have an advantage there too!

There is loads of information in the threads of our newest section of Orchid Board - all about Neofinetia and its hybrids. Have a browse through the info there: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ce-neofinetia/

And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!!

Enjoy your Neo! And remember, its no good having just one!!

thanks for that, will certainly be looking at that. Your mention of the NZ Sphag got me thinking- I note in different threads comments of how Sphag breaks down so quickly. I keep my Masdavellias in Sphag and don't have that problem, but on reflection wonder if it is because in my case I use live Sphag rather than dead and furthur to that I have little problems with fungus- which I attribute to the natural anti fungal and bacterial properties of live Sphag-food for thought

[shakkai]

I think your observations are probably correct. There are probably a lot of reasons why Sphag breaks down quickly and doesn't work for some growers. In my case, I try to use live Sphag if I can - you are right, it is much, much easier to maintain a good environment around the roots with it. I also think that Sphag works better for me than for some because I fertilise at much, much lower concentrations than a lot of people do. Partly that is because I started growing orchids with Masdies, and they are not heavy feeders and are in some cases quite sensitive to fertiliser salts. That habit has stuck even after branching out into other types of orchids.

In a nutshell, Sphag works really, really well for me. Its easy, clean, and the plants seem to really like getting their roots into it.

It is good to hear from someone else that it works for. Too many times, I think, Sphag gets really bad press.