Neo in poor condition
 

I have had my neo for about 2 months or so. last month i repotted it because it was in a pot, not potted high, and did not have any air slits. So, I corrected the problem. now, the leaves are falling off. I know this is winter, so i have watered less. Now the roots are shriveled and the new growths have fallen off like a crown rot- Is this crown rot and root rot?

as always, pics help so here she is. if anyone can help, please do. I have never had a neo before and I kept it moist, but this is what happened. I watered every other day, I have stopped watering as much now that its winter.

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...chid/001-1.jpg

I am of no help, I am interested to hear the others replies. I have had a similar problem....the new leaves turn yellow and then brown and fall off and I lost a few old leaves as well....new roots soon start to look dehydrated and shrivel and die....now she is at Tracy's Neo Hospital and I am hoping for the best!

Well, looks like too wet, but I am no expert. I have been moving mine to bark (except the one I have on a mount):

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lcata_2675.jpg

This one needs to have portrait updated :)

neo
 

hi this is shell

not sure if this will help, but I have had my neofinetia for two months as well. it is potted Japanese style (planted in moss and elevated in a shallow bonsai pot) and I have been told to never let the roots dry out, I also have a fan blowing on it 24/7 to keep it cool and mist it in the morning or early afternoon so that the leaves and crown are dry by the evening.

This is just me, but I have never had success with this method - not referring to Neos (I just started with these) but with sphagnum. As I stated I have one mounted and it does well. I just transferred one to bark from the "traditional Japanese style" and so far it is happy. I plan to move my others soon to bark as well.

I have tried the Japanese method as well, I thought I was supposed to not let them dry out as was when I first got them, but then I rotted a majority of the roots! So I then mounted the one's I was having problems with. I have one left in the traditional japanese method and it is doing well, one mounted and it is doing ok, one died after I mounted it and rotted a lot of roots off, and one I mounted and then switched back to the potted method to try and save it. I really think it just depends on your growing culture/conditions.

My Neos are potted with the traditional sphag mound, and I nearly rotted their roots off as well. I was keeping them moist, like I had heard they liked it. I unraveled all the sphag, let the roots and sphag dry, and remounded them. Now I never dunk them and go easy on the water. They get misted twice a day (they dry out between mistings) to keep the outer layer of the mound moist, and once a week I pour a little water on it to get the center moss wet. Now the roots are better, and the plants are happy and growing well.

Addictedcountryman, I don't know if your neo is salvageable, since I don't know how well they regrow roots. You could always clean it up, treat it, give it some kln and go the sphag n bag route.

Hi, I am not the neo expert too, but I repotted few neos either in pots or mounted them on ferns few weeks ago, so far they are fine expect two of them had an old outer leaf dropped. It is probably caused the shock of repotting.

Your neo looks like rotted to me. If I were you, I would clean up all the dead roots and leaves, rinse it and then soak it in the diluted Physan 20 (or any fungicide) solution for around 15 mintues. Let it dry (may overnight) and repot it to the fresh pot and media.

I believe that the neos shouldn't be too wet. That is it is called wind orchid.

i had just rinsed the sphagnum off... i will try to clean it up and repot (bark perhaps) or mount it.

thanks for everyone's advice.

I have mine in traditional Japanese way, Sphag mound, with most of the roots out of the mound. I water once a week and spray the roots once a day and it seems to be working as I see new roots coming out on one of them. It's hard to avoid the water getting into the plant itself when I spray them but it does not seem to bother them.

Sorry to hear you're having trouble with it. I don't think I can be of much help because all of my neos are grown in the traditional Japanese moss mound with the cavity potted in the Japanese slitted pots. I've had some of them for almost 6 months, some 5 months, some 4 etc.

Just curious as to why you were watering every other day? Are you growing in very low humidity and high temps? Usually in the moss mound, even when the outside feels dry, the inside is still pretty moist.

If the NEW growth and leaves are turning brown then it's probably stressed and may take a LONG time to recover. If it's just the roots going and you still have a few good roots remaining, I think you'd have a better chance if kept under lower light for the time being. Lower light meaning around 1000 fc measured on the leaves under T5's. Hope she gets better, good luck!

Yes, I live in Tucson- 100 degree 16 percent humidity on a good day. thanks- i am in it for the long haul so i'll keep my fingers crossed. thanks for the tips!!!

I use a modified Japanese method. I do not make an air pocket in the moss. I grow them under fluorescent tubes with a oscillating fan nearby. I do not water until the moss is crunchy. They get a dunk for a few minutes in a rainwater light fertilizer solution. I think that it is important to water appropriately no matter what medium you plant in. Mounting is fine if you have the time to mist your plants at every day or twice a day. :twocents: Back to your problem, I think that the only way to save it is rather radical surgery:_(

1. Remove the stem and all but the top two leaves ( as they appear to be the only ones with out signs of rot)
2. Dunk in a liquid fungicide for 10 minutes
3. Dust with Sulfer or charcoal or cinnamon
4. Let dry for one day
5. Pot in small amount of Sphagnum
6. Place a baggie over the pot and cut off one corner
7. Mist when dry with a liquid fungicide
8. Place in lower light out of direct sun:crossfing

Wow after reading all the post regarding neo's I am concerned with my 3 neo's. All are potted in the mounded moss method and all are in the orchidarium. I have been regulating the temp during the day and leaving the vent & door open a bit at nigh to get the temp down. I spray them in the mornings that's it. So far they seem to be doing ok.....

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Sheridan

Addictedcountryman: I am so sorry you're having a rough go of it.

I live in a very dry climate too. I think you might be overwatering to make up for the humidity being too low and the temps too hot.

I have to grow ALL my orchids inside an orchidarium. . .controlled temps, humidity and air circulation.

The humidity really needs to be at a miniumum 60% all the time. I've noticed that my Neos. start looking stressed when the temps go over 80 degrees.

If this were my little sickie. . .

I'd only use RO water. . .Adding to it a capful of KLN rooting hormone per gallon. Soak the bare root plant for five-ten minutes.

Transplant into a small pot with charcoal on the bottom, bark chips carefully tucked in and around the roots. And top with sphagnum moss.

Lower the light, to Phal light around 1,000 fc.

I think you've got to get a cool mist humidifer and/or keep the Neo in an enclosed, controllable space. . .and Exo-Tank terrarium is a good solution. Being sure to add a LOT of air circulation.

These really really seem to need consistent conditions and great air movement.

My Neos. get watered twice a week and misted as needed.

Good Luck! We're happy to help. . .let us know how it's going.

thanks!!!!!

Hi! I am not sure if you have performed the surgery as recommended by others yet, but I would like to mention that in regards to the recommendation to cut the stem and and all but the upper two leaves ...I am not a neo expert, but the lower leaves don't' look like they are in trouble yet. I think some neo's normally have the dark color on the tsuke, although I do see that the dark color on your tsuke's isn't consistent so I could be way off on this one. Maybe I should just be sticking my foot in mouth right now!

I don't know how much more I can add except a little incouragement, and don't water so much.
I grow mine in similar conditions but not as hot, 85-90 degrees 15% humidity but I only water when the moss is crunchy, with RO water. I give them lots of air movement with two ceiling fans running 24/7. they are on a table next to a west facing window.