my faithful big Neofinetia
 

I have this plant since 2008, in semi-hydroponic culture, and it blooms every year, one spike on each fan, 5 fans.
It has not produced any new fan since I have it, maybe it is semi-hydro culture the problem, I don't know? But each fan grows an average of 2 leaves per year, and the bloom is always very nice and fragrant :biggrin:
Only this year, the spurs are short and straight, weird, as each year prior they were long and very curvy?! Maybe it is the seaweed extract I used (the first time I use this to promote root growth because the plant lost quite a bit of roots during the winter). I got a ton of root growth on the plants I sprayed with seaweed extract (2.5ml/l concentration)
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7...2b990e01_z.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/7...fc7b69de_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7...edb6072a_z.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/7...5397da08_z.jpg

Beautiful, so many spikes!! :drool: Those short spurs are quite elegant though. Great looking plant as well, it seems happy in S/H. But as you say, it's a bit strange that it has not put out any new growths. I can't imagine it being an S/H related issue though...

That is just gorgeous. I keep trying with neos, but haven't got them figured out yet.

Absolutely beautiful!

Beautiful plant! That is weird about the spurs and strange that it has not grown any new fans. Does this one lose bottom leaves often?

Your photos are always very true to color. What's the trick to photographing outdoors? Do have a really fancy camera??

Beautiful!

Beautiful as always!

I noticed my wild type and Amami island in S/H are also a little shy with the new growths compared to a mount and in moss. This year, I'm bumping the ferts up to 200 ppm N for these two to see if it makes a difference.

You inspired me to try these two in S/H again and they're doing beautifully except for the slower growth.

Cheers.
Jim

Magnificent display of blooms ! You have a happy healthy plant. I think there is a slight winter rest for these plants...not a total withrawal of water and fertilizer but if you water it every week then it has to be every other week from December 15th to Febriary 15th then continue with regular watering in the warmer months(this rest doesnt happen in S/H=they have a perpetual summer)....try to put it outdoors for a short time in sring/summer and it goes back indoors in the fall...(I just mimic the southern part of Japan weather cycle in following my culture of these plants)

Beautiful!

Very Nice looking plant! :drool:

Thank you all for the comments!
Jim, mine gets around 125ppm N so it could be a reason. I should try a bit more...
Bud, don't be mistaken by the S/H method, I DO give it a big rest in winter, dry out the pot completely, no fert. and just spray occasionally, plus it stay on a windowsill with opened window so it get cold temps for a few months! This is why it blooms reliably each year I think.

No it doesn't loose leaves very often at the base...
I have an old DSLR (Eos 20D + 100mm macro), one of tricks to get good color is to be careful of the white balance. (you can do that also on most point&shoot camera). When I shoot indoors I use fluorescent white balance because of my T5 lights, when outdoord, it depends on the light. These were taken on a cloudy day, so a warmer white balance (clouds) was necessary.

Aah, I see. Not sure what all that means but I'll check my camera and try to figure it out, thanks!

What camera do you have? Maybe I can help?
Usually you have a menu for white balance. It has various presets, for usual situations : sunny, cloudy, shade, flash light, fluorescent, user set. You just have to choose the white balance that matches the conditions at the time you take the picture...

I have a Fujifilm Finepix JZ250. I found something for white balance in the settings but it is greyed out. Does not allow me to access it. I'm so technologically challenged....

You have to be on P mode (program AE) to be able to change white balance

The white balance settings are on page 55 of you manual ( you can download it online on Fuji website, specifically here)

Oh, got it! You are the best, s.kallima!

I usually apply ferts at 125 ppm N as well. After reading an article on how phalaenopsis should be fertilised at 200 ppm N, I'm testing to see if it induces additional fans on my S/H Neos.

Cheers.
Jim

Beautiful display and great photos !
Cheers,
Tim

Thank you Tim