Help my Neofinetia refuses to bloom
 

Hi Orchid Pals,

I had ordered this Neofinetia falcata from Hausermann about 3 years ago and it still hasnt flowered. Since I got it leaves, 1 fan, and lots of roots. Its repotted in small orchiata bark with little bit of sphagnum moss. I live in the northwest, seattle area so grow this one mostly under grow lights. Fertilize weekly during summer and once in 2 weeks during winter. House temperature is 70F and relatively dry with 40% humidity. Use tap water for watering. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong with this one :(. Pictures are attached.

Temperature seems fine... I wonder if it is too even (for your Oncidiums too) Day-night temperature differential is often a trigger for blooming.

grammar
 

That looks like a hybrid, though I can't quite read the tag from the images.

If you bought it 3 years ago, was it marked as a seedling? If so, it may need another season (not year) for it to bloom. Neos (generally) will bloom in July - August, sometimes in mid-late spring.

If not, the only things I can think of are:

• Over fertilizing.

So far with my neos, they don't like a ton of fertilizer. Many orchids don't need to be fed a lot anyways. Some will want more often, like Arachnis, but Neos aren't a heavy feeder kind of orchid.

If you have a TDS meter, check the PPM of the water + fertilizer mixture you're using. If it's above like...125 PPM, that might be a bit too much nutrients to give it weekly. 75-125 PPM, making sure there's nitrogen, magnesium and calcium in the fertilizer, is generally what you would give a lot of non-heavy feeding orchids weekly.

Neos also don't like fertilizer in during the colder seasons, and not as much water either.

• Lack of temp change

I can't remember if Neo specifically need it, but in nature they do experience some temperature drops come fall and winter. If they experience 70F all year around, they might not bloom.


After that, someone more experienced than me might have a better idea.

It looks kinda dark in the pic. Maybe lack of light as well.

Hmm quite possible, how much should be day time temperature differential to trigger blooming?

mine get about a 10 degree swing in day(75f) and night (65f) daily. Then in the winter it runs 60f-55f nights

When I bought it said close to 1-2 years to bloom. Temperature change is also a possibility since its grown indoors where temperature is mostly 70F. If it doesnt like fertilizer during winters that also could be a factor then🤔

---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 AM ----------

I've had similar thought but its grown under grow lights so light shouldn't be an issue unless its having trouble photosynthezing🤔

In addition to the above, my first thought was it's probably just about big enough to flower for the first time, in season. It probably won't make a lot of flowers the first time.

I see

---------- Post added at 10:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

Hopefully es 🤞 its going to bloom next season. I'm really looking forward.

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 AM ----------

Thank you all friends for the suggestions.

you can help neofinetia set buds with a 10-14 day cooling off in the fall, maybe 50-55 F nights, combined with much less water during this time. Or basically none, they can easily withstand some drought. That being said, I don't do this and at least 90% of mine set buds on their own and bloom profusely.

I think day/night temp helps budding and certainly helps tremendously with growth for all orchids, but I was getting good bud set even back in the house with basically zero temp differential. They are not huge light seekers but they do like pretty bright light. much more than a phal (I assume a Hausermanns neo is typical, maybe amami type). Some 'specialty' varieties will hate you and drop their leaves with standard light. Your leaves do look a tad dark.