Senzai with black marks under the leaves

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

...Just be careful of your watering practices. Only water in the morning, preferably on sunny days.

Originally Posted by K-Sci

...Misting and watering only early in the day is always good advice....

I'd like to mention that this idea that neos should only ever be watered in the morning or during the day, as well as the assertion that they should not be top watered to avoid crown rot is rather misguided.

When it comes to neos, if getting water between the leaves causes an infection or rot, the problem is rarely the watering habits or timing and almost always inadequate air circulation.

Pretty much all Japanese and Korean growers water their plants by spraying them from above and most of them prefer to do so during the early hours of the evening or at night.

The preference for watering in the evening or at night is because neos use CAM metabolism. Because of this, the extra humidity provided by watering is best utilized by the plant during nighttime hours since that is when the stomata are open and the plant transpires.

If getting water between the leaves causes rot or an infection, you need to first make sure you have enough air circulation. Sufficient ventilation is considered one of the absolute basic requirements for neos by Japanese and Korean growers, and most growers have fans going near their plants 24/7.

[Seri]

Originally Posted by Hakumin

I'd like to mention that this idea that neos should only ever be watered in the morning or during the day, as well as the assertion that they should not be top watered to avoid crown rot is rather misguided.

When it comes to neos, if getting water between the leaves causes an infection or rot, the problem is rarely the watering habits or timing and almost always inadequate air circulation.

Pretty much all Japanese and Korean growers water their plants by spraying them from above and most of them prefer to do so during the early hours of the evening or at night.

I admit i water my plants in the evening because i leave for work at 6:30 in the morning. But if you don't have a fan installed and unsure about your ventilation and humidity, aboiding water on leaves is a good advice. I am in the process of buying 2 plants from Japan and i asked the grower about his watering habits and this is what he wrote me:
"I think you need to grow under 50% full sun at least. And also you must make good air movement. Watering depends on the humidity. I'm always trying to touch the medium and feel dry surface and a little moist inside is the time to water from spring to fall. In winter if you have temperature 10 centigrade minimum, you can water same as other season. If your minimum temperature is under 5 degree centigrade they are resting so give very little water once a week."
He grows in spagnum and waters before it's dry on the inside so i guess it's not water that the main factor for rot.
The black spots on my neo haven't evolved so i gues whatever they are, the plant is handling it.

[Shoreguy]

I know I am not growing my orchids and particularly neos under optimum conditions with no air circulation (no fans or even open windows) and far from optimum temperatures especially winter nights, but under my conditions it is best to water in the morning, especially on sunny days to avoid fungal problems.

My plants do quite well although not grown as they should. The only plants I've lost are those that I have discarded do to non flowering after many years or I just became disenchanted with them.

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Seri

...But if you don't have a fan installed and unsure about your ventilation and humidity, aboiding water on leaves is a good advice....

For neos, having a fan installed or otherwise ensuring abundant air circulation not really an option but almost a necessity. Even when rot isn't a factor, they just grow so much better with it, and certain characteristics don't show up reliably without it.

Originally Posted by Seri

...The black spots on my neo haven't evolved so i gues whatever they are, the plant is handling it.

I apologize. I wasn't implying that the black spots in your plant in the original post was caused by watering habits or ventilation. I was commenting strictly on the advice about watering during the day.

[Seri]

Originally Posted by Hakumin

I apologize. I wasn't implying that the black spots in your plant in the original post was caused by watering habits or ventilation. I was commenting strictly on the advice about watering during the day.

It's fine. My plant had those spots from the vendor. I had opened this topic because of my lack of experience with neos in hope to identify the problem before it became serious. Even if i sprayed the plant with all kinds of hormones and other growth stimulationg substances almost daily for 2 weeks (i stopped doing that) those black spots remained the same for almost a month now.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Seri

It's fine. My plant had those spots from the vendor. I had opened this topic because of my lack of experience with neos in hope to identify the problem before it became serious. Even if i sprayed the plant with all kinds of hormones and other growth stimulationg substances almost daily for 2 weeks (i stopped doing that) those black spots remained the same for almost a month now.

I just took delivery of a Neofinetia I purchased at auction last weekend with big black blotches on the lower leaves (photo). Plants sold by importers often have spots and damage of various sorts. Apparently a lot of damage and disease occurs during the import process from handling and shipping. If it is only on the old growth and doesn't increase, it doesn't concern me. In your case it isn't easy to tell, so I see why you inquired.

For what it's worth, I often spray during the day, and even in the evening. The difference is I control the environment and don't permit the conditions that lead to disease. My advice to an inexperienced collector is not to do what I do. At this point, it doesn't appear that you are inexperienced, and got more advice than was needed. Sorry 'bout that.
-Keith