New to Neos - Potting question

[xFl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I recommend you learn to grow them in a medium to large bark mix. It's a lot easier to keep them that way. When you have an idea of how they grow you can consider the other method.

The biggest problem we see people reporting here is keeping them too moist and cold in the winter. They tolerate being dry for many months just fine. They tolerate being quite cool when very dry. But some people water them during cool weather, and that often kills them quickly.

Thank you! I think I will try with Orchiata or large grade bark - medium and potting methods i'm used to. Seems intimidating to try a moss mount for now..I want to get a feel of what i'm doing with this plant first

---------- Post added at 09:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

I agree with ES, large bark is great. REmember, these are little Vanas, so need to dry out. I use loosely-packed sphagnum in baskets (net pots) - so again, they dry quickly and get lots of air around their roots. The traditional moss mound is tricky, and needs to be re-done every year. Much higher maintenance (and a critical part of that is a hollow pocket in the middle, which you can't see, but without it they will die) So go for "easy" to start out - well-drained, fast-drying medium.

Thank you! This was actually such a useful way to put it - they're little vandas. Makes so much sense.

---------- Post added at 09:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

My one flowering sized plant blooms in May or June near a window that gets several hours of summer morning sun, and more winter sun when its track is below the roof overhang. The rest of the day it's in very bright Arizona shade. Cattleyas near it flower for me.

Do you know what your humidity levels are?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by xFl

Do you know what your humidity levels are?

I don't think humidity is particularly critical as long as they get watered. I know that Peter T. Lin (Diamond Orchids) grows these (VERY well) in an unheated/uncooled shade house in inland southern California where they experience summer temperatures over 100 deg F on quite a few days, hot drying winds that drop the humidity to single digits, and winter nights that can get close to freezing (warming up during the day into the 60's or low 70's F most of the time) In short, these are really tough little orchids!

[estación seca]

My growing area is hot and humid Spring through Fall, 65%-85% relative humidity. In winter it's about 40%-60%. I water my Neos through the year because winter days in my sunroom are usually quite warm, and nights cool. If it were a lot cooler in daytime in winter I wouldn't water much at all.

[BraggPeak]

what is the everyone's watering frequency using the barks? I followed the receipt from Orchidweb which is roughly 1/3 orchiata classic bark, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 charcoal. But I found the roots dry out in just a few days most of the time, need to water them twice a week.

[Roberta]

In hot, dry weather, my Neos get watered pretty much every day, or every other day. In winter they can (and should be) much drier. Remember, these are little Vandas... they need air around their roots which causes them to dry out, but also need frequent watering especially when they are actively growing. You wouldn't water a big Vanda only once a week (at least not if you wanted to keep it alive), same for a little one.

[BraggPeak]

Originally Posted by Roberta

In hot, dry weather, my Neos get watered pretty much every day, or every other day. In winter they can (and should be) much drier. Remember, these are little Vandas... they need air around their roots which causes them to dry out, but also need frequent watering especially when they are actively growing. You wouldn't water a big Vanda only once a week (at least not if you wanted to keep it alive), same for a little one.

Thx, that certainly gives me some relief and less worried about whether I am over-watering them. I was more used to watering once a week for phals potted with bark and moss.

[Toadwally]

I know this post is a few months old but great responses. A Vanda, so wet-dry-wet-dry.

[estación seca]

I would add don't learn on an expensive, rare variety. Buy a cheaper, plain green plant. They usually flower more and are beautiful in their own right.