Repotting Neofinetia falcata

[shakkai]

I have read that some Japanese growers de-moss their Neos every winter, lying them flat where they will get high light, cool temps and good air circulation. Treating them this way, they only spend 6 months in sphag during their growing & flowering season when they need the most moisture.

It makes sense to me.

Lucky, I've been looking for that article as well. If all else fails, I'm going to try a botanic garden (Kew) library, where they should have Orchid Digest in their reference collection.

I totally agree with the excessive salts. Neos don't seem to be heavy feeders like some of the Vandas. I feed mine with Green Jungle orchid food almost every watering, and that has worked so far for me.

[MJSK]

Thanks you all again for the advice. I have been careful to let my Neos dry out completely so the sphagnum moss is completely dry. I had been watering every other time with MSU at 1/4 tsp per gallon. The current regime with the KLN, Pro-Tekt & Dynagro was very recent. I never water or mist at night. I will cut back on the fertilizer and see how they do. I do not want to loose anymore.

Luckygrower, I hope you can get a back copy of Orchid Digest somehow as the article is well written with wonderful photographs of the Neo's and repotting.

[Sarsonuk]

I have just bought a baby Neofinetia falcata from Thailand. It can in a very small vanda type basket. Do I need to repot this in Moss like many of you talk about for the more mature plant or can it stay like this for a few years with a daily mist and a weekly soaking.
Also if I was to pot it would the clay ones with the holes be the best with out any moss?
I have never grown one of these orchids and really want it to survive.
Any help appreciated.
Many Thanks
sarsonuk

[nenella]

I have had a Neofinetia Falcata since april last year. I received it mounted on cork & as it was 'out-growing' the cork. so I tied the original mount onto a bigger cork slab.It has doubled in size & I believe I have a start of a spike..time will tell....
It is on cork, with a covering of sphag and I dip it whenever the top of the moss feels crunchy. Can be from 2 to 5 days depending ... I fertilise weekly, weakly. The rest of the time it just gets rain water & lives in a 'confined' space (a big water bottle @ about 60 cms from a net curtain covered, southern facing window)
Hope this helps .Good luck! & keep us posted

[gmaculata]

I am not too far from you in Leominster,. I grow mine under lights and keep them in the house all year. I prefer this method as I CAN CONTROL ALL MOISTURE AND WATERING. I do NOT mist at all and wait for the moss to dry completely unless the plant is in spike or flower and have had no ill effects to the plants. I have nearly 70 Neao's and have been growing them for 5 years now. Good luck and I think a repot is in the near future for your plants. G

[Ranchnanny]

I have 3 Neo's all potted the traditional way but seeing Luckygrowers mounted Neo which looks great gives me ideas. Is the mounting method the same as with other orchids using of course spagum moss and wire???

Sheridan