Pictures of My Neo's - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 08-04-2008, 12:33 AM

Well I just wanted to share some pictures of three of my Neo's...I forgot to take pictures of one...but it is the saddest looking of them all due to my issues with watering so nothing will be missed. I got two from NWO and two from ebay...(the one missing pictures on is from NWO). I decided to mount all but one since I wasn't having much luck with them potted in the "traditional" method so now they are on cork slabs....not sure at this point if they are happy or not because some of the roots don't look the best but that is hard to tell in the pictures, but I thought I would still share pictures. I think some one in one of the Neo Project posts (sorry can't remember who

) requested pictures of these after I mounted them and I just never got around to it and felt bad for not responding.....so here they are! Enjoy!

dgenovese1 · #2 08-04-2008, 12:54 AM

Hi Becca,
I like the way you've got them set up. I guess I don't know much about neo culture. I'm going to make a separate post to expand about this.

luckygrower · #3 08-04-2008, 01:00 AM

Nice picture's, I really like the varigated leaf variety.
I grow mine in the traditional way in a well vented pot, which I think helps the moss dry out,as I have a problem with over watering things.
We will see how well I have done next bloom cycle.

susiep · #4 08-04-2008, 01:04 AM

Hello Becca! I like seeing what you have done with your Neos. I bought one in May and still haven't decided what to do with it. I have it in a glass vase but it isn't doing too much. Maybe I should mount it. I just worry about it drying out too fast. Thanks for the pics.

shakkai · #5 08-04-2008, 05:44 AM

Becca, those mounts look great! I wouldn't worry too much about the old roots - you are bound to lose some while it adjusts to being mounted. But if they are growing new roots like that first one - then they must be happy!

Your variegated leaf ones are simply gorgeous!

Grandma M · #6 08-04-2008, 08:08 AM

Becca. They look beautiful mounted. I just love neo's.

I had to take my Sedirea Japonica, which was planted in the traditional Japanese way, out of the spag it came planted in because it was not looking good. I repoted it into a CH mix with a little spag mixed in. It is starting to recover and is putting out a new leaf. I think it had way too much spag around it so it couldn't breath. Mounting gives them more breathing room...except my mounts dry out too fast.

Marilyn

Becca · #7 08-04-2008, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the wonderful comments everyone! My Neo mounts dry out pretty quickly (daily) as well. I try to keep them moist and not let them dry out because if I do, I notice I start having problems with the leaves turning yellow and browning on me and falling off.....I had the same problem when they were potted the traditional style in the black slotted pots they came in, except I think I was over watering them then and I rotted some of the roots and that is why I mounted them. I would be interested in trying the vase method, but I just don't have a lot of room for that at this point, guess I need to find a small vase!

LinhT · #8 08-04-2008, 12:34 PM

Sorry to hear the moss mounds were a pain for you, Becca. You probably already know this, but with the traditional method, there's usually a cavity in the moss. So the roots aren't really "packed" in it, more like lined in several layers of it with a space in the middle. When you removed yours from the pots was there a space in the center of the mound? Also, what's you're humidity in the grow area? Is the outside somewhat crispy when you water? I've been using a watering can with the little holes at the end to water mine. This way, the moss gets wet but not drenched. Perhaps yours will do better on the mounts. Your Rain No Hikari is lookin' good! Lovely variegation! Since it has so much yellow in it, it may grow slower but when it gets bigger, I'm sure you'll love it even more than you do now.

Becca · #9 08-04-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinhT

Sorry to hear the moss mounds were a pain for you, Becca. You probably already know this, but with the traditional method, there's usually a cavity in the moss. So the roots aren't really "packed" in it, more like lined in several layers of it with a space in the middle. When you removed yours from the pots was there a space in the center of the mound? Also, what's you're humidity in the grow area? Is the outside somewhat crispy when you water? I've been using a watering can with the little holes at the end to water mine. This way, the moss gets wet but not drenched. Perhaps yours will do better on the mounts. Your Rain No Hikari is lookin' good! Lovely variegation! Since it has so much yellow in it, it may grow slower but when it gets bigger, I'm sure you'll love it even more than you do now.

Well....the Rain No Hikari I did not purchase from NWO, and I am about 90% positive that there was not a cavity in the center, but I could be wrong! It has been at least a month since I have mounted them and the memory seems to fade quickly sometimes

Now if there is a cavity in the center....should I be able to turn over the one that is still potted the traditional style and see this cavity? If so, there was no cavity with the ones purchased from ebay, and the one remaining potted traditional style I did purchase from NWO and I can't see a cavity. The other one I purchased from NWO....well I rotted the roots pretty well...nothing that has happened is a result from the sellers...just me...lol.

My water habits....well the moss wasn't quite drying out for me...it always felt damp or moist...but I was having problems with some of the new leaves yellowing and turning brown and then falling off....another leaf would grow and the same thing would happen....so I started to keep them more moist and not try and let them dry out in between....and I thought I noticed the roots started rotting....so I didn't know what else to do other then to mount them. My humidity is in between 70% - 90% in the orchidariums....so rarely does moss get the crispy touch to it. Oh....and I was just using a pitcher to pour the water on the moss when it was potted...I tried not to drench it, but it still felt too wet to me....I'll guess I'll get the hang of things one of these days....sorry for the long post!

LinhT · #10 08-04-2008, 02:34 PM

Becca,
If you're growing them in your orchidarium then I'm guessing the temp, RH, and light are pretty constant. I think moss mound + 90% humidity would make me very nervous, LOL. So maybe your decision to mount them is a good one. You may not be able to see the hole or cavity if you turn over the pot because depending on how it was potted, there might be a little bit of moss covering the bottom hole of the pot. Are you able to maintain at least 50% humidity in a room in your house? If you really want to keep that last one growing in the traditional moss mound, maybe you can repot it using some longer strands of moss (at least 6 in) and a water bottle, then keep it on a windowsill, like shakkai. Just a thought

I also have mine on a windowsill with a screen but I use lights in the afternoon and adjust my humidity to maintain 60 - 75%. I haven't been growing neos for years but I've acquired quite a few of these. Since they've cost me an arm, leg and both my ovaries, I've had to learn proper culture for them FAST.