Why do you grow Neofinetia falcata?

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by LinhT

Oh right....I DO remember seeing this one on Tabbie's. I keep telling myself I need to leave a note on Tabbie's blog to ask her come on over and join us on OB!!!

Already invited her. As always, the more the merrier.

Originally Posted by LinhT

You really LOVE those pinks, Jim!

Yup! Those yellows are pretty darn nice too, but we got to start somewhere. And as with others, Tabbie's got some I would sell my kids for if I had any.

Cheers.
Jim

[camille1585]

Who is Tabbie? She sounds like a Neo freak like the rest of us. I would love to read the blog you are talking about!

[gmdiaz]

You know I am trying to think back. . .and I may have some of this wrong. . .hopefully Shannan will correct my memory on this. We got into this together at the same time! LOL

I had bought a standard Neo from Oak Hill Garden, eventually mounting it and keeping it in my Exo Tank. It did really well, put out new roots but didn't bloom.

Ross was posting photos of his beautiful moss covered orchid mounts about this time and I started to get all interested in the moss mound potting style that I had seen on the web.

About this time I was doing web searches for miniature orchids and pots and found Erin Pottery and New World Orchids.

I remember sending Shannan the link to Erin Pottery and telling her that he ships to the US, so I was going to buy a couple. And she raced over there and bought some before me! ROFLOLOL

So we were laughing about that and talking about Neofinetias at the same time. Doing searches for Neofinetias, I found out that Glenn's name kept coming up. Everyone all over the world, talked about his orchids. Sooooo. . . .I started scouring the lists of his orchids at his website.

Becca has just bought a couple of really expensive Neos online and I LOVED them.

In March 2008, I emailed Glenn and asked him to help me pick out two for my first ones!

I ended up getting: Shojou and Kinrokaku. . .both plants with shipping was $100. That was a shocking lot of moola for me, new to growing orchids, to spend on PLANTS!

Shannan was trying to figure out which ones she wanted to order first! She couldn't find any available in Europe so she wanted to order from Glenn.

This was while Sue was in the middle of figuring out which project plants would win. . .don't remember which project we were working on. And I was trying to swing the vote towards Neofinetia! Cause I wanted one. LOL So I emailed Glenn to ask if he might have enough for a group project if the Neo were to win. We were going to need 25-30 and started worrying that he might not have enough of a single type and it might be too expensive for us.

THEN Shannan said what if we were to have a mini Neo Project! Then we could all order whatever plants we wanted. We wouldn't need so many that way. And that lead to. . .Well, maybe he'd offer us a discount if we could commit to buying a bunch as a group.

At the same time, I'd been wanting to have a display/presentation project. Shannan said, HEY! Maybe we could combine both ideas, the Neofinetia mini project but focus on potting and display. THAT lead back to our buddy Vic at Erin Pottery. I emailed Vic and asked if he was interested in being lead potter on the project! He too offered us a discount and away we went.

We started the Neo project and all got to order the ones we wanted. Shannan ordered hers but had to wait to get them during the Summer when Glenn went to England. She was suffering mightily, as I recall, because we were all receiving ours. So bought a bunch of pots instead from Vic. LOL

I. . .along with the rest of you Neofites. . .have been nuts for these Neos ever since! We started talking about raku and drooled over some pots Shannan made. . .we had a ball figuring out how the project should be handled.

So WHY do I love Neofinetias? Let me count the ways! LOL

I love them because they are so small, because the blooms are amazing. And because they come in such amazing varieties, hues, leaf forms and can be displayed so beautifully! Potted or mounted.

I love them because I love the way the Japanese have seen them and cherished them throughout history. . .it matches my own approach to growing orchids.

I love them because they smell so great!

I love them because I have so many happy memories of growing these with all of you. And for all the friendships I've made with Glenn and Vic!

Which is my favorite in my collection!

OMG! Are you aware that this is a very difficult question for me? LOL I guess I would have to pick my Shutteno! It was the first one that I flowered all on my very own. And it's so pretty in its Vic pot.

No holds barred. . .which one do I really really really want, even though I'll never be able to afford it?

I really want a variegated mini bean leaf and I really want that Neof. of Jasen's with the three spurs.

[LinhT]

Oh Gweniran, I always love your stories!!

Reading your posts always makes me smile or choke. Or both.

[DelawareJim]

Tabbie has a blog on wordPress that is quite interesting.

Tabbie’s Garden

On the menu on the right, is her link to all things neofinetia falcata. Scroll down to see some of her older posts on Neos. She has a post of some of the rarer Neos she's purchased from Dr. Lehr that most of us can only dream of; even after we've sold our kids.

She also has an interesting YouTube link to someone purchasing Neos in a shop in Japan that, while in Japanese, is intriguing as they apparently are selecting different varieties, discussing their merits, and haggling over the price. (Something we here in the US are totally unfamiliar with.) Of course I'd be game if we had a Neo shop in every mall in the US. Would actually make going to the mall worth while.

Cheers.
Jim

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Of course I'd be game if we had a Neo shop in every mall in the US. Would actually make going to the mall worth while.

Cheers.
Jim

I used to shop a lot before my plant obsession started 4 years ago. If there was a Neo shop in every mall that would be HORRIBLE for me. I'm freaked out just thinking about it.

So is the wife still giving you a hard time about buying plants, Jim?

Do we need to start a "Get a pink Neo for Jim" fund for you?

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by LinhT

I used to shop a lot before my plant obsession started 4 years ago. If there was a Neo shop in every mall that would be HORRIBLE for me. I'm freaked out just thinking about it.

So is the wife still giving you a hard time about buying plants, Jim?

Do we need to start a "Get a pink Neo for Jim" fund for you?

She's definitely happier since we got the deck replaced and I've restrained myself. It's been tough. Especially with all this Neo talk going on. "Hi. I'm Jim. And I'm a Neoholic."

I'm starting to build a "plant room" down in the basement for another of my obsessions; Cryptocorynes (an aquatic plant from southeast Asia used in planted aquariums). Hmmm, I seem to have this Asian theme going on here. I was at the European Cryptocoryne Society meeting in the Netherlands last October and shipped back about 60 plants that I am growing and sharing with fellow enthusiasts here in the US. This year it was in Vienna, Austria and I missed it, but I have a "care package" coming from the meeting this week. Anyway, I'm putting shelving, electricity, and water in my basement for growing my plants which will really make her happy.

Basically Marlene's okay with everything as long as we have the room and the house doesn't get all cluttered. Next month she and I are going to the Aquatic Gardeners convention in Atlanta. She does enjoy the planted aquariums. And, she does really like orchids as long as they are kept up, look nice, and we have room.

Soooo, I think once I get the plant Gwen sent me to flower, wow her with it's beauty, fragrance, and small size, I'm golden.

It's a shame I missed out on the Neo project. That would have been fun.

Cheers.
Jim

[kavanaru]

Why do I grow Neofinetia falcata?

easy... just because I love them

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Why do I grow Neofinetia falcata?

easy... just because I love them

Hey!! You didn't answer my 4 questions!!
Come on, Ramon, don't you have a fun story to share with us??

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by LinhT

Hey!! You didn't answer my 4 questions!!
Come on, Ramon, don't you have a fun story to share with us??

oops! I did not see the 4 questions...so here we go

1)Who got you into Neos or how did you get into them? who else but OB?
2)Why do you love them? well... why do you love cheese cake, your husband/wife, your dog, blueberry muffins, etc? You can't tell, but you just love them... so simple
3)Which ONE in your current collection is your absolute favorite? (yes, just ONE ) hhhhmmm... not fair.... so... for the flowers: Neofinetia falcata 'Amami Furan' for the foliage: Neofinetia falcata 'Cyosentetsu Aojiku'
4)If you won the lottery today and price was no issue, which ones would you MUST have?

sorry guys, but in this case I would go back to my favorite group...

I would buy Fredclarkearas and a large order of Catasetinae from Sunset Valley and Jumbo Orchids after that, I would probably take a long holiday in Asia and would check there what they have for magnificient Neos we have not seen here