Why do you grow Neofinetia falcata?

[LinhT]

Lately we've had some more members posting in the Neo Forum on OB. Some of us have been here for a while. Some have recently joined. Some have joined BECAUSE OB has a Neofinetia Forum

For those of you who are into these little boogers, just thought it would be interesting to find out....

1)Who got you into Neos or how did you get into them?
2)Why do you love them?
3)Which ONE in your current collection is your absolute favorite? (yes, just ONE )
4)If you won the lottery today and price was no issue, which ones would you MUST have?

[Ranchnanny]

LinhT I got into Neo's once I saw them online and then folks on OB started showing them.

I love them mostly for their size and the dainty flowers and the fragrance and I love a challenge.

Right now my favorite would have to be Neofinetia Falcata Benisuzume its Pink.

It would have to be a Yellow Neofinetia Falcata Kibana

My first one I ordered from Asiatica Nursery
My next two I won on ebay from Japanese Orchids
I currently have them potted in the Japanese traditional way spag mound.
Can't wait for them to bloom

Sheridan

[A G]

1)Got my first Neofinetia at the Sofiero orchid exhibition in Helsingborg, Sweden 3-4 years ago. Bought it from "Jydsk Orkideimport". At the time I didnt know much about it, but it had a nice flower and the size of the plant was perfect. And I discovered the fragrance by surprise later.

2)Oh, where shall I start I find them rather easy to cultivate.
They have a monopodial growth habit, but usually you get alot of new "fans" from one growth = big plants in time!
The size, and the fragrance of course.
The long and rich history and the traditions surrounding them.

3) Because none of them is flowering at the moment I have to say 'Kinkosei'. It has really nice markings on the leafs.

4) Manjyushage, I really like the three spur varities

/ Anders

[camille1585]

Let's see,
1)Who got me into Neo's? That's easy, it was OB with the Neo contest!
2) I love them because there are so many different types and colors and flowers, and because of all the tradition around them. And they are SMALL, which means I can get lots of them!
3)I only have 2 Neos in my collection, neither have bloomed, so I can't say which I like best! Based on foliage, Fuguka would be #1, but based on flowers it might be Shutennu who becomes #1!

4) I would love to have a 3 spurred one, but don't know which

[shams]

I got my first neo (and mind... this was only in February because I saw a member's avatar and HAD to know what the flower was (Thanks calvin!)

Bought a few more in May because they are just so cute and easy to grow

Right now, my favorite is Shotennou. Gotta love the reds

[DelawareJim]

1. You folks on the orchidBoard got me into them.

2. I love their size, the flower structure, the amazing variety of plant shapes, sizes, colors (who can't love those red roots!) and how the Japanese have turned a plant into high art, almost a religion.

3. Typical form is my current favourite from my collecion of 1.

4. At the moment, if money were no object it would have to have a 'Komachimusume' (Komachi Musume). Of course this is subject to change as I keep Googling Neo images. I'd have to win the lottery though; $500 for a 2 inch plant scares the stuffin out of me. But when I retire and have amased a collection of thousands in my add-on greenhouse I'll be flying to Japan to see "What's available this week".

Cheers.
Jim

[LinhT]

Cool! Very interesting to know everyone's responses....

Jim, you always crack me up

Well, I've been reading about these since around January of '07. I was googling for "pretty" orchid pots to put my one lonely Ikea Phal in I came across all these amazing antique Japanese Neofinetia pots. At the time I didn't think I knew enough about orchids to keep them alive so just stuck to my Onc and Phal hybrids. Got my 1st Neo in early May of this year for free at my local orchid nursery. After someone on OB said they were as easy to grow as Phals, I added a few others for companionship. Didn't want 'Tamagawa' to be bored.

I grow these mainly for the foliage. There are so many different ones that look so different from each other.

My fav amongst the ones I have right now would probably be Beniboushi. I love the super mini bean ones.

I think the unattainable one I'd love to have would be Botan-Nishiki.

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

4. At the moment, if money were no object it would have to have a 'Komachimusume' (Komachi Musume). Of course this is subject to change as I keep Googling Neo images. I'd have to win the lottery though; $500 for a 2 inch plant scares the stuffin out of me. But when I retire and have amased a collection of thousands in my add-on greenhouse I'll be flying to Japan to see "What's available this week".

Cheers.
Jim

Jim, what does 'Komachimusume' look like?

[DelawareJim]

I stole this pic from Tabbies Garden. It's like a deeper coloured Shutenou or Benisuzume.

Cheers.
Jim

[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.