Neofinetia falcata (Japanese Wind orchid)

[randy98745]

heres a cool page on neofinetia:

Neofinetia falcata -- samurai orchid

I have one at work on my desk which has just come into bloom with 2 spikes. Its under florescent lights and I hit it with a 75 W plant light during the night about 3 times a week. Its air conditioned and stays a pretty regular 70 degrees in there. I potted it up Japanese or Korean style as I found on a website...basically in a pot mounded like a little ball out of the top of the pot. I can send the instructions if anyone interested. It seems to like it. Its fine on long weekends. (4 or 5 days) but i keep it moist when possible. Here is the starting spike and a pic with the potting method. I can show the flowers after I bring the camera to work. Smells like gardenia...extra beautiful. it took 2 weeks from me first noticing the spike to bloom.

[Jonatan]

I'm very interested in the instructions! How big is your plant? Compared to your other orchids it seems pretty big and well mine is alot smaller.
Thanks for your help.

[randy98745]

Maybe 6 inches? The others are all minis so it it looks big in comparison. Ill send the site when I get to work. There is a shortcut on my desktop there.

[randy98745]

Here is the site with the "traditional" method of potting:

Neofinetia potting

[daemondamian]

In general what is the rate of growth on Neofinetia falcatas? Is it 1 new leaf per month or faster or slower than that?

I have one that was mounted over styrofoam chunks and treefern pieces in a net basket that has grown very slowly - or so it seems to me

I'm not sure if I'm watering it enough or if it has enough light as the last leaf is very long/lanky compared to the previous ones .

[smartie2000]

They were slow during the winter...
but right now they are growing faster! I'm getting leaves now

BTW I read they bloom mostly from spring to fall. Mostly in the summer

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

They were slow during the winter...
but right now they are growing faster! I'm getting leaves now

BTW I read they bloom mostly from spring to fall. Mostly in the summer

Thanks for the info Smartie2000! Did you cut back watering in winter or still mist every day?

[smartie2000]

I think I did not water it as much actually, but I don't think it is as important like for dends.

[Lin]

I can't believe you can have such healthy mounted orchids at work

You're obviously doing something right!!

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

I think I did not water it as much actually, but I don't think it is as important like for dends.

Ok thanks smartie2000!