Neofinetia xichangensis

[lambelkip]

First bloom for me. Should be pink, but I don't think it's been getting enough light.
One slightly deformed flower, with one immature bud. This species has a very short spike - about 1/4 inch in this case. (you can't even see it in these pictures) The buds form very close to the plant. Then, when they're almost fully formed, a sudden burst of growth in the pedicel lifts them out into the open.
No fragrance that I can detect yet.
It's nice to have a neo that blooms a couple months before the others. Hopefully, it will bloom better when it gets bigger.

[Wjs2nd]

Very cool. Do you grow in lava rocks?

[lambelkip]

Yes, I have all of my neos in lava rock, except for a mounted Neof richardsiana.

[Paul Mc]

Love it!!!! I have my neostylis in a hanging basket (wood) with lava rock. I got it late last year and it has grown roots and leaves like mad! Of course I water it twice a day too. Do you think this is ok for it? Not sure my set up us the same as yours. Thinking you use lava rock to wick up moisture to the roots.

[WhiteRabbit]

awesome!

[lambelkip]

Paul, I'm not sure exactly how to grow Neostylis. I've killed every neo hybrid I tried to grow. If you're getting lots of new roots and leaves, you must be doing something right.
The species seem to like a winter rest. I stop watering when the active growth stops in late fall, and start watering again when I see active growth again. In the hottest part of the summer, I water about once a day.

[DelawareJim]

Wow Kip! Great looking plant. Where did find xichangensis? I've been looking for this species since I first learned about Neos.

Cheers.
Jim

[lambelkip]

I got it from Erich Michel of Michel Orchids. I believe it is a division of his plant - I don't think they've been mass produced yet.

[Craig Gibbon]

Hi Kip,

Could you possibly give us a close up shot of the flower including a side view?? Has the flower fully opened? Also is it possible that you could tell us what the length of the Spur is? I believe that this was one of the distinguishing differences that they (botanists) based their validation as a distinct species from Neo richardsiana.

Regards,

Craig.

[lambelkip]

Craig - those pictures are as close as I could get. click on one of the photos to go through to my flickr page, where you should be able to view the pictures full size. The spur is about 1.7 cm (a little long for this species). The flower is fully open now. I'll try to post new pictures after work today.
Neofinetia richardsiana can be easily recognized without taking measurements - it's the only Neo species that has spurs shorter than the sepals. (see the photo on Rogier van Vugt's site)