My Neofinetia collection

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by dougbraz

Love your flowers. I am trying ONE to see how it goes. It is in sphagnum in a pot, on some pebbles kept moist for humidity and inside a small (betta fish) aquarium to increase the moisture and hopefully the temperature - winter here in Brazil.
Im am sooo tempted to try the sphagnum ball potting as per your pix, but am wary of killing the plant or something.
Supposedly, n falcata are relatively easy to keep, right? I was told just keep moist and with good humidity. Is the "traditional" way of potting relatively easy and stress free (for me - not the plant...)??

I was taught to grow them in the moss mound from the beginning. So far they are my lowest maintainence orchids. Once you get the mounding process down and you only have a few neos in your collection, I think most varieties are fairly stress free. It usually takes me an hour to mound 7 to 8 of them.

Originally Posted by raindance168

Anyone have tips on watering schedule and feeding? I seem to have trouble figuring out how much to water without making the roots rot and not lose new growths. As a result of haphazard watering, none of my plants have bloomed in 2+ years I've started growing neos. I did some reading earlier today and discovered that I probably neglected them a tiny bit too much the first winter I had them, didn't water enough during the following summer, watered them too much this past winter, and neglected them too long earlier this summer. Luckily I haven't lost any plants this summer, but I'm keeping an eye on them right now. I did lose a few this past winter, probably from over-watering.

Also, what do you guys do with your neos when you're away from home? Sometimes I need to leave them at school when I go home for the weekend. The longest I'm usually away from them is a week.

Any tips from people using s/h would be interesting, too.

I've never grown these in S/H so they have only been in moss. My watering frequency depends on the temps. If temps are higher (90's F or more) I don't wait till the moss dries. Feeding is about once or twice a month during the growing season with Biogold or HB-101.

Originally Posted by richardblair

Wow Tracy, those neos are beautiful. the kansetsu is breathtaking with the variegation and the magenta spike. It's been awhile since I've been on. My collection has grown. Not only with neo hybrids but now more so with species. Do u grow hokage or kouen? I've recently upped the light and they are now producing a color change. How strong of a light do u give yours? Best, richard

Hi Richard, nice to see you here again. I have Kouen. With good light, Kouen can develop some red variegatin in addition to the tiger stripe. This is the first year I had mine in a greenhouse during the Summer. They are under 70% aluminet shade cloth.

[richardblair]

Hey tracey, I looove your kinkounishiki. When u bought it, did it have that much yellow on it or has it been the light? Just wanted to know now that I'm actively searching for one. I don't want to get one with less variegation. Much thanks, Richard

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by richardblair

Hey tracey, I looove your kinkounishiki. When u bought it, did it have that much yellow on it or has it been the light? Just wanted to know now that I'm actively searching for one. I don't want to get one with less variegation. Much thanks, Richard

Yes, it was already nicely variegated. I got it as a division from an already well variegated, established plant. The mother plant is still at the nursery I got it from but I have no idea whether or not the seller wants to divide it again. You could probably ask. If you need more info, let me know.

[richardblair]

Oh absolutely! Please let me know. It would be worth asking them. Even for a small Keiki .lol thx, Richard

[Pilot]

Can we get any updates to this post? It seems I've read through it all and looked at a ton of photos. Lol. Anyone have any updates?

[rangiku]

My update: Pilot's a Neo addict.

[LinhT]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Can we get any updates to this post? It seems I've read through it all and looked at a ton of photos. Lol. Anyone have any updates?

Hi Ryan, sorry for the late reply.

I lost several of the plants posted on this thread last Fall from the greenhouse freeze I told you about earlier. I did not continue updating this thread because it was pretty disappointing considering the time, energy and $$ I put into my collection. I'm just going to focus on helping the survivors recover. Only time will tell if the damaged ones are able to bounce back. In the mean time, I'll just enjoy seeing other neo fans' plants here.

[Leafmite]

So sorry you lost some of your neos. I really hope the others do recover completely. I have always admired your wonderful collection.

[coffeecup]

I am SO sorry to hear this Tracy! Hopefully those survivors will pull through for you!

[Red Orchid]

Oh my that is terrible I am so sorry.