Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen
Thanks to you all, I have found New World Orchids. They have numerous Neofinetia falcatas, and after spending lots of time on their website looking at pictures, etc. I have narrowed my list to Fu Ran, Kinrokaku, Kofou Fukurin, and Momohime. Are these good choices for a new Neo grower?
|
NWO is a great place to start. Glenn is very helpful! Your list is fine, but I'd suggest finding a bean leaf type to expose you to even more of the varieties. Tamakongo, Senzai, Yodonomatsu, Mameba Nishiki, and Kuroshinjo are a few examples. You'll find that these 5 differ greatly from each other. For other good ones to try - Suruga Fukurin (variegated), Orihime (variegated), Benisuzume (pink flower), Shutennou (dark pink/red flower), Hisui (green flower), and Setsuzan (tiger stripe).
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen
On this website the price is quoted as, for example US$15, but on the next column labelled "Growth" numbers are listed: "2, 3, 4". I am assuming that I would have two "growths" and this would be $30, right? I'm thinking that Neos are grown as a community? By that I mean, when I buy a phalaenopsis compot, I get 2-3 seedlings and when they have grown large enough, I separate them. But Neos, you keep them together?
|
Yes, if its $15 per fan/growth then a 2 growth is $30. The more growths, the better established the plant is and as Leafmite was saying, sometimes you need a few fans to get the plant to bloom. I wouldn't separate fans unless your plant was over 6-7 growths. Neos with several fans are very beautiful and make for a great display. I have one that's 7+ growths and it has 4-5 spikes and looks amazing in bloom. During repotting, you may find the plant naturally divides itself. It happens frequently and all you have to do is repot the "new" plant. It doesn't take them long to get established at all.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen
I'm fascinated with the mounding style potting for these plants. Is that a plant cultural requirement or a human oriented esthetic? I see that New World Orchids sells several kinds of New Zealand spaghnum moss, one size seems chopped, then there is a 'normal' length, and then there is a 'long' length. Should I get all three sizes, chopped for the roots, normal, to wrap around root ball and long to anchor into the pot?
|
The mound style is the traditional Japanese way to pot these. Otherwise, they can be grown in anything - bark, hydroton, and can be mounted. If you are wanting to keep them in sphag mounds, 4A or the long strands are the best. You'll always get smaller strands in there too. Do a Google search for ways to repot this way; there are a few good tutorials out there.
For other places to get Neos and other Japanese orchids, also try Seed Engei (japaneseorchids on eBay) and Orchids Limited. They both have a good assortment of plants and supplies. I highly recommend these guys as well as NWO.
Hybrid Mode
