Neofinetia Falcata - Orchid Board

NYCorchidman · #1 06-05-2013, 06:43 PM

#2 x #4 x sib is what the tag says.

I guess it is basically the common white flowered one.

This is my first neo that I picked up about two months ago from a local grower.
It has so many growths (8) but no sign of previous flowering. The grower also admitted it never flowered.
I thought I got a lemon (I've seen pictures of neo as large clusters but most pictures I've seen had single growth plant with flowers, hence the worry about this plant initially) but then again, sometimes plants do crazy things, so I got it anyways.
New roots are red, which I find interesting.

I am getting almost tired of dunking it in the sink everyday but I found a new reason to be diligent.

I found not just one, but a few flower spikes coming up.
I can see about 5 or 6. I surely don't want to kill them off by drying them.

I'm interested to see what the flower shape will be like.
and also looking forward to the scent that I read a lot about.

It is mounted and hanging by the sunny south window. daily dunking and frequent misting.
It is throwing out a few spike AND new growths.

Question for the experienced- other than Japanese style, what other ways work well for growing these?
I don't think I will keep it alive for a long time as a mounted plant. I plan to take it off the mount as soon as flowers fade. s/h? sphagnum moss?

jeremiah.chua · #2 06-05-2013, 06:54 PM

I would do sphagnum, it stays wet/moist longer than other media, which I really like. That way, I can water it only once every 2-3 days in the spring/summer and only once 7-10 days in the colder seasons. Just make sure they get ample of air flow and all should be good.

The scent is AMAZING. Very faint in the day but gets stronger at night. My current neofinetia that is in bloom is kept right above my bed. So every night I go to sleep, I can smell their beautiful perfume. It really puts a smile on your face, right before you knock out

NYCorchidman · #3 06-05-2013, 07:15 PM

So every night I go to sleep, I can smell their beautiful perfume. It really puts a smile on your face, right before you knock out

[/QUOTE]

That is what I did with my Brassavola hybrids when they were in bloom.
Now I do that with my white dendrobium nobile hybrid.
I think by the time the dendrobium flowers are gone, this neo should be in bloom. yay!!!

Thanks for your input.

WhiteRabbit · #4 06-05-2013, 09:59 PM

Awesome!

I have a small mounted Neo - they really don't need a ton of water - even in the dry climate in summer here, I only water it once a day. I recently remounted it to replace the old sphag - I had more sphag on it previously, and then, I drenched it every other day, sprayed roots not in sphag well the days I didn't drench it. It has gone much of the winter outside, hardly being watered at all. Of course, I don't know how humid (or not) your indoor environment may be.

That said - grow it how you like - they aren't fussy at all - I have one in bark, smaller ones in sphag; had a tiny one in chc for a while ... they all do fine!

Red Orchid · #5 06-05-2013, 11:00 PM

You certainly got a healthy Neo there. I wish I lived close to a grower who had Neos.....you are lucky. I buy only online or if I go to a show. Those little plants grow on you because there are so many varieties and they really are easy to grow. I guarantee you'll have more than one soon.

NYCorchidman · #6 06-06-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Awesome!

I have a small mounted Neo - they really don't need a ton of water - even in the dry climate in summer here, I only water it once a day. I recently remounted it to replace the old sphag - I had more sphag on it previously, and then, I drenched it every other day, sprayed roots not in sphag well the days I didn't drench it. It has gone much of the winter outside, hardly being watered at all. Of course, I don't know how humid (or not) your indoor environment may be.

That said - grow it how you like - they aren't fussy at all - I have one in bark, smaller ones in sphag; had a tiny one in chc for a while ... they all do fine!

Thanks!

Things dry up like desert in here.

I've already killed one vanda, since I got tired of dunking daily and the poor thing just got dried up crisp.

My two other mounted orchids, also suffered driness and lost buds. so much for buying them for instant gratification.

Now that this neo has lots of spikes, I am excited but I really want to make sure I don't lose them.

---------- Post added at 03:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Orchid

You certainly got a healthy Neo there. I wish I lived close to a grower who had Neos.....you are lucky. I buy only online or if I go to a show. Those little plants grow on you because there are so many varieties and they really are easy to grow. I guarantee you'll have more than one soon.

It actually came with some mealy bugs. I hand picked the ones I could see, but haven't sprayed yet.

I would love to have a yellow one and the pink one with backside of flowers really dark. I have no idea about the names.
Some of them, I find, are quite pricy!

Leafmite · #7 06-06-2013, 05:04 PM

I grow mine in net/basket pots and lava rock. I love the blooms. I think I have some spikes coming but with the cooler weather, they are taking forever to develop. You should definitely take care of this one. Every year, the show just gets better!

AnonYMouse · #8 06-06-2013, 08:10 PM

They grow in nearly anything.

You could just put a pad of moss on the roots to retain water.

NYCorchidman · #9 06-07-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I grow mine in net/basket pots and lava rock. I love the blooms. I think I have some spikes coming but with the cooler weather, they are taking forever to develop. You should definitely take care of this one. Every year, the show just gets better!

I think lava rock will dry out too much for me.

Today I took a close look again after the daily dunking, and those little things are definitely spikes.
Yay!!!

This plant has quite a bit of fans and the thing is "one" plant. With the way it grows, I think the show will be better each passing year!
hopefully it won't sulk too much when I take it off the mount.

---------- Post added at 04:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

They grow in nearly anything.

You could just put a pad of moss on the roots to retain water.

The mount has already a layer of moss on it, and the plant is sitting on top of it.