Just got my first Neo

[The Mutant]

Well, thanks guys. I honestly feel a bit like a traitor, 'cause the more I read about neos, the less interested I become in the species. I didn't realize they were so much of a hassle really, what with cold and bright winter rest. I usually avoid all chids that need a cold and bright winter rest. I won't be able to give mine that, so maybe it's good that it's a hybrid. If I can't get it to flower in the two years it'll take it to reach BS, I'll probably sell it.

Just a question; what is it a hybrid between? I already knew it was one, but is it that it's a cross between yellow and pink neos, and that there are no yellow neos that makes it a hybrid (if I've understood things correctly, the yellow neos have Ascocentrum in them)? What should I call it instead of Neofinetia falcata Yubae?

Oh, and I'll never try to cross it with my Phal. equestris, because as I said earlier; too much of a hassle. I'll leave that to someone more keen I think.

[Pilot]

Cool or cold treatment is relative. I do not put my neos in any special place or adhere to any specific temp and they do fine. I say this because I have a specimen size plant and to my knowledge I have never given it a special cool period. It blooms well every season sometimes several times. I've had the plant for a few years now.

This not to say I won't test my plants. I often like to summer my plants outside if they're established. My highland arid climate does provide pretty cool nights and bright sun all summer so perhaps I'm growing my plants in reverse!


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[The Mutant]

Sounds like you could be giving it a reverse cold treatment.

I don't know if keeping outside during summer is a good idea, since I can't shade it from direct sunlight (and the sun gets pretty scorching in Sweden during summer), and I don't know if it'll get enough light in the shade...

We'll see what I do. I asked the seller, and he never had any problems flowering his Neos, despite being a windowsill grower. On the other hand, he cracked open a window, and that's not an option either, since I have finicky miss Phal. Tiny Doll, who absolutely LOATHES open windows (all buds and flowers drop straight off - I tried it once...).

But, oh well, it won't be an issue yet for a while. For now I'll just see if I can't get my Forrest Gump to grow at least. I had to support it with a skewer and secure it with two...eh...thingies I don't know the name for, which makes me think of Forrest Gump when he's wearing those leg braces, so from now on, my Neo is a Forrest Gump. Let's see if I can get it to run.

[coffeecup]

Quite honestly, Neos are not as finicky to being cooled as say some Dendrobiums that must be shocked in order to bloom the next season. I keep mine inside year round, and the normal temperature drop during the winter, even in my house with the heater on, doesn't bother them. I find Neos to be quite easy to keep and they flower without any problems during the next season.

[nenella]

Hi Mutant!
Nice to see/read you've bought yourself a Neo!
Iam SURE you can grow this! In my experience it needs less humidity than equestris but if you give it the same shouldn't be a problem at all. Also as mentioned earlier let it dry out completely!(more dry tolerant than equesrtris IMO...
I bought a falcata years ago (2008/9 or earlier - have to look up) and the other day I found a photo of when I first bought it and it really shocked me as to how big it is now- In fact I'm going to give my mum a dvision in december( just like 2/3 growths) I wouldn't have thought of it if I hadn't seen the photo...
I didn't flower for the first 2 years as small once it did it hasn't missed a beat!
In my experience you wont get much root growth now... but you will in spring ..
would love to see pics !

[rangiku]

Mutant, Neos are much less a hassle than Phals and plenty of people grow them under lights with the rest of their intermediate/warm growing plants just fine.

Your plant is Neofinetia falcata Yubae and that what it should be called. From the Seed-Engei site:

Although everyone know that YUBAE is a hybrid, people would never be able to ignore the beauty of their flower color. Yubae is not registered but well-known in Fukiran world and described on Fukiran book as well. It is cross with yellow Neofinetia (which is already a hybrid) and red flower Neofinetia.

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by coffeecup

Quite honestly, Neos are not as finicky to being cooled as say some Dendrobiums that must be shocked in order to bloom the next season. I keep mine inside year round, and the normal temperature drop during the winter, even in my house with the heater on, doesn't bother them. I find Neos to be quite easy to keep and they flower without any problems during the next season.

Okay, that sounds promising. I hope I have a Neo that's like yours then.

Originally Posted by nenella

Hi Mutant!
Nice to see/read you've bought yourself a Neo!
Iam SURE you can grow this! In my experience it needs less humidity than equestris but if you give it the same shouldn't be a problem at all. Also as mentioned earlier let it dry out completely!(more dry tolerant than equesrtris IMO...
I bought a falcata years ago (2008/9 or earlier - have to look up) and the other day I found a photo of when I first bought it and it really shocked me as to how big it is now- In fact I'm going to give my mum a dvision in december( just like 2/3 growths) I wouldn't have thought of it if I hadn't seen the photo...
I didn't flower for the first 2 years as small once it did it hasn't missed a beat!
In my experience you wont get much root growth now... but you will in spring ..
would love to see pics !

I think keeping it dry is going to be the biggest challenge actually. It took a while for me to get over the "you can't water Phrags too much", and now I need to wrap my head around "don't water the poor Neo too much" instead. Maybe I should stick to chids that demand similar treatment instead.

For now, I'm to keep it slightly moist, to encourage some root growth. But maybe I shouldn't do that? I have extra lights, and the temperatures don't drop that much, so I think it'll keep growing even during winter (my Phals are, both my schills are in spike even...stupid things), but maybe not as much as during summer.

Does equestris need higher humidity? I haven't noticed... That means they must have benefited from me getting two humidifiers then.

Okay, I've attached a picture, so brace yourselves! I won't pot it in pure sphagnum, 'cause me and sphagnum don't mix well (it usually spells death to whichever poor chid I've put in it), so I went with my usual mix of bark/sphagnum/perlite with the addition of some packing peanuts to keep the mix airy.

Originally Posted by rangiku

Mutant, Neos are much less a hassle than Phals and plenty of people grow them under lights with the rest of their intermediate/warm growing plants just fine.

Your plant is Neofinetia falcata Yubae and that what it should be called. From the Seed-Engei site:

Thanks for the info. I actually found that snippet of information when I searched for pictures of more Yubae. It always good to know that what you stumble across on the web is reliable info.

[vjo]

OK Mutant, you must have an update for us....Jean

[rangiku]

Yes, Mutant, please let us know how you and your Neo are doing.