My First Neo! Potting tips? - Orchid Board

RandomGemini · #1 03-30-2014, 05:06 PM

So... this is Neofinetia Falcata 'Hsiui'. I was shown pictures of previous blooms on this plant and there is the remainder of a dead spike here, so I know it's been growing well for the seller.

It does have a new fan starting on it, but I do not like how high it's potted. It seems like I see them potted at about the same height that paphs are potted at. So, I'm wondering when and how I should repot. Also, it's potted in bark and it seems like most folks grow their neos in spaghnum moss. Which is best?

Here's a pic. Let me know if you think I'm being a worry wart, or if this needs immediate attention. Thanks so much!

Leafmite · #2 03-30-2014, 05:57 PM

There are many ways to grow them as they are very adaptable. They have been renamed as Vanda falcata which is fitting as I grow mine like little Vandas. I have mine potted in red lava rock, in hanging basket pots and just let the roots go everywhere. Many also mount these and then there is the technique of setting them on top of hollow mounds of sphagnum moss.
That being said, it doesn't hurt them to have the roots above the surface in this way but you might want to fix it up to make it look better.
The new 'fan' might just be the new spike.

I have a Awa Har Beni, Mameba Nishiki and a larger noID falcata and they seem to love the lava rock. The named ones were very tiny when I first got them and have really taken off.
I do like sphagnum moss, too, however, and use it for some of my other orchids. With moss, you just need to make certain it is of good quality and either used in small, shallow pots, basket pots, or in some other way that it dries evenly. The proper way to use the moss, with the inside hollow, facilitates this. Good luck!

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Someone posted a picture of one mounted on a large chunk of red lava rock with CP's and moss, the rock set in a dish. Another picture I saw showed one mounted on a flat piece of slate rock and it looked really good. So, these are really adaptable and fun.

shushu45 · #3 03-30-2014, 06:09 PM

Mine was potted for me when I got it and its in a traditional style. I think it looks cute that way.

I have also seen those pix with it being mounted on big chunks of lava rock. I thought that was really awesome.

Hope u find the right way for u. Good luck.

MattWoelfsen · #4 03-30-2014, 07:26 PM

I agree with Leafmite and shushu--plant it the way that is right for you. If you explore this sub forum there are threads showing Neofinetia planted in the traditional Japanese high mounds, on rocks, on branches, etc. it is important you grow your Hsui as best as YOU can. A little bit of a backstory on the high mound, traditional style...this style was developed over a long period of time in Japan. I have seen ancient pictures of the mounding style dating back to mid-1600.

The high mounds provide planting material around the roots to keep them hydrated, but with such high mounds, the plant's root core would be too solid, so the central core is hollowed. The special Neofinetia pot is designed for this mound to fit snugly but air can circulate around and through the root core. Where these plants come from, Japan, they are called "Furan" which I understand means wind (Fu) orchid (ran).

After spending an entire winter with plants in high mounds and many plants in net pots but without hollow cores, and one plant mounted on a branch...I am concluding that it really doesn't matter how these plants are potted or mounded, but how much, how often you water them, and how quickly the root mass dries. This is where the idea of "wind" comes in...Neofinetia need circulating air around to help them dry out and to bring cool, humid air around the plant. This works for me, as I have several of these plants.

This may not be practical for you with your one plant. However, as you increase your collection of Neofinetia, this might be something you would adopt and adapt.

shushu45 · #5 03-30-2014, 07:35 PM

I started to look around on the internet on how to pot them and found another board with someone posting how they do it.

I found it helpful.
But still its up to u on how u think it should be potted.

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Neofinetia falcata potting

RandomGemini · #6 03-30-2014, 08:27 PM

Well, if that's the case then bark should work out just fine for me. I will be adding some more bark to this pot, because I would like the plant to be a bit more stable than it is. The seller said I could water it on the same schedule as my paphs which is also perfect.

The room it will eventually live in has a fan and a cool mist humidifier going almost 24/7 because I have other plants that need air movement too. So, that should work out well.

I kept seeing over and over that these little plants were really easy, but I didn't think I would have that much freedom over how I could grow it. There's something very zen about that. I could get used to that.

I'm glad to hear that it could have a spike, I was really hoping for new growth though. I like to see orchids growing when I purchase them, I don't look so much for pretty blooms, but healthy roots and new growth in the form of roots or leaves. I usually bungle it and pick unhealthy plants the first time I try a new one though. Hope I didn't do that this time! Fingers crossed that I got a good one.

Thanks for your help all!

Leafmite · #7 03-30-2014, 09:24 PM

Your new falcata looks healthy and there isn't any reason to worry. I started with single growths for all of mine, the two named ones were even seedlings, but they grew and begin putting out fans. With my older falcata that blooms faithfully every year, the fans start the autumn before and just sit through the winter while the new growths begin in the spring. I'm guessing you will soon see evidence of new growths.
Just remember, however you choose to grow this, those roots will need good air-flow around them. Don't let that medium become compact or broken down.

RandomGemini · #8 03-31-2014, 10:54 AM

I will keep that in mind! Thank you for reassuring me about my plant.

The seller was local to me, so I'm thinking her culture is probably a good place to start, but I know that she grows in a green house and I'm an indoor window sill grower, so I may switch to moss and a basket style pot from the bark and terra-cotta if I can't keep things damp enough for twice weekly waterings.

Fingers crossed! It's amazing... I bought all of these great plants at the orchid show this weekend. Only this one was not in bloom... and for some reason, I can't stop looking at it. I may be hooked.