Getting Neos to Bloom

[MattWoelfsen]

Phalaenopsis are easy to get to bloom, I think that is why they are popular. If you provide all the right cultural requirements, Phalaenopsis will produce flowers. Neofinetia, not so easy. I have only grown my plants for three seasons. I started acquiring Neos in May, last year. I have followed as carefully as possible every season's cultural requirements.

For example, since mid-November, I have kept them in a grow space that provided bright light--western facing window, relative humidity around 50%, regular circulating air, room temperatures that was around 55*F over night, and up to 64*F. I watered slightly--just enough to dampen the outer layers of the mound and to increase humidity around the plant's base. I did this once a week. Since mid-March, I have increased the volume of water but still watering once a week.

As you have experienced, many of my plants are growing lots of roots. I also see many small growths around the Tsuke that might be flower spikes, or new growths. I have surmised that Neofinetia will respond on its own timetable. I have learned to appreciate what the plant produces--more roots? Great! New leaves, new variegation, new fans? Thank you! Flowers? That would be nice, if its not too much bother.

[Miss_Cat]

LOL! Sounds like the ancient wisdom of a Neofinetia grower.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Miss_Cat

LOL! Sounds like the ancient wisdom of a Neofinetia grower.

Maybe not so ancient--LOL. I have gleaned much information from this subforum. If you have some spare time, go back a couple of years and you'll find a lot of information. At the front of this sub-forum, there are stickies posted from several years ago, where folks tried to catalog different features of Neofinetia. Many of the older stickies show posts from people whose enthusiasm over Neofinetia was infectious, that is how I got excited about owning these plants.

To wit I say, happy reading!

[Red Orchid]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Maybe not so ancient--LOL. I have gleaned much information from this subforum. If you have some spare time, go back a couple of years and you'll find a lot of information. At the front of this sub-forum, there are stickies posted from several years ago, where folks tried to catalog different features of Neofinetia. Many of the older stickies show posts from people whose enthusiasm over Neofinetia was infectious, that is how I got excited about owning these plants.

To wit I say, happy reading!

Thanks Matt here I go into the Stacks.....like distant college days.

[Miss_Cat]

Yes, thanks for the tip Matt. That's all I've been doing for the past few weeks now. Researching Neos...