Quartet of Recently Acquired Neofinetia

[MattWoelfsen]

The names are listed on this photo.

image by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

These are such pleasant and healthy plants.

[AnonYMouse]

Don't you have enough to open a Fukiran shop?

I'm on a Neo buying moratorium until my little fancy ones are blooming size.

[MattWoelfsen]

Yes AnonYMouse! I have more than enough of these blasted plants to last a lifetime! But everyone of these plants make me want more! I have graduated to getting larger plants, such as these listed.

[NYCorchidman]

I love healthy plants!
Speaking of which, my largest neo with about 20 growth, is showing some unpleasant black marks.
I hope it is not something too serious.
I sort of lost any desire to buy more after seeing that. Oh, well...

[MattWoelfsen]

NYCOrchid, where are the black spots? Can you post a picture so we can see? Thanks.

[NYCorchidman]

I haven't taken any, but I will try.
There are two, and both are on the newly emerging leaves, which is of concern to me.
One entire growth whose new leaf has this mark, looks like it is dying. Looks very dry. I hope it is not something that will spread throughout the plant.
It has been quite fuss free easy plant, but now it is giving me some headache.

[Leafmite]

Lovely! They are beautiful! I might just have to make some space for a few new ones. Yours always tempt me!

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Lovely! They are beautiful! I might just have to make some space for a few new ones. Yours always tempt me!

Leafmite, you have a lot of will power.! These four plants I couldn't resist because they were multi-fanned and relatively in-expensive. I have learned that the more fans you get the easier to grow them.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I haven't taken any, but I will try.

There are two, and both are on the newly emerging leaves, which is of concern to me.

One entire growth whose new leaf has this mark, looks like it is dying. Looks very dry. I hope it is not something that will spread throughout the plant.

It has been quite fuss free easy plant, but now it is giving me some headache.

NYC--sorry to read about this problem you are having. I have experienced this on some of my plants. This is what I have determined is the cause:

1. Neofinetia are very similar to Phalaenopsis when it comes to water and moisture retention. The black spot happens when water drops remain on the leaf and it doesn't dry soon enough. The drops become little magnifiers and burns the leaf when light shines on it. Sometimes, the leaf is strong enough to cauterize the area and it doesn't spread. But most of the time, it does spread and causes that leaf to die back--it looks like crown rot. Hence the reference to Phalaenopsis.

2. I have found that when you mist Neofinetia, if the water beads up on the leaves of the plant, same result as above.

3. I did not think it mattered but when I misted my plants with cold water (duh), I got the same result as #1.

Unfortunately I came to this conclusion by end of December when I had many plants loosing baby fans. Fortunately, this happened in multi-fan plants. Now that it is getting to be Spring, these damaged plants are starting to grow new roots, and I see some potential new fans.

Which is another reason why, I acquired these plants...they are multi-fanned plants. Despite my good intentions, I am now giving my plants insurance! LOL.

[Leafmite]

Mine got some dark spots when they were outside in the cooler rain one summer but did recover (with a bit of isopropyl alcohol). My neos are pretty tough. It completely wiped out the Angraecum didieri, though.
I agree about the multi-fan ones to be easier to grow but, unfortunately, the ones I see always seem to be out of my price range.
Three of my neos (two are siblings) were little seedlings, one fan. They all had to grow larger before they started putting out new fans. The one has many fans now but the two beans (one of which is on the second bloom) have been slower to put on the new fans.