What happened to my Seikai?

[RobinDavis]

It is hard to see the fan clearly. Please take another picture from the side looking at the fan and get closer if you can. I have a different take on what has happened. Looks to me like insect damage. You said that the growth was hanging on by a thread and that there were marks on the leaves. I had marks on my 'Tama Kongo' leaves this past summer from an insect chomping on them. Inspect the moss and pot to see if something isn't hiding in it.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

I think that "misting" is the problem. Keep the leaves/fans dry. Only wet the roots.

I'm learning about not misting the hard way. *Sigh*

From now on, the only thing getting misted is my vanda roots.

---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by vjo

I agree with wintergirl about the misting, that can be fatal for a lot of the mini orchids. It may seem like a mist to us but a flood to to some of those babies....Jean

Never thought about the size of a plant vs. misting. Thought I was doing the Mother Nature thing...

Just want to put in here that the Seikai was the first traditional neo I bought. Lots of worry and prayers going on here.

---------- Post added at 12:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:05 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I don't grow these at all, but just looking at your photo as a gardener of many years, the pot and amount of sphagnum seems enormous for such a tiny plant. I would be worried it would get soggy wet and stay that way for a long time. However these are traditionally grown in Japan, that method suits the climate and light in Japan, and I would consider trying to grow them far from home in exactly the same manner to be more a stunt than horticulture.

Thank you for your concern. There's a trick to potting neos. The airy pots have a hole in the bottom, and there is a hole in the middle of the spag for even drying. You water them when the spag gets crunchy.

Video: Neofinetia falcata Repotting Tutorial - Orchids Limited

This is how I pot my neos, but I put a 2" net pot over the bottle, then start putting the spag on. I feel that the air cone in the middle might collapse over time. To me, using the net pot insures that doesn't happen.

Sorry about not being able to give you a link, but it's locked. A search will bring the video up.

---------- Post added at 01:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

Originally Posted by RobinDavis

It is hard to see the fan clearly. Please take another picture from the side looking at the fan and get closer if you can. I have a different take on what has happened. Looks to me like insect damage. You said that the growth was hanging on by a thread and that there were marks on the leaves. I had marks on my 'Tama Kongo' leaves this past summer from an insect chomping on them. Inspect the moss and pot to see if something isn't hiding in it.

Sorry about the picture, only have my cell phone. That was the best pic I could get.

Oh dear, thought keeping the orchids inside would keep the bugs away. Going to de-moss tonight and do a thorough inspection looking for a suspect muncher.

Hope your 'Tama Kongo' has recovered from the chomping.

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[wintergirl]

My neo/mini vanda types are all in clay pots with chunky bark. No moss, I sprinkled some egg shell on top. At first I used to just mist the roots daily but now that the plant is more established I run water through the pot until the roots are green and plump. I wait until the roots get white then flush again. I do not get any water on fans or stalk. Here is my Neo Baby Angel who is in bud at the moment.

[Bud]

stagnant cold water is the culprit not bugs....cut it immediately because it is a bacterial infestation not fungi....it will decimate your plant really fast....you are right to spray it with peroxide. Peroxide evaporates and produce oxygen that bacteria die from.....dab the wound with cinnamon. The other fans beside it is healthy.
Invest in physan20 ....so that healthy plants get protected from future infestation....

---------- Post added at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

I learned from Tucker to spray physan20 every other month not only the leaves, pots but all around it.

[DeaC]

I'm new to neos this yr and have only 3 from New World Orchids. They're in mesh pots and I sit them in water till the moss is hydrated then remove,no misting,to dry completely before another drink. Kristen and hubby run the business and she agrees with my culture and growing under lights. Fun plants-good luck with yours!

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[Yazz]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

My neo/mini vanda types are all in clay pots with chunky bark. No moss, I sprinkled some egg shell on top. At first I used to just mist the roots daily but now that the plant is more established I run water through the pot until the roots are green and plump. I wait until the roots get white then flush again. I do not get any water on fans or stalk. Here is my Neo Baby Angel who is in bud at the moment.

Attachment 116581

My first neos cost $5 at a nursery. Decided to give these little guys a try. One was mounded, the other put in a net pot with bark.

In my environment, the one in the net pot didn't do as well as the one wrapped in spag. Once it was out of the pot and in a mound, it took off. That's why all my neos are now are in mounds. ...No more misting for them...

Your little Noe Baby Angel is a cutie and with buds too! Can't wait to see what the flowers look like.

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Bud

stagnant cold water is the culprit not bugs....cut it immediately because it is a bacterial infestation not fungi....it will decimate your plant really fast....you are right to spray it with peroxide. Peroxide evaporates and produce oxygen that bacteria die from.....dab the wound with cinnamon. The other fans beside it is healthy.
Invest in physan20 ....so that healthy plants get protected from future infestation....

---------- Post added at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

I learned from Tucker to spray physan20 every other month not only the leaves, pots but all around it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. It takes a load off my shoulders.

After posting Seikai's problem, I looked up First Ray's Home Remedies for plants. Ray deserves all the credit for what I did. Glad to hear the rest of the fans are ok!

Feeling better now....

I have Physan20 diluted in a spray bottle. Going to spray my plants and growing areas tomorrow and every two months after. That is cheap insurance right there.

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

I'm new to neos this yr and have only 3 from New World Orchids. They're in mesh pots and I sit them in water till the moss is hydrated then remove,no misting,to dry completely before another drink. Kristen and hubby run the business and she agrees with my culture and growing under lights. Fun plants-good luck with yours!

I'm new to neos too this year. This is my first drama with one of them. Glad there are good people on this forum to learn about the problem and how not to repeat it. Hopefully others can learn from my mistake too.

I water mine the same way you do, by soaking, except I read somewhere that misting the top of the mound makes the hydration faster. I'm so not doing that anymore.

Mine are windowsill neos. In Texas we are blessed with sunshine most of the year. The winter rest will be a test for me.

Kristen is a neat lady! Can't say enough good things about her. Bought my first traditional neo from her. My Seikai... then a couple others...

Good luck with your neos too! Looking forward to flowers next year.

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[Bud]

I will be posting my Neofinetia falcata next week when I take the pictures. Flowers newly opened so I am waiting for the two spikes to fully bloom and I will post tips and how I care for my Neos

[AnonYMouse]

With one exception (a tora) I don't do anything special. OK, they have a layer of protective dust but otherwise, nothing special.

The tora is just a PIA.

[Yazz]

Originally Posted by Bud

I will be posting my Neofinetia falcata next week when I take the pictures. Flowers newly opened so I am waiting for the two spikes to fully bloom and I will post tips and how I care for my Neos

Looking forward to seeing the blooms on you Neofinetia and learning how you care for your little guys!

---------- Post added at 03:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

With one exception (a tora) I don't do anything special. OK, they have a layer of protective dust but otherwise, nothing special.

The tora is just a PIA.

Think your neos love how your taking care of them or they wouldn't be thriving. So protective dust is the secret ingredient you've been keeping from us?

IMHO, you should march that little tora to the compost heap and show him what's happens to PIA neos. LOL

[AnonYMouse]

I didn't say thriving. Sure, some are but some are slow and others won't bloom (the hybrids).

Getting the culture right for the tora (something nishiki) has been tricky. I burned off a young fan while trying find the right light. I suspected toras were more difficult than stripes and solids due to their random spotting (not sure if that makes sense to the rest of you), hence the fact that this one is the first tora and last Neo before imposing my Neo moratorium.

I have one true bean leaf and it stalled for about two years. It's moving along now but slow compared to other cultivars. Or seems slow because of it's size.

As for whatever happened to your crown, you probably had a couple of things going on. Misting isn't necessary but on warm or windy days, should be OK. But if you do have something going on, you want dry surfaces, minimize variables.

I have had one neo (and a couple other stuff) go really fast from a suspected bacterial rot so keep an eye on all your plants. In fact, it might have contributed to the bean leaf's stall (I got desperate and sprinkled leftover human prescription antibiotic on it-which I cannot condone, because you need to finish your course of antibiotics yada yada yada).

I just wanted to say benign neglect (the dust treatment) is an under-rated cultural practice.

ETA:
If you do use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), make sure it dries. One byproduct of the reaction is oxygen but the other is water, from a solution that is 97% water (drugstore strength).

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