New to Neo - Bonsai Pots OK?

[chiirioz]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Bigger plants
- dry out less during shipping;
- are easier to get established in new surroundings;
- are more tolerant of temporary problems;
- are more tolerant of new growers;
- grow and flower better.

Makes sense - I will wait it out to see my other options.

---------- Post added at 08:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Chirioz, the Suikaden--has gotten a little expensive. I would recommend not bidding further. If you are looking a green flower, KISHU-RYOKUFU 紀州緑風, is still reasonably priced. But the person that has already bid on it sometimes has a large hidden bid.

When I first started with Neos, I did go the small and less expensive route. I still have some of those earlier plants and they have gotten more growths and have bloomed for me. But, when I started getting larger, more expensive plants, I found them so much easier to grow.

About once a month, Seed Engei sends out a list of Neos, often includes Suikaden, and are multi-growth. When she sends out this list, I will forward it to you.

Bottom line, $44, is a lot to pay for a plant that started at $19.99.

Matt, thank you for the list! I'm looking forward to seeing what she has to offer. I'll likely not bid any further and wait for the next opportunity for a Suikaden - it's become a must-have. I might try for the Kishu Ryokufu this sunday as well. Thanks for saving my wallet.

[Pattywack]

I may be wrong here as I've not been buying Neofinetia long. If I remember correctly as these listings end Seed Engei puts up another group of plants on eBay. They have not had any listings for several weeks until this current group. I'm sure Matt knows this information much better than I. Just a thought.

[MattWoelfsen]

Pattywack, Seed Engei watchers (like me) have become aware of the Seed Engei schedule. Just a little background. Satomi is the USA representative here. Her family owns a Neof nursery in Japan--which is Seed Engei. You can google Seed Engei and find two websites, one in Japan and the other here in the US.

The list I referred to is usually sent once a month and is the basis of what is offered on eBay. This Sunday's listing was after 3 or 4 weeks since the last auction. Satomi was in Japan in the last 3 weeks.

Once an auction is completed another set of plants are listed around Wednesday for the following Sunday. As the season changes for warmer weather, the number of plants increase and the frequency of the auctions is more regular, except for those weekends where there is an orchid show that Seed Engei US attends, then that week's auction might not happen.

[MattWoelfsen]

If you become a Neonut, I would advise a little discipline as you engage in bidding on eBay: figure out how much you want to pay for a plant and stick to it. Then in the last 30 seconds of the auction, place your bid. I think this is called "snipping". If you don't win that auction, rest assured, another similar plant will be available in the following week or so. In my unfortunate experience in the past, I got so wrapped up in the bidding wars that I paid for plants that should not have cost that much! (But it was fun competing.)

[Pattywack]

Thank you Matt for the information, especially about Satomi. I knew a little bit from your previous posts on the board. That explains her absence on eBay lately. I've looked at their website but there is never much there, I check their eBay listings often. New World Orchids and Orchid Web have great sites and plants.

The Suikaden I won from Satomi is much larger than the one currently listed, three large growths with two smaller ones. It was listed as three growths. I think I see the beginning of a spike on it now.

I've been a eBay sniper since 2003, snipping is half the fun! I don't bid until it's down to 5 or 3 seconds, too easy for someone to outbid me. I always have a lil happy dance when I win too.

[AnonYMouse]

Check shows. I expect to see Satomi next week in San Francisco.

---------- Post added at 08:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------

Re: sniping

I've been known to push prices. Not to win the item but to make the other bidders pay.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

... I've been known to push prices. Not to win the item but to make the other bidders pay.

That's part of the fun at fundraising auctions when an item is popular.

[MattWoelfsen]

Sometimes, even its for fundraisers, you get more winning bids than you really wanted! I have made bids on eBay, thinking I was going to get outbid and I ended up winning! That also adds to the fun!

[chiirioz]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

If you become a Neonut, I would advise a little discipline as you engage in bidding on eBay: figure out how much you want to pay for a plant and stick to it. Then in the last 30 seconds of the auction, place your bid. I think this is called "snipping". If you don't win that auction, rest assured, another similar plant will be available in the following week or so. In my unfortunate experience in the past, I got so wrapped up in the bidding wars that I paid for plants that should not have cost that much! (But it was fun competing.)

Haha it seems I've had to learn to be disciplined the hard way. This was the first time I've bid on something I didn't expect someone else to also want as much as I do. The bean type leaf and green-tipped flowers. Oh well - I will wait until next time as I suppose patiently waiting to snipe is the only way... Great info on Seed Engei - I only wish I could have seen more orchids while I was in Japan!