Neos

[Marco]

It's the start of neo season for me.

higashidemiyako

higashidemiyako (東出都) 01 - 04.13.17 by Marco, on Flickr

higashidemiyako

higashidemiyako (東出都) 02 - 04.13.17 by Marco, on Flickr

unkai

unkai (雲海) - 01 - 04.10.17 by Marco, on Flickr

benihichou

benihichou (紅飛蝶) 03 - 03.28.17 by Marco, on Flickr

benihichou

benihichou (紅飛蝶) 02 - 03.28.17 by Marco, on Flickr

nishidemiyako

nishidemiyako (西出都) - 01 - 03.26.17 by Marco, on Flickr

nishidemiyako

nishidemiyako (西出都) - 02 - 03.26.17 by Marco, on Flickr

"yellow dragon"

"yellow dragon" - 03 - 03.14.17 by Marco, on Flickr

"yellow dragon"

"yellow dragon" - 02 - 03.14.17 by Marco, on Flickr

[jkofferdahl]

Those are all wonderful. I've long loved Neos, but the proliferation of varietals is stunning. I'm especially impressed by both unkai and benihichou.

How do you grow yours?

+*+*+*+*+*

You added Yellow Dragon since I originally posted. Wow.

[ilikeorchids]

beautiful little orchids. good growing!

[Marco]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

Those are all wonderful. I've long loved Neos, but the proliferation of varietals is stunning. I'm especially impressed by both unkai and benihichou.

How do you grow yours?

Thanks! All of my neos sit in an eastern window and supplemented by 2 t5 tubes.

[jkofferdahl]

What temperature range? I ask because I had two of my three Neos (generic, but still Neos) in my east-facing grow window, where the temperatures are on the cooler side of warm. When I set up my miniatures area I moved two of the three there. The mini area is under 4 T5s, has never dropped below 65 degrees, and has a humidity averaging about 65-68%. Within weeks of moving, one threw up a single spike while the second has two (both are covered with buds). The one in the grow window, while growing extremely well, hasn't produced a spike. I'm wondering if the change of conditions spurred the plants to spike or if it was just their time?

[Pattywack]

Oh how beautiful Marco! Your Neos are gorgeous and the yellow dragon, WOW!

It's good to see other Neo growers back on the board. Thanks for sharing your beautiful plants.

[chidlove]

Gorgeous! The flowers are so delicate,bet they smell Heavenly

[Marco]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

What temperature range? I ask because I had two of my three Neos (generic, but still Neos) in my east-facing grow window, where the temperatures are on the cooler side of warm. When I set up my miniatures area I moved two of the three there. The mini area is under 4 T5s, has never dropped below 65 degrees, and has a humidity averaging about 65-68%. Within weeks of moving, one threw up a single spike while the second has two (both are covered with buds). The one in the grow window, while growing extremely well, hasn't produced a spike. I'm wondering if the change of conditions spurred the plants to spike or if it was just their time?

Truthfully, I'm not sure what the relative temperature around my grow area is. All I know is that it gets extremely hot during the winter and I actually have to open my windows to cool the apt down. Albiet all of my neos get there fair share of the brisk winter cold. I leave my window slightly open and rotate neos with dry media right next to the window. Also my apartment is extremely dry. Humidity is a major issue. I have humidity trays under my neos. However, Im not really sure if it helps or not.

With my apt being so warm, I notice that when i purchase neos during late fall i usually get a spike or two with very few blooms (1 - 2 blooms at most). Possibly due to culture shock or season confusion?

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Marco

Truthfully, I'm not sure what the relative temperature around my grow area is. All I know is that it gets extremely hot during the winter and I actually have to open my windows to cool the apt down. Albiet all of my neos get there fair share of the brisk winter cold. I leave my window slightly open and rotate neos with dry media right next to the window. Also my apartment is extremely dry. Humidity is a major issue. I have humidity trays under my neos. However, Im not really sure if it helps or not.

With my apt being so warm, I notice that when i purchase neos during late fall i usually get a spike or two with very few blooms (1 - 2 blooms at most). Possibly due to culture shock or season confusion?

Well, as I am, as I've said, no expert at all. I can say, though, that within weeks of moving my plants they spiked. The Hoshiguruma is, in fact, covered in flowers and with a third spike just developing. The major difference which I think helped them was the higher humidity where they now live.

It's easy to raise the humidity but humidity trays don't do it. A tray has little surface area, and so the amount of evaporate coming from it is insignificant. I use ultrasonic humidifiers in both areas where my orchids grow, which significantly raise the humidity. Without one, my main grow room hits about 30%RH when the furnace runs, while a single humidifier raises it to over 65%. Worth dropping about $20. Oh, and if you use a humidifier, use a small fan or two for air movement.

[MattWoelfsen]

John, reading your reply, above, it reads like a closet Furanistas to me and not so much neoinitiate! I think you just need several Furan!