Odd growing Neofinetia - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 09-30-2017, 10:16 AM

Today I finally received my package from Elsner Orchids in Germany. One of the plants is a standard Neofinetia falcata, and having owned 2 of these in the past, I find the growth of this really, really strange. It's an otherwise very healthy plant, with many roots.

Basically instead of having new fans come from the base of the plant, each new fan seems to be coming out of the previous one from a rather high node, and the last resulting fan is really elongated. Is this considered a normal, but just different, growth habit for this species, or did I buy a monster? I find it quite ugly looking.

Leafmite · #2 09-30-2017, 01:04 PM

I agree that it is not attractive presented in a pot but it does have potential. I would try mounting it on a branch or uneven rock as it would probably look pretty good that way. I bought a Neo mounted on a stick (Andy's Orchids) and it is pretty easy to keep happy. On the internet, there are some great pictures of mounted Neos that might give you some great ideas. Good luck with it!

camille1585 · #3 09-30-2017, 01:55 PM

Good idea to mount it, although my track record with mounts is very poor. It does give me an excuse to buy another Neo though!

jkofferdahl · #4 09-30-2017, 07:06 PM

I think your Neo is perfectly normal. It appears to me that it developed a keiki, and the keiki has since grown to full size while still attached to the mother plant. It will continue to grow along side the mother, and will probably eventually be separable from the mother. I would take it as a sign that your plant is healthy, and celebrate it. It sure won't be ugly when it blooms!

---------- Post added at 06:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:03 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I agree that it is not attractive presented in a pot but it does have potential. I would try mounting it on a branch or uneven rock as it would probably look pretty good that way. I bought a Neo mounted on a stick (Andy's Orchids) and it is pretty easy to keep happy. On the internet, there are some great pictures of mounted Neos that might give you some great ideas. Good luck with it!

I also have a mounted Neo from Andy's, and it's a machine. When it arrived the plant had three fans, each a bit too small to bloom. It now has 7 or 8 fans, and has covered the mount with roots. Mounted plants take more attention simply because they require watering at least once, often twice, a day. Yet if your conditions are good, especially the humidity, the plant grows more naturally than when potted.

camille1585 · #5 10-01-2017, 04:53 AM

I had no idea that Neos could produce keikis! That makes a lot of sense, now that I look at the plant again.

I don't understand why I fail so abysmally with mounts. The Netherlands is a very damp country, humidity is certainly not an issue. Just checked the weather app, and right now (10am) in my town the RH is 92%... The hygrometer hanging on my orchid shelving unit indoors reads 75%. Last week we even had several days of 95%+ RH. (I wasn't exaggerating when I said it was a damp country!)

camille1585 · #6 10-01-2017, 08:13 AM

Uh oh, I feel a Neo addiction starting really fast... I received this one yesterday, today I bought a Yoroidoshi and Fugaku from someone in the UK who made a massive import (over 200 plants I think) from Seed Engei, and I've pre-ordered Shutennou to pick up at a local show next week.

estación seca · #7 10-01-2017, 03:22 PM

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."
- Mae West

Pattywack · #8 10-01-2017, 10:04 PM

Camille, I think your plant is nice as is. I was not aware Neos produced keiki, just new fans. I’m not exactly the experienced Neo grower though.

The Neos I have are all grown in the traditional moss mound, I’m funny that way, keep it as intended. In fact I used to think they looked odd in their moss mounds until I started collecting them. Now I find myself admiring a well mossed plant with the perfect form.

It sounds like you’re on your way to a nice Neo collection, enjoy it! I would like to add Yoroidoshi to my collection, it’s a nice plant. Fugaku was one of my first Neos. I hope you will post pictures when they arrive!

camille1585 · #9 10-02-2017, 03:08 AM

I didn't intend on getting a Yoroidoshi, except that the other one I wanted was already sold. I told the seller that I'd only get the Fugaku since I'd rather get inexpensive Neos to start with, and then he suggested the Yoroidoshi.... I really really wanted the Senzai but was not ready to spent 50€ on a single plant. It was a nice plant, 2 mature growths and 3 half grown ones.

I presume that they will be arriving bareroot since the photos are like that. I'm going to have to put them in bark for now. I love the look of the sphag mounds, but I have no idea how to water those and was likely the source of my Neo woes the first time around. Besides, I need to shop around to find some quality long strand NZ sphag, it's hard to find. I could buy it directly in Japan when I'm there next month, but not sure what the rules are in customs given that it's (dead) plant material?