Various Neos, 2017 in Review

[Hakumin]

While many of the most specialized Neo growers from OB have moved elsewhere over the years, there still seems to be a small but dedicated following in Neo section here

I haven't posted pics of my own plants here in a long while...perhaps I should get back to doing so again. I'll make that my 2018 new years resolution.

Let's start with a year in review of the pics I took in 2017.


童丸 - Donghwan - A seedling selected variety of Tamakongo from Korea. It has exceptionally short round leaves and tall growth habit.




白虎 - Byakko - White tiger variegation on a medium small plant. Origins are uncertain but some say that it's an undefined mixture of Setsuzan and Kishuusekko or Takakuma.




公主 - Gongju - A hybrid between Manjushage and a hybrid pink flower neo of unknown parentage. This selection has exceptionally round medium pink flowers, with of course, three spurs.




白雲 - Hakuun - Said to be a seedling selection variety of Takakuma with nicer variegation.




加賀童 - Kagawarabe - A seedling selected variety of Kutsuwamushi with short leaves while still retaining the suzumushi-ken leaf tips. Flowers are identical to Kutsuwamushi.




覚王山 - Kakuozan - This one is the result of a complex breeding program using Fugaku (or maybe Yamato-nishiki) and Musomaru.




黄花曼珠沙華 - Kibana Manjushage - A hybrid between manjushage and a yellow flowered Neo of unknown parentage.




金司龍 - Kinshiryu - This variety was originally found as a chance offset mutation of Kihosei. It has yellow stripes along with the characteristic pinched leaves of Kihosei called Noshi-ba.




紀州手毬 - Kishu Temari - This variety has mutated flowers. Sometimes the blooms never open, rather swelling up like a ball before fading, but sometimes they do open all the way with the peculiarly short outer tepals with pink tips.




黒耀 - Kokuyo - The flowers on this one might be a dead ringer for Seikai, but the leaves are very different. The leaves are short with a rough texture similar to Kinginrasha. Also easier to bloom than Seikai.




旭昇 - Kyokusho - A large form Amami origin variety with exceptional tiger variegation with smooth gradation between yellow and green.




桃山錦 - Momoyama Nishiki - A white shima variegated variety from Korea. The variety has a peculiar trait of the leaf being thinner on the white variegated portions.




無双丸縞 - Musomaru Shima - This is another result of the same breeding program as Kakuozan, but I got it with this alternative name. I'm not sure if this will stay this small in the long run.




明月 - Myeongwol - This hybrid neo of unknown parentage was selected for its exceptionally thick, orangey yellow flowers with red splashes. It has the interesting habit of blooming with no hint of yellow and then darkening over a few days to the deep yellow.




玉香爐 - Tamakoro - A Korean three spurred variety. Compared to Manjushage it is upwards facing, has shorter spurs, and shorter, thicker petals that stay somewhat cupped.




Myeongwol, Tamakoro and Hisui




羅紗丸 - Rashamaru - A minuscule variety with textured leaves. Green stem, green root. Strangely enough it's a seedling selection of a VERY large Amami plant.




青海 - Seikai - Not much more to say about this variety.




雪印錦 - Seoringeum - A Korean variety with a type of white Fukurin variegation with additional streaks of green in the margins. I love the particularly straight standing leaves.




真月 - Shingetsu - This variety gets koshi-fu as well as strong red pigmentation in the stem.

[charlesf6]

Nicely done! Some line-up.

[Pattywack]

WOW Hakumin, beautiful! Thank you so much for posting these. It is a shame the Neo nuts have mostly gone elsewhere, I appreciate the old posts as members were so excited about their plants, their new acquisitions. I became interested in growing Neofinetia because of the enthusiasm shown here.

Your knowledge and willingness to help those of us with our many questions is very much appreciated.

You have a gorgeous collection, many not often seen plants! Thanks for hanging around with us!

[Shoreguy]

Hakumin,

Incredible plants and photos. I hope you keep your New Years Resolution!

[bjmac]

Wonderful neos I really like the 覚王山 - Kakuozan and
青海 - Seikai. The Seikai has great shape, have you had it long? I have yet to purchase my first neo, but I enjoy the bean leafs. Soon as the weather warms up I will be getting my first, hopefully the Seikai. Hakumin were do you purchase your bean leaf neos from?

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by bjmac

Wonderful neos I really like the 覚王山 - Kakuozan and
青海 - Seikai. The Seikai has great shape, have you had it long? I have yet to purchase my first neo, but I enjoy the bean leafs. Soon as the weather warms up I will be getting my first, hopefully the Seikai. Hakumin were do you purchase your bean leaf neos from?

The Seikai I've had for 3 years. I got that one from a friend who had originally gotten it from Seed Engei.

While I do have a few plants from Orchid Web and New World orchids, the majority I have are from Seed Engei and from the Korean nursery Barampungnanwon. Barampung is based in South Korea and they will send plants following legal procedures including Cites and Phyto ceritficates.

[Shoreguy]

BJ,

If you are interested in blooming your first neofinetia,
N Seikai is not a particularly good choice as it is a known difficult bloomer. I suggest you look into N Tamakongo which is more readily available, less expensive, and a well known popular bean leaf, great starting bean leaf. It is not as easy to bloom as some more traditionally shaped neos but much easier than Seikai.

[EmoryG]

These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing Hakumin. Your tigers have such distinct variegation, do you have any suggestions/advice?

I have a Byakko and Hokage that are growing well but have lost a lot of their variegation. They get bright light (just under Cattleya light), too much?

How often do you replace the sphagnum? Your mounding is also really beautiful.

[Hakumin]

I added some variety explanation in the original post.

---------- Post added at 11:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by EmoryG

These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing Hakumin. Your tigers have such distinct variegation, do you have any suggestions/advice?

I have a Byakko and Hokage that are growing well but have lost a lot of their variegation. They get bright light (just under Cattleya light), too much?

How often do you replace the sphagnum? Your mounding is also really beautiful.

From what I understand, "white" tiger variegation such as Setsuzan, Kishu-Sekko, Takakuma, Byakko, Hakuun, among others require fairly low light to get the best variegation. However I've also noticed that since these varieties are also seed propagable, specimens have some variation in the strength of its potential variegation. I've gotten into the habit of only buying tiger varieties with nice variegation to begin with so that I know that if the variegation disappears, it's my fault not a genetic fault.

Hokage, I have no clue. I've never owned one for very long since it's not really my taste in characteristics, and haven't come across much info about how to get the best variegation on those.

I replace the sphag 2-3 times a year.

[Shoreguy]

Originally Posted by Hakumin

I added some variety explanation in the original post.

---------- Post added at 11:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 PM ----------




From what I understand, "white" tiger variegation such as Setsuzan, Kishu-Sekko, Takakuma, Byakko, Hakuun, among others require fairly low light to get the best variegation. However I've also noticed that since these varieties are also seed propagable, specimens have some variation in the strength of its potential variegation. I've gotten into the habit of only buying tiger varieties with nice variegation to begin with so that I know that if the variegation disappears, it's my fault not a genetic fault.

Hokage, I have no clue. I've never owned one for very long since it's not really my taste in characteristics, and haven't come across much info about how to get the best variegation on those.

I replace the sphag 2-3 times a year.

Emory,

Sphag is one way to grow but you may wish to consider the non traditional way of seedling bark combined with shredded tree fern for aeration with coarser bark in the bottom of the pot for drainage. With proper watering and not overfeeding, such can last at least 3 years before repotting is needed. When trying out a new method, never try it for more than one or two plants if you are doing okay with your current method. Also the plants used for the testing of the new method should be duplicates or easily replaceable or non expensive plants.

I have always used bark and tree fern for over 40 years with neos and always have unpotted new purchases out of the sphag even at “inappropriate” times. Just slowly increase the level of sun to final amount over period of a 4 to 6 weeks. If the bark is dry (gauged by the weight of the pot) a good few spays on sunny days would be appropriate.