How do you feel about these conditions for culture ?

[Epiphyteme]

Hi there , I’m looking to add a few neofinetia (vanda)? Falcata , specifically seikai, houmeiden, and kinboshi , I have a southern exposure that gets good light most the day being in Colorado , temperatures range from 72/77 during the day with 50 percent humidity and down to 65 at night I know they require some sort of winter rest period and they will be in the room with catasetums, do you think that day night differential is sufficient or should I explore other warmer tolerant species ?

[Shoreguy]

Certainly worth a try. Your environment sounds quite good.

Is the sun direct or through a window bug screen?
Very bright direct long exposure to south facing sun could be too much and cause burning. Can you vary exposure by placing partially behind other plants if not through a bug screen.

Your temperature situation sounds perfect.

Neofinetia Houmeiden can be tricky to achieve the desired inner variegation. Be sure to see my post in this section of the Orchid Board asking assistance on Houmeiden culture.

N Seikei can be tricky to bloom. N Kinboshi is a strange choice. Indeed all three are somewhat off the beaten track for a beginning grower. Have you been offered access to these (perhaps offered them for free) or for some reason decided you are interested in them? Not to criticize, just curious.

[Epiphyteme]

Let’s see ... right now i have 5 catasetums behind a sheer curtain pretty ,close to the window ( there’s some breathing room) the other side has a bug screen that I’m going to say cuts the light in half that comes through , it’s visibily less for sure . So shading isn’t a concern for the most part .

I’m basically torn between getting a few neofinetia which I think will preform well in this situation.

Or trying to battle some paphiopedilum species ( sigmatopetalum or Barbata what have you section the ones who aren’t totally reliant on a wide temp gradient )

Or getting some more phrags who would probably love my conditions if I stuck to warmer growing types but I feel like I’ll run out of room really really fast being relegated to warmer growing species and hybrids with a tendency to get big .


I’m willing to hear any input I’m brooding before my birthday deciding

[Pattywack]

I think your growing conditions sound great. You had mentioned in another post that there is a sheer curtain in the window so that should help. Temps sounds good as well.

Shoreguy has years of experience growing Neofinetia, I would follow his advice if you have any other questions.

I’ve only been growing Neos for almost two years and I can honestly say you can not grow just a few. There is no stopping, you’ll want them all.

[Epiphyteme]

Cool I apologize for the redundant posts , I have a tendency to vary between doing a Ton of research... and asking totally vague questions that garner no response. That being said I’ve pretty much narrowed it down to those three categories of plants that would preform well in my situation without chancing too many deep hybrids to see what works , I’d much rather focus on a group or species then try and jam a bunch of stuff in a room and pray and I know my shortcoming as far as cultivation is the inability to mimic drastic winter changes indoor for species that require that. So I’m basically flipping around between those three as much as phrags make me smile the space vs size dosent make sense since there’s only so much window to go around.

Warmer growing paphs or Neos it is well see if anyone else anyone else has input on that front.

The houmeiden honestly I selected from satomis Flickr because it is really really really super vigorous and healthy looking

[Shoreguy]

One of my biggest Neofinetia growing errors was getting involved with Neofinetia Houmeiden financially (about $300) down the drain, 3 plants, and more importantly time spent caring for them and not achieving the desired inner variegation. If you are interested in it for the ruby roots tips and other reasons go ahead. If the inner variegation is your interest, you must read the posting I alluded to. I do not possess the conditions necessary to achieve inner variegation.

I appreciate Pattywacks kind words but you must also follow Hakumin's posts, few people know more than him about neos and if he doesn’t know, he can find someone who does.

The following are the two biggest errors a new grower of Neofinetias makes:

1) Liking and buying neos before getting to know the vast number of different characteristics, both vegetative (including leaf variegation as well as shape) and floral including Neofinetia hybrids with Neofinetia shaped flowers. And later when no more growing room is left, realizing that other neos would have been a far better choice.

2) Seeing a picture of an incredible Neofinetia and realizing you must have it so you order one from a vendor of that variety, only to be disappointed in what you receive. Individual plants of a variety can vary markedly in the extent that they possess the characteristics of the variety. Therefore you must request that the vendor email you a picture of the exact plant that you will be receiving, not just a picture of a plant of the desired variety.

[Epiphyteme]

I understand where you are coming from she’s out of seikai and houmeiden after her last email anyway , she offered me a single growth hisui for 15 I’m still interested in the kinboshi is there another variety I could pester her for in the next email? Preferably something a little more expensive then those two

[Shoreguy]

What’s the rush? If your birthday, why not consider the two commonly available Neofinetia books, one hard cover, the other soft available from many U S vendors. Try SE or NWO as they may have them. The books are in Japanese but have varietal names in English.

These books will open your eyes.

[Epiphyteme]

Already ordered the book !

[Shoreguy]

Good. You are on your way!

Please reread my longest post, I've added more to it.