Total Chaos and Subdued Beauty

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

In a reasonably priced variegated bean leaf Neo or a monster house sized RV?

---------- Post added at 05:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 PM ----------

Bj,

I'm starting to feel sorry for you. I once pictured a terrific bean leaf which sports ruby root tips and you questioned me for its name which I refused to divulge saying you should gain more knowledge of the entire field. I do not have one.

I am going to give you its name but you must be very careful in your purchase of it to get it from a reliable vendor and receive a current picture of it displaying the ruby root tips before purchase.

It is very pricey but less expensive than a house sized monster RV or a variegated bean leaf.

The name is Neofinetia Magatama.

Be careful.

Just an FYI, Magatama is a variegated bean leaf and it's notorious for being extremely difficult to get to color up correctly.

[Shoreguy]

Originally Posted by Hakumin

Just an FYI, Magatama is a variegated bean leaf and it's notorious for being extremely difficult to get to color up correctly.

Clarification definitely needed. I have only once seen pictures of Magatama displaying variegation. When you say that it is difficult to “color up correctly” are you referring to the ruby root tips? Most pictures I’ve seen of it have the ruby root tips but no hint of leaf variation. Is the variegation generally subdued? I realize that pictures do not always tell the true story. I recently saw a picture of a variegated Magatama but thought that was an aberration as all other pictures were plain leafed.

[bjmac]

Thanks Shoreguy and Hakumin for the information. I will put it on my list to look for.

[Shoreguy]

I replaced the original picture of the Fugaku with the new picture in the first posting of this thread.

It justifies, in my mind, calling it subdued beauty.

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

Clarification definitely needed. I have only once seen pictures of Magatama displaying variegation. When you say that it is difficult to “color up correctly” are you referring to the ruby root tips? Most pictures I’ve seen of it have the ruby root tips but no hint of leaf variation. Is the variegation generally subdued? I realize that pictures do not always tell the true story. I recently saw a picture of a variegated Magatama but thought that was an aboration as all other pictures were plain leafed.

A well grown magatama will have yellow-green to bright yellow tora-fu on it's top couple leaves. It is sometimes described as the bean leaf with kinbotan variegation. The ruby roots are easy. The variegation, the main reason it's so sought after, is the difficult part.





Magatama Variety Profile - Korea Neofinetia Association

勾玉 - 富貴蘭-ふうらん-と遊ぶ

옥금강 실생 '구옥':난과함께

---------- Post added at 06:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by bjmac

I guess I will struggle along without any variegated ones. Maybe I will find a bargain someday.

The cheapest bean leaf you'll find with bright variegation will be Daishogun/Daisonishiki. You can usually get a nicely variegated small one for $150-$300.

[Shoreguy]

Thanks Hakumin,

I've seen many pictures of Magatama and as mentioned only one variegated. Those pictures are spectacular. The fact that all the other pictures were plain leafed certainly supports your assertion that is is difficult to get it to variegate.

You would think that owners would wait till a magatama variegated before taking a picture for a book. Maybe they never variegated theirs. Also you would think the individual compiling the pictures would wait to get a picture of a variegated one.

From actual experience, I do know something about the current situation of N Daisonishiki, when Hakumin says small he means it. Perhaps in 5 or 10 years the prices will come down for all sizes but never cheap and perhaps never reasonable.