Neofinetia falcata (Vanda falcata)

[Bud]

Neofinetia (Vanda) falcata, better known as “Fuuran フウラン”(wind orchid) or “Fuukiran” (風蘭, rich and noble orchid) in Japan, is native to Asia and particularly cherished in Japan. Called “Rich and Noble Orchids,” Neos were once so highly prized that they were owned only by people of high rank. Unlike the typical orchid, Fuukiran, along with other Japanese orchids, are prized for their foliage which makes them a beautiful addition to your home year round. When they bloom, their delicate but long-lasting flowers fill the air with the intoxicating scent that is a mix of vanilla, honeysuckle, and orange blossom.

Most Neos are priced by GROWTH: the more fans of leaves a plant has, the more expensive it is.

Neofinetia falcata has been revered in East Asia for over 400 years and has an interesting history. Tokugawa Ienari, 11th and longest serving (1787 to 1837) shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate was obsessed with this species and raised it to iconic status in Japan. He used his position to encourage the collection of individual plants from the wild that had interesting flower colors, leaf forms or variegations. Many of these clones became so highly prized that they garnered the name Fuukiran (風蘭, rich and noble orchid). Clones have been passed down through the generations and are considered to be living antiques.

The Amami Island Form (my orchid plant) is the largest, most vigorous form of Neofinetia, having the biggest, longest flowers and foliage of the group. It is fast growing and due to its being native to a subtropical island south of Japan, it can grow in tropical conditions, unlike most Neofinetia which require cool winters to grow well.

Neos are easy to grow and quite forgiving with abuse. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and can be grown outdoors in most parts of the US during the summer months, and can be grown year-round outdoors in frost-free parts of California and Florida. I bring my Neos outdoors in the summer months hanging with my large Vandas. They can tolerate winter night-time temperatures down to at least 34°F (1.6°C)! Medium light (1500-3000 foot-candles) is required (6” below a fluorescent lamp). If you are growing under fluorescent lights, keep the plants about 6" - 8" from the tubes. All my Neos are situated on the East-facing windowsill which is ideal but south- and west-facing work well as long as the sunlight isn't too searing. These orchid plants need humidity above 40% r/h and will thrive above 60% r/h. They need to be kept slightly drier in winter (once a week as opposed to every other day watering regimen in summer) to initiate good blooming. I don’t give it a harsh winter rest.
I hold fertilizer in winter and resume feeding and water regimen in spring.




(To date: I have 11 mature fans and 5 new growths; four spikes fully opened fragrant blooms)





This is the first year that this bloomed for me in 2011. I started with four fans.