Caring for long roots on Amami Island
 

I thought I sent this post but it hasn't shown up. Apologies if this is a duplicate.

Just got this neo. Wondering about caring for the 2' long roots. I have misted them daily (have had only 2 days). Anything else I should do?

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...psmoutt7fw.jpg

You got the large growing Neo that is used to high humidity that's why it had pencil thick roots. If you have low humidity in your growing area, I suggest you repot it the traditional way instead of being mounted. Gather all the roots and curl it inside a pot nested with moss.

Thanks so much!

I have been wanting to do a kokedama, but was a little worried about fitting all the roots in a pot without a lot of damage. However, they are pretty flexible at this point. I have a large Chinese pot that is probably suitable for this kind of planting and I've got the extra long New Zealand moss, so I may attempt it..

Apparently, this has been mounted for some time as the roots nearly envelop the piece of wood it's on. It won't be easy to coax them off.

I've seen pix posted here of vandas in large clear vases with water tickeling their roots so as to maximize humidity. Then again,you could always have those newfies sit around and just breathe on it! Once again,they're glorious!

A glass vase might work- easy to mist inside, and can have some water in to give more humidity.

Lovely roots, too lovely to hide in a pot if you ask me. But I know there are different opinions :)

Really nice plant, looks big and healthy :)

OMG! You're brilliant! If I just hang a piece of meat off the upper shelf, they'll sit there all day long watching it. Great humidifiers! Plus they put off a lot of BTUs. How economical can you get!

---------- Post added at 04:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

You know, I was just putting together another (sigh - never thought I'd have to - HAH) set of shelves and admiring my new neo. I think I'm going to get another littler one for a kokedame and leave this fellow alone. I LOVE the roots, and think I would miss them.

Plus I'm still scared to try them in a glass vase, yet. I nearly killed a phal doing that. Well, I did kill it but it presented me with a wee keiki before it finally gave up the ghost so I'm counting that as not really a murder. Sort of.

With putting neos/vandas in a vase, the water is not left in the vase all the time. The roots get soaked a couple, three times a week, then the water's poured out.

Wrknnwf, did you get this mounted Neofinetia from "insituorchids"? I was going to get one of these plants. They looked so healthy.

Your plant was grown in a very humid environment that encouraged such rich growth both in terms of roots and leaves. If I had acquired one of these plants, I would use the vase method, as my conditions are very dry.

If you can get a tall glass vase that fits the roots and the plant, I would hang the plant inside the vase. About once a week, water the plant inside the vase with tepid water. Let it soak for maybe thirty minutes and drain it. Allow the plant to dry out.

The vase will function as a mini green house! Congratulations on getting this plant!

Like this- only roots inside the glass vase :)

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...f4495a338c.jpg

I have two this way, usually mist them, but this second one likes to have a bath every now and then :)
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/02...8951d6de9a.jpg

Anyway- I totally agree- that plant is awesome- leave it be, and buy a smaller one for kokedama😎

Marshalls here often has enormous glass vases at very low prices.

There is an extensive sticky thread in the Vanda - Other Genera forum on Vandas in Glass Vases. It's how I'm doing it.