Snowy day cure? New Neofinetia!
 

Yesterday began with a couple of inches of snow, again. After storm Stella had melted away on Saturday, I was a bit bummed. I called my daughter and asked if she would be interested in a trip to Al's Orchids, knowing she would be. Nothing better on a cold, snowy day than a nice friendly greenhouse.

Al didn't have his sale table of Neofinetia any longer so what are you going to do? Buy em anyway! I brought home two gorgeous Neofinetia, a Rasha chabo nishiki and a nice big Yodonomatsu.

I've not found much information on the Rasha chabo nishiki anyone grow this little beauty? They are both nice healthy plants. Snows all gone now too! First picture is Rasha chabo nishiki, second is Yodonomatsu.

That's a really great looking plant! Neos sure are calling my name lately...

Thank you jkofferdahl, they are both nice! The Yodonomatsu is so big, I couldn't resist. I'm wondering about the Rasha chabo nishiki though. I've been all over the internet and I've found next to nothing about this plant. It originally came from Seed Engei. It's a cutie for sure and has a spike emerging I believe. There are just so many to choose from.

Sounds like you need to buy a Neofinetia!

I'm starting to think you need to get at least one of each and every different kind.

Estacion seca your funny! I wanted a small collection and just thought a nice one of each leaf verity would be great. I'm getting there, lol and I'm running out of space.

This particular new one has me stumped. I usually know what I'm looking for when shopping for plants, even Neos. The yodonomatsu I've seen before and read a lot about it. This Rasha chabo nishiki is a new one to me, never seen anything posted about it and none of the vendors have it.

After looking more today, I understand "Rasha" refers to rough texture of the leaves which this plant does not have. The nishiki is used in many Neofinetia names, variegated leaves which this plant does not have either. I think I'm going to contact Al and see what he may suggest. This plant was originally from Seed Engei, it was acquired by Al in 2011.

It could have been mislabeled at some point.

So, you Neo nuts... would you buy something, unseen, with a name you don't already own? What if it were a really really flowery, poetic name?

Rasha Chabo Nishiki 羅紗矮鶏錦 is a poorly documented Neofinetia plant. I have not seen any other description other than what I understand the Romanji stands for--which is a little risky for non-Japanese to translate. I'll try anyway. Hopefully friends like "Hakumin" will see this thread and opine! Here goes my version: Rasha and Nishiki are two Romanji words that describe texture. When these two words come together, they give the understanding that the plant is a rough textured plant. Nishiki is often used to describe texture, not variegation. The word "chabo" is in English "chicken". But I think in this case, chabo describes how the leaves are upright, like the tail feathers of a rooster. Roosters are highly venerated animals in Asia. In fact, this is the Year of the Rooster. Back to this plant. Rasha Chabo Nishiki is a rough textured upright leafed Furan. That is my take but I defer to anyone to correct my understanding of this plant.

Yodo-No-Matsu 淀の松 is a bean leaf plant. It is very similar to Tomakongou but the difference is their provenance. Tomakongou is from a morph of Amami Island Furan and is considered one of the first bean leafs so identified. Yodonomatsu is another bean leaf from another location in Japan, I think it comes from Kyoto. Again, this could be incorrect. Yodonomatsu can grow larger than Tomakongou but my plant is smaller than my Tomakongou. However Yodo does clump up to appear like a multi-branched pine tree. Hence its name.

Acquiring Neofinetia without knowing what the name means is often the case for non-Japanese/Korean/Chinese Furan collectors like me. My friend "Hakumin" always shakes his head in disbelief when I post my latest acquisition without knowing what the varietal name is of the particular Neofinetia acquired.

But I do know in general terms how to take care of this plant and can adjust cultural conditions to grow it successfully. It is after all only one kind of orchid in the Vanda Alliance.

Contrast that with trying to grow Dendrobium, or Bulbophylum. There are so many different cultures for these orchids that I struggle to figure how to grow them. Masdevallia--some require cold, others require heat. You have to do a lot of research just to figure out how to water any of these plants.

Not so with Neofinetia.

Absolutely! But you need deep pockets.

Hi Matt, and thanks. I'm assuming you don't have this Rasha chabo nishiki? In searching today it seemed every plant I found with nishiki in the name, was a variegated plant so I believed that was the interpretation. The leaves on this plant are not rough at all, not any more rough than a Shutennou. I'm still unsure as to the identity of this plant.

The Yodo-no-matsu is much larger than my Tamakongo, it is awesome in its size and form.

Thank you for you help and information as always.

---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 PM ----------

They are expensive though if you purchase single fan plants it's doable. I have two little singles I couldn't resist because they are so tiny and cute. The others I've purchased are much larger, and several look as though they will flower this year. Of course having the 1/2 price sale was very nice.