Byakko 白虎

[IncurablePlantHead]

If the plants you have are doing fine in the brighter light....I wouldn't fix the thing that's not broken. If your bringing in a new one to the light, then I'd just expose it slowly since it may not be accustomed. It has been my experience in general with orchids that it's not ultimately the brighter light levels that is the problem, it's more getting them gradually use to it. I'll bet that little Japanese Wonder is more hardy than you think. Just my general opinion....I could of course be sooooo wrong!

[MattWoelfsen]

Googling "Byakko" translates into English as "White Tiger". Dries adds a fourth plant, Setsuzan 雪山, which is described by Seed Engei: "SETSUZAN has white tiger stripe and is similar to KISHUSEKKO. Compared to KISHUSEKKO, this varietiy has brown stem and root tips. Greatly variegated!" Then from Orchids Unlimited, they describe Setzusan as "A fast-growing Tora-fu (tiger stripe) with light yellow/white splotches of variegation. It is said to look like patches of snow on a mountain, hence the name 'Setsuzan' meaning 'Snow Mountain."

Jeremiah Chua confirms that Byakko is like Setsuzan. Furthermore Jeremiah confirms Byakko has more sensitivity to higher light which results in burning. Going back to my quote from Seed Engei, they mention a fifth plant Kishusekko 紀州雪虎 --which is also a tiger stripe. When I look at my Setsuzan and Kishusekko, the variegation is definitely yellow, when you compare it to Amanogawa and Houmeiden. Another plant, mentioned by Jeremiah, is Hokage 火影--which is described as a tiger stripe BUT it has white, yellow, and scarlet variegation. My Hokage displays white and yellow variegation. If I wanted the scarlet variegation, I would have to provide this plant with more light.

Which brings up another tiger stripe plant: Kouen 虹炎. I remember this plant discussed almost a year ago when a beautifully grown plant was awarded a ribbon at the Fukiran Society of America Neofinetia show and judging event this past September 2013. I think coffeecup attended that event? Seed Engei describes this Kouen 虹炎 to be like a Hokage but it stays smaller than a Hokage. Kouen is also more expensive.


Kouen 虹炎 by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

In summary, these are the tiger stripes discussed in this thread:
1 Byakko
2 Amanogawa
3 Houmeiden
4 Setsuzan
5 Kishusekko
6 Hokage
7 Kouen

Perhaps there are more tiger stripe varieties? If you know of others, not listed here, please add your information.

Thank you all for engaging in this very enLIGHTening discussion.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Which brings up another tiger stripe plant: Kouen 虹炎. I remember this plant discussed almost a year ago when a beautifully grown plant was awarded a ribbon at the Fukiran Society of America Neofinetia show and judging event this past September 2013. I think coffeecup attended that event? Seed Engei describes this Kouen 虹炎 to be like a Hokage but it stays smaller than a Hokage. Kouen is also more expensive.


Kouen 虹炎 by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Kouen!!!! Want!!!!! At least as a placeholder until a better specimen comes along. This one isn't too shabby in itself though.

Duping this post to the ebay thread....

[s.kallima]

Matt,
Jitsugetsukou 日月光 is another one similar to Amanogawa, but instead of having white spots at the base of the leaf only, it also has spots spread across the leaves. I have one, it is beautiful!

Keshoumaru 化粧丸 , a white tiger, recently imported by SE (since last summer, and she had some more in her last email Feb. listing). They are more expensive, and very nice. I got two plants from Satomi (they looked very beautiful), unfortunately they died very fast after I received it from a sort of black rot I think was already in the plants when imported.

If you have a look here, there are lots of tiger stripe forms... Kibotan is one of the most precious white tiger ones...

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------
I also read somewhere that Byakko is a select form of Setsuzan

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello s.kallima. Thank you for your reply and link. I've been over to the Russian website. I wish we had something like this in English--although Google translate does a good job. The Russians seem to have access to a lot of different Neofinetia? than we have here in this hemisphere.

[s.kallima]

Matt,

From what I read on that russian forum, they get a lot of plants from Korea where they grow a lot of Neos from mericlones...

[MattWoelfsen]

Epithet: this was an excellent discussion on Tiger-stripe Neofinetia. You have advanced my knowledge of growing this variety. This Byakko looked like a lovely plant but its final value far exceeded my desire to own it! I hope it will thrive in its new home.,

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Do I have a vague recollection that we discussed this before and there was a real lack of consensus. I believe someone suggested that what works for them with the white tiger varieties is to alternate 2 weeks in bright light with 2 weeks in less light.

It turns out that reference wasn't regarding white tiger stripes, but rather Kara Nishiki, per a post from me way, way back in the ebay thread:

The FSoA site also shows Leslie's Toronto place on the grow areas photo page.

Growing Areas - Fukiran Society of America

EDIT to add:

This note about the Karanishiki is enlightening:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

Excerpt:

[jeremiah.chua]

Byakko went for $70. That's ridiculously high IMO. Of course, prices on these plants are really up to however much prospectors feel they are worth but uh... wow. I really think all these posts Matt has been making on OB have driven prices up much higher than certain plants are actually worth. It's a little humorous. Great news for Satomi and other Neo vendors, I suppose!

I haven't bothered buying any new Neos in a long from eBay, mainly because some of the plants have been way too overhyped and thus, causes prices to skyrocket on eBay. Anyone else feel this way?

Can't wait to see SE at the POE this weekend. No bidding wars, yay!!! If anyone here plans on attending the POE, hit me up if y'all wanna meet and have nerdy chats.

[s.kallima]

I feel the same Jeremiah!
Last year Byakko used to sell for $40, same size!
I wish I could do the trip to SF to see Satomi's plant directly and have a good chat!