Neostylis Lou Sneary "Blue Bird", Bluer Flowers in 2nd Blooming - Orchid Board

Joseia · #1 03-08-2015, 05:38 PM

Got this Neostylis Lou Sneary "Blue Bird" in the Spring of 2013 from a local vendor, and it has bloomed for me once before during the early Winter of 2013. Since then, it has been torturing me by sending up one spike after another, and then aborting them. One spike grew to an inch in size, making me think I was finally going to get some flowers; but it stopped growing, dried up and died.

So after some research and questions here on OB, I changed my care of this plant by removing 80% of the bark media in the pot and watering it every single morning. It's in a warm terrarium (max temp 84F, min temp 72F) under a MH light with good air flow and slight ventilation, and dries out by the next morning even though the humidity in there is about 75%. After about three months, the plant definitely looks happier and finally grew a spike and gave me some flowers.

The flowers this time are different than the last blooms in the Winter of 2013. This batch has a lot more blue than the last time. And this time, they are fragrant all day, strongest right after the lights turn off. During the previous bloom, it was only fragrant around mid-morning, and not as strong as now. I can smell these flowers from a yard away. This plant has kept me on my toes as I've struggled to figure out how to give it what it needs over the years. Just when I thought I had it figure out, a half dozen dying spikes made me think about changes to the culture again.

WhiteRabbit · #2 03-08-2015, 09:14 PM

Lovely!

RJSquirrel · #3 03-09-2015, 12:10 AM

oh nice pretty flowers and a very nice growing plant too. nice looking plants help the flowers pop out bec you arent looking at nothing but the flower

and with a scent is a bonus!!

deeply

my neostylis have been spike fakers too...I think I counted 7 fails.

Ray · #4 03-09-2015, 09:18 AM

The color difference could be related to seasonal changes in conditions. Pigment development is greatly affected by temperatures and light levels.

Jackie26085 · #5 06-26-2015, 03:56 PM

I wish I found this post earlier. My neofinetias are having the same problem, the spikes will be stuck just outside the leaves for months. Several have yellowed and died but two have not. Do you think they have been aborted too? The roots are going very well and the leaves are growing longer. I don't have a terrarium.

Fernando · #6 06-26-2015, 04:00 PM

So nice!
Mine grows and grows but won't flower.

RosieC · #7 06-27-2015, 05:21 AM

Fantastic, love this one!

Joseia · #8 06-27-2015, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

I wish I found this post earlier. My neofinetias are having the same problem, the spikes will be stuck just outside the leaves for months. Several have yellowed and died but two have not. Do you think they have been aborted too? The roots are going very well and the leaves are growing longer. I don't have a terrarium.

I don't think my terrarium is that important, I think that I had just been letting this plant dry out too much. Before I removed most of the bark, I would go 6 days in between waterings. I was so worried about rotting the roots by over watering that I think I just kept it too dry.

Don't give up hope on yours. You are at least getting spikes, so you just need that final step and you will get rewarded with beautiful flowers.

Since I last posted this in March, I have kept up the daily spraying routine and give it a good soak in a pot every three days. I am letting the roots get slightly dry, but not totally dry, between waterings.

It is definitely a happy plant now. It grew out another spike a month ago and it already has 7 or 8 buds growing. There is also a second spike growing, can't wait to see if that also manages to flower. Double spikes on this plant would make me go to bed every night with a big fat smile on my face.

Jackie26085 · #9 07-01-2015, 12:45 AM

Joseia, I think you are right. I kept them too dry when I was away for three weeks and thereafter because I was too afraid of root rot. I have been watering more often and I will keep an eye on the nubbin. But I'm not keeping my hope high because there are at least 2 new basal growths and they might leach too much energy from the spike. Did you give yours a winter rest? If so, how cold and dry did you give it?

Joseia · #10 07-01-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

Joseia, I think you are right. I kept them too dry when I was away for three weeks and thereafter because I was too afraid of root rot. I have been watering more often and I will keep an eye on the nubbin. But I'm not keeping my hope high because there are at least 2 new basal growths and they might leach too much energy from the spike. Did you give yours a winter rest? If so, how cold and dry did you give it?

Nope, did not get a winter rest from me. LOL, I will die if that's what I have been missing. But I don't seem to recall that this one needs a winter rest, not like the neofinetia falcatas. I guess I am basically treating this more like a vanda? I don't know, still a newb.