Neofinetia on the go with new homes

[bjmac]

I received my new pots from Iker Bonsai Pots today and repotted the neos. The pots have a hole in the bottom for drainage. The Kuroshinjyu (Black Pearl) looks exceptional great in her new home as do the others. I have not had a problem with the humidity in Tucson. I have to open one door an inch at night, otherwise the humidity is 90% in the morning. This keeps it around 65 to 70%.

[Pattywack]

I like your little pots! I’ve used a few bonsai pots myself with smaller Neos, I always add a net pot upturned or a couple of packing peanuts. I am afraid of the lack of air to the roots otherwise.

I’ve made a few of my pots as well. There is an old thread here discussing pot making with Sculpey clay. It is a very interesting thread, a lot of fun to read with many beautiful pots! Truly a great read.

Your collection is looking great!

[bjmac]

Thanks Patty I tried to be sure that the moss was very loose in the bottom of the pots. I hope that these pots work, because I really like them. I have room for three more bean leaf neos, I will have to be very selective.

[charlesf6]

Sweet!

[No-Pro-mwa]

There very cute.

[bjmac]

How much new root growth is normal each year? The aerial roots on the Seikai that I can see have grow about 1/2" in the last two weeks, are they going to keep growing or is this about all they will do for the season?

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by bjmac

How much new root growth is normal each year? The aerial roots on the Seikai that I can see have grow about 1/2" in the last two weeks, are they going to keep growing or is this about all they will do for the season?

As long as the temperatures stay below about 85F, and watered regularly, the roots will keep growing all season. If the temperatures get much higher than that or you leave it to dry for a bit too long, the roots will stop growing and the tips will close up. Once the temps drop again and it is watered, they'll start growing again though.

I've never actually measured how much root grows during the growing season because after a certain point, I just bury them in the moss and it's hard to tell how much they're growing inside. On the other hand, a grower that I know who grows one plant mounted, mentioned occasional roots growing almost 1 foot over the growing season. That was in a temperature controlled greenhouse though with daily watering.

[bjmac]

Thanks Hakumin, but what do you do with foot long roots or even shorter roots in a 2" deep pot. Do you have to trim them. When I repotted the Seikai it had one root that was about 6 inches long and it was wound around in the pot. I left it that way in the new pot. I plan on having these neos in the RV and they will be at temps that they should grow most of the year. No way to cool them down in southern climate.

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by bjmac

Thanks Hakumin, but what do you do with foot roots or even shorter roots in a 2" deep pot. Do you have to trim them. When I repotted the Seikai it had one root that was about 6 inches long and it was wound around in the pot. I left it that way in the new pot. I plan on having these neos in the RV and they will be at temps that they should grow most of the year. No way to cool them down in southern climate.

It's one of the reasons that I bury them in the pot sooner than later. Like you noticed, when inside the pot, they make circles inside the pot. When I repot, I then carefully rewrap the roots along the original curve. I never need to trim live roots that way. I have noticed though that eventually they do stop growing longer and some even branch once that happens.

[bjmac]

Received two more neos, only room for one more. This time I ordered from NWO and Patty's reply led me to order Seiryujishi and I ordered Houmeiden because of the ruby root tips hope it does not get to large. Saving the last pot for Senzai, may be sometime to get as it seem hard to find. Both Seikai and Kinkujyaku look to have spikes. Thanks everyone that has answered a beginners question. I keep learning more all the time.