Neo Falcata Growin' Sideways?!

**zrhanson** · April 23rd, 2012, 10:59 AM

Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted anything here, I know. But I've been lurking around, mostly while in class on my phone and everything. Anyway I have a bit of an oddity with which I was wondering if any of you could help.... I have this Neo. Falcata here, and for some odd reason, no matter how many times I try to set it up straight, move everything around, even after I repotted it it always just... ever so slowly... moves down and grows sideways. I turn it so that the light is on the other side, and it never makes a difference. It just always falls down to the side. And I have no idea why. The one little offshoot is growing upright, but the main plant, as well as the larger offshoot, just seem to prefer being sideways. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks! :-)

Name: 2012-04-23_11-15-15_388.jpg
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Name: 2012-04-23_11-15-15_388.jpg
Views: 323
Size: 116.5 KB

**Gage** · April 23rd, 2012, 11:16 AM

I'm not terribly familiar with Neos, but in nature Vandas and Ascocentrums tend to hang down and out, and then turn back up like a U. This gets the growths farther away from the tree they are growing on, and therefore in brighter light.

**catttan** · April 23rd, 2012, 11:29 AM

Re Gage's comments ; I agree That I have noticed the same thing in nature. If yo want it to how straight up then you will have to stake it .

**Halloamey** · April 23rd, 2012, 12:38 PM

Why don't you try staking?? I think the plant is not balanced, with a lot of weight on one side, it might just be gravity.

**zrhanson** · April 23rd, 2012, 12:58 PM

Yeah, maybe I'll try staking it out. Do you think it would benefit it to be staked upright?

**espranch** · April 23rd, 2012, 02:20 PM

It is probably growing that way, because that's the way it would grow in nature...sideways on the branch of a tree...LOL...Betty

**sand_tiger86** · April 23rd, 2012, 03:45 PM

It wants to do what it wants to do. I'd be willing to bet that, although it may seem a bit unsightly at the moment, once it matures more and has a lot of new growths it'll look pretty cool going everywhere. One thing I've learned about orchids is that you can't make them do as you please, try as you might. Whereas a lot of house plants are domesticated to the home, like a dog or a cat, owning an orchid in the home is the equivalent to having a tiger. They're wild!