Neofinetia falcata

[Hoanui]

I just took delivery of two Neo's. Haven't grown them before so I'm excited as to how they'll grow.

Neofinetia falcata 'Hoenggang' - FS
Neofinetia falcata 'Jucheonwang' - FS

[RedEcho]

I love the blooms on those....I have not gotten one yet, but from what I have heard, they are very easy to grow.

[Kassie]

I've been learning about neofinetias in hope of getting one soon. My friend who loves vandas is the only one I know who calls them "finicky" otherwise I hear they are easy to grow. What baffles me is the pricing--some sell for over $100 USD, others for $10 and it's difficult for me to tell the difference. I've been burned by bargains before, and I'm not sure what is an appropriate price for these, or why some are so high-priced.

Good luck with yours!

[Hoanui]

The price depends on the rarity of the species or the hybrid. I just bought a cattleya that sells - from one US company for $1000 each - I bought several for $50 each over here. Just depends on the importation costs etc.

[ang709]

Neos can cost a lot more if they have color or if the leaves are variegated, for example.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Great orchids! I look forward to photos of them in bloom!

Cheers,
B D

[Dorsetman]

Curiously enough, a lot of the more expensive ones with mysterious Japanese clonal names, have smaller flowers, and are generally smaller. You know the Japanese , they have exquisite standards of delicacy and beauty - small is always better than not so small for them . ( Europeans can understand this even if not join in; the archetypal American goes for bigger is always better - or so we are told - so maybe they don't/can't .-
Hey, I didn't intend to start the next US-v-England war . I take it all back......
Plain bog standard Neo falcata is not that big a plant but has the largest , whitest, and beautifully scented flowers - try it ! Mine is in flower now, but I don't want to go through a thunder-shower to get to the greenhouse to tak a piccy - tomorrow maybe !

[Hoanui]

Are they all scented?

[Dorsetman]

Last year the plant had 6 spikes - maybe 25 or so flowers. A week ago I was complaining that this year it has only one, and then the second appeared . Maybe it wil do better yet, but when I took the plant down, and looked at the back, I could see that it is growing a bit loo-sidedly , and needs a change of position with more all-round light . It also needs a repot. Ah well, you can't win them all.

[Dorsetman]

post script about scent - see that long spur behind the flower ? That is a nectary - a scent gland to attract the night-flying moths ; nectar at the bottom, and the moth has to insert its tongue all the way down to get at the nectar , and incidentally picking up pollen to take to the next flower. This moth has a tongue 4 inches long.