Vanda Falcata Benisuzume 紅雀 "Red Sparrow"

[MattWoelfsen]

I've been talking so much about Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata, Benisuzume 紅雀 "Red Sparrow" that I thought I should share this blooming plant!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Lovely plant and blooms, Matt.

cheers,
BD

[MattWoelfsen]

Thank you Bruce! I wish I can claim credit for this and all the other plants, but they came to me in bud. I hope with every falange on my hands and toes crossed, that I can report back a year from now that this Benisuzume has bloomed again.

[coeruleo]

when potted in moss this way, how tightly packed do you keep the moss? and how often do you have to water??

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello Coeruleo. The high mounds are two layers. The inner layer is a mound of shredded sphagnum moss that is egg shaped. The center of the inner mound has a stake running through it, not all the way through, maybe an inch from the top?

On top of this ball, the plant is positioned so that the roots are evenly placed on the mound. Over the roots is a second layer of long fiber sphagnum moss that is wrapped over the roots and all the way around, the ball, to the bottom. The entire root ball is then placed into the pot, carefully twisting into the pot. The stake is then removed through the large hole on the bottom of the plant. This allows air to circulate through the root ball.

The entire ball is fairly tight, but due to it being mostly outside of the pot and the core being hollow, the plant seems to flourish. Watering this plant is different, I gently pour water over the plant, then I pour water on the sides, and then I turn the entire plant upside down and water the cavity. The plants are in a humidity tray and they are left to dry. I have noticed as the days get warmer, these plants are ready to be watered in three days. When it was colder maybe every five days.