Seeking help with first Neo & Kokedama

[Shoreguy]

The thread I mentioned does not have the recipe but is a real value.

Here is the recipe again. Bark Orchiata Classic size at 70% mixed with 30% medium shred tree fern broken down to 1/2 to 5/8 inch length, with larger size bark at bottom for drainage. Note: the tree fern should be the brittle kind from South and Central America, not the softer kind from New Zealand.

As far as Seca's comment, I am not worried about anything about Neo growing, emphasis on growing, but feel I should mention risks of overseas shipments being more vulnerable to damage. If you have been waiting for a particular cultivar for many years, and finally it becomes available overseas that is an issue. That has nothing to do with growing.

Also my comment about watering has nothing to do with my worrying but feel that because there are individuals new to Neo growing, issues with overwatering should be mentioned.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

worried

WW started the thread. I was writing to her. Yes, I meant they should not be cold and wet at the same time. During cool periods of the year you would be amazed how long they can go without water, even bare-root. In this characteristic they are not at all like other Vandas.

[Shoreguy]

Estacion Seca

Sorry, totally misinterpreted to whom it was directed.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by estación seca

WW started the thread. I was writing to her. Yes, I meant they should not be cold and wet at the same time. During cool periods of the year you would be amazed how long they can go without water, even bare-root. In this characteristic they are not at all like other Vandas.

I'm amazed how long they can go without water, at any time of year! I had no plant sitter then past 2 summers when I went on my usual 3 week vacation. So I water all the plants very well, stick them in a dim room, and hope for the best. I know that the Neo mounds fully dry out in about 2 days in the summer, but when I got back they still looked extremely good!

[Dulcinea]

Do cool periods matter when growing inside all year where temps remain about the same or is that phrase intended for outside growers, greenhouse growers who might grow cool in the winter?

[camille1585]

WW - sometimes I feel like the traditional sphag mound method is too much hassle. Making mounds with standard sphag is very difficult, the process is so much easy with the long stranded stuff. However the long stranded grades are difficult to find and somewhat expensive (at least here). The Neo experts/purists will remound them at least once per year. I've been doing it every 2 years to because I finding remounding to be such a hassle. I'm now thinking of moving all the plants to bark as their repotting dates come up...

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by camille1585

WW - sometimes I feel like the traditional sphag mound method is too much hassle. Making mounds with standard sphag is very difficult, the process is so much easy with the long stranded stuff. However the long stranded grades are difficult to find and somewhat expensive (at least here). The Neo experts/purists will remound them at least once per year. I've been doing it every 2 years to because I finding remounding to be such a hassle. I'm now thinking of moving all the plants to bark as their repotting dates come up...

Probably so in the long run. This is just a whim, to create something cool for my vase and enjoy for awhile. I've never made one, so here we go! It has a lot more to do with the experience and experiment, and hopefully not killing the plant in the process. And when I watch the Fischer video of how to do it, he makes it look just so darned easy!

I'd hate to say out loud how many times I've experimented with a mount, just to see if I can because it might look awesome.

---------- Post added at 09:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------

Similar to growing and blooming a cool-down necessary Cymbidium or a big Vanda... or attempting to grow a huge clump of equisetum in a wading pool. It's all about the experience. Go big or go home! :rolf: