Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' First Re-Blooming

[jaxorchidman]

Sorry Jonada. I'll post a pic when it gets here!! YEA!!!!

[Daethen]

I will do the same when mine gets here, Joshua. At least we weren't bidding against each other!!

[Pilot]

This is a great plant, though-- I hope you dont mind me posting some shots of mine:

[andrew__]

That's a great looking plant, can't wait until mine's sending up multiple spikes!

I was considering the Vase approach to growing when I got mine but decided to stick with it as I got it. How are you finding its growth in the Vase? I may switch next time I have to re-pot. I like the way it looks and it certainly looks like it's working well for you.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by andrew__

That's a great looking plant, can't wait until mine's sending up multiple spikes!

I was considering the Vase approach to growing when I got mine but decided to stick with it as I got it. How are you finding its growth in the Vase? I may switch next time I have to re-pot. I like the way it looks and it certainly looks like it's working well for you.

Heya--

I actually haven't had this plant for very long. The spikes are currently open now-- almost every bud open. Do you know how long the flowers will last?

I live in Colorado and the air here is extremely dry-- and so leaving this thing's roots in the air isn't going to work. It needs an enclosure to slow evaporation-- enter vase.

Every morning when I check in on my plants I fill the vase to the brim and let the plant steep in the lightly fertilized water for as long as an hour or so. (I work in the evening so I'm still around first thing in the morning to drain it). Once the vase is drained it takes maybe a few hours for the top of the roots around the stem to get the dry grey look. The roots inside the base take a bit longer. I will do this again before I leave for work around 1PM, but this time I fill the vase and empty it right away as I dont' want to water-log the roots. Lastly, if the roots into the vase are dried grey, I'll give it the same treatment I do before I go to work as I dont' want to go to bed with the water in the vase.

Because I have the water lightly fertilized, and the plant is in full sun (but through the window/protected) the algae grows quickly. In the photo above you can see the roots are still white-ish. Now they are a thoroughly vibrant green-- both the algae and the sun exposure to the roots has turned them so.

I haven't had the plant long enough to know if my methods are working well for it; however, I can tell you that the current roots are beginning to form growth tips-- those little cones that go to work growing new length and areas to the old roots. I'm very happy to see this as its a sure sign I'm watering the plant well enough-- loss of roots to total dehydration is a serious threat here. That does not seem to be the case. I suspect that if these new growth tips continue to form and grow new lengths of root, I'm doing my job!

The vase you see in the photo is about 8 inches high.

[andrew__]

Thanks for the detailed rundown.

Mine is potted in a fast draining medium. It probably doesn't get as much water as it would like but I haven't lost any roots. I had minimal root growth while the spike was developing but that's already finished and there are no more growing tips on the roots, so already it sounds like a better way to grow than what I'm doing.

[orchidvalley]

Hi I was reading this thread and noticed that you had yours in a vase. I have had this plant for 1 1/2 years and no flowers. I was very interested in your vase culture. What kind of fertilizer do you use and how often? My plant has had slow growth. It is currently putting out a new flush of roots.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by orchidvalley

Hi I was reading this thread and noticed that you had yours in a vase. I have had this plant for 1 1/2 years and no flowers. I was very interested in your vase culture. What kind of fertilizer do you use and how often? My plant has had slow growth. It is currently putting out a new flush of roots.

I use a balanced fertilizer by Grow More that is urea free because many of my other orchids are phals and urea supposedly builds up in these plants creating toxicity.

I water maybe 3 times a day-- once for 30 min to an hour and two times with a quick drink where you fill the vase and empty it right away just to keep the roots from drying out too badly. I do this because of my very dry air. You should probably not do this if you live in a humid environment. Water only when the roots have that grey tinge to them.

Here's an updated photo taken today (Nov 10)