Chopping a tall Neostylis Lou Sneary "Bluebird"

[Joseia]

Almost afraid to ask this question because the majority of my brain says this is a really dumb idea. But I can't stop thinking about it, so here goes.

I have a Neo Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' that is now over a foot high. This was the second or third orchid I bought and really struggled to avoid killing it in the early days of my orchid addiction four years ago. It was about four inches high when I bought it. It has been growing very well for the last three years, blooms for me at least twice a year and I love this plant. The problem: it is outgrowing my terrarium and will not fit inside it in another year, maybe less. Because of space limitations, I cannot get a taller terrarium and I cannot grow this on a windowsill. It has a couple of fans, but none of the fans have grown any roots yet.

The main plant has started to grow four roots a little more than halfway up the plant.

The probably dumb idea: thinking of chopping off the top half of the plant, making the cut below the area where the new roots are growing. And then repotting the top half in its own pot with its new roots and leaving the horribly chopped main plant with its fans alone. So, is this a really stupid thing to do?

If I go ahead with this, should I at least wait until the new fans grow their own roots, so if this goes really bad, I can at least repot the fans?

I won't get offended if anyone calls me an idiot for even thinking about this.

[PaphMadMan]

If the part you chop off will have several roots I see no reason not to proceed, especially if the plant is in active growth. It is a fairly common practice with Vanda relatives as they get tall and scraggly. It might skip a round of blooming. The lower half will probably produce several new growths and you will have 2 healthy plants.

[estación seca]

Can you put it outside for the summer? It will grow better in dappled shade than in the terrarium, and surgery will be more likely to be successful.

[Joseia]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

If the part you chop off will have several roots I see no reason not to proceed, especially if the plant is in active growth. It is a fairly common practice with Vanda relatives as they get tall and scraggly. It might skip a round of blooming. The lower half will probably produce several new growths and you will have 2 healthy plants.

Thanks, just what I wanted to hear!

---------- Post added at 06:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:50 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Can you put it outside for the summer? It will grow better in dappled shade than in the terrarium, and surgery will be more likely to be successful.

I live in a small condo on the ground floor. We have a tall building about 25 feet away from our window and balcony, plus a tall maple. The balcony and window has on overhanging eave, which weakens the already low amount of light even further. It's like we live in a cave. So I could put it on the balcony, but it would not even get dappled shade - we get no sun at all on the balcony or through our bedroom window. I grow everything indoors under artificial light. But thanks for the response.

[MattWoelfsen]

Your plant will continue to grow tall. I understand from your posts that your space is limited. Cutting the taller part of your plant below the stem roots, is often done for that reason. The base of the plant will continue to grow as well. I propose you don't cut it but maybe you can grow this plant in its own space where you can grow it under its own grow light? My reason is that a multi-growth Neostylis, once all growths are bloom size, can grow multiple flower stalks and create a lovely bouquet of blue tipped, white flowers.

[MattWoelfsen]

Back in November 2016, my edition of your plant bloomed. There are seven growths in this plant, the main plant produced two flower spikes, and the next oldest growth produced one flower spike and another growth a small flower spike. I did not take a picture when all of the flowers were opened. But you can imagine how it looked! I am anticipating that when this plant gets ready to bloom again, it will have even more spikes.

[meraki]

I recently just got a Lou Sneary Bluebird (and my very first vanda), the grower I bought it from said they don't grow very tall but sprout out keikis and starts to look like a bush, just like yours, Matt!

I have 2 questions:
1) how do you keep it from dying in the winter (I'm in Zone 6B and current keep mine hanging bare rooted next to a window. My home is like 70-80 in the winter but I'm worried about keeping the vanda right next to the window since the chill might actually damage it
2) how long do the blooms last? I've only had mine for 2 weeks and they're already starting to wilt.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by meraki

I recently just got a Lou Sneary Bluebird (and my very first vanda), the grower I bought it from said they don't grow very tall but sprout out keikis and starts to look like a bush, just like yours, Matt!

I have 2 questions:
1) how do you keep it from dying in the winter (I'm in Zone 6B and current keep mine hanging bare rooted next to a window. My home is like 70-80 in the winter but I'm worried about keeping the vanda right next to the window since the chill might actually damage it
2) how long do the blooms last? I've only had mine for 2 weeks and they're already starting to wilt.

Hello Meraki,
Since I posted my Neostylis Lou Sneary, I have unpottd it, and I am growing it barefoot on a wire.

You are in a warmer zone than I am, so you will have an easier time growing this plant. I think where you have it now, will be fine for the winter. Because this a Neofinetia hybrid, it can tolerate temperatures below 50F. But if it is growing in your space and the temps are 70-80F, being next to a window will help it keep its cool. Unlike other members of the Vanda Alliance, hybrids like Lou were developed to tolerate cold temps--which gives it great popularity around the world.

Given mild temperatures, flowers can last about a month. When one bloom opens, usually the bloom closest to the stem, subsequent blooms further out on the flower stalk will bloom, extending the length of time the blooms are alive. Two weeks for one flower is about normal. I have had a flower live three weeks.

Depending on the warmth of the grow space, flowers do emit a very slight fragrance, stronger at night.

You will find Lou plant a lot easier to grow than their larger Vanda cousins.

[meraki]

Thanks for the advice, Matt!

I bought my blue bird with the flowers already bloomed so who knows how long they've actually been open. The scent was actually amazing, I'd wake up and I could smell it from 2 rooms away, very impressive for a teeny plant.

Hopefully I can get it to bloom again before the real winter hits for my region.

I'm currently fertilizing with grow more's 20-20-20 once a week and the 20-10-20 every 3rd or 4th week. I've read on here that some have been fertilizing theirs with the balanced formula more than once a week, maybe I'll try it and see what happens!