Neofinetia falcata 'Oonami Seikai': evolution from bud to flower

[s.kallima]

Originally Posted by LinhT

Nice! So why did you not choose S/H for this one?

I was in a 'S/H period' for a while en 2008 when I got this Neo so I decided to give it a try, as the species needs seemed to be matching the S/H idea.
And it grew a lot since (see this thread : http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ydroponic.html)

[s.kallima]

Originally Posted by smartie2000

nice! I did not know that Neofinetia bloom at this time of year too

Mine are always a bit late... don't know why!

[Jorch]

Originally Posted by s.kallima

Mine are always a bit late... don't know why!

I think it's because our summer is rather cool this year. I find neofinetia is quite temperature sensitive.. without a cool rest in winter they won't flower next summer, and they'll only bloom when the temperature is constantly warm

[s.kallima]

Yes Jorch, you must be right, the spikes started to develop as soon as the weather became consistently warm (june) and I also increased the temperature of my culture area. The little growths that turned into spikes were on the plant already last fall, waiting for better days to start growing more ...

[s.kallima]

New pic today (I also updated the beginning of the thread with a pic from July 23rd, when the spike was just a little nub)

August 12th : spur growing...
the second nub (on the right) still did not make a move, spike or fan ???

IMG_27189 by Jaljala photography, on Flickr

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice pix! cool to see the progression!
Last month I found a "monster" Neo (ten fans!) at a garden center - it had two spikes that were finished, so I asked for and got a discount ...
When I got it home I noticed 'nubbies' on a few other fans - I have been hoping they are spikes, but figured they were likely new fans ... look very much like your unidentified nubbie and haven't grown much since I got the plant ... *sigh*
BUT - a previously unnoticed by me nubbie (hiding behind other fans) started to poke out, and now is showing a stem, and definitely looking like a spike!

I look forward to watching the progression of yours - thanks for sharing!

[s.kallima]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Nice pix! cool to see the progression!
Last month I found a "monster" Neo (ten fans!) at a garden center - it had two spikes that were finished, so I asked for and got a discount ...

Nice catch !!! Please post some in a thread!

[DelawareJim]

Originally Posted by s.kallima

Yes Jorch, you must be right, the spikes started to develop as soon as the weather became consistently warm (june) and I also increased the temperature of my culture area. The little growths that turned into spikes were on the plant already last fall, waiting for better days to start growing more ...

I'm jealous of your cooler summer.

Here in southeastern PA we've had 43 days with temps into the mid to upper 90's and I noticed a few of mine seem to be about a month or so later than last year too.

It would be interesting to actually record when spikes appear, start elongation, and flower versus local weather to determine what actually affects the timing.

Cheers.
Jim

[s.kallima]

August 13th : keep going...


IMG_27301 by Jaljala photography, on Flickr

[RosieC]

Great series of shots, thanks for sharing them!