Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Kultana'

[Sharyn]

I just received this from delivery last night. It's a lovely orchid and has two very very long roots growing outside of the pot. It is planted in a clay pot with loose coconut fiber. I was disappointed to see that all of the roots in the pot were dried up and dead, except for one. Does anyone have one of these? Can it survive with only one good root inside the pot? The plant itself is very healthy looking. Not sure if I should give it a go or call the supplier.

[kmarch]

Can you please post a pic of the roots?

[Sharyn]

Kevin: When I first posted this I had not removed all of the media. The bunch of dried up roots literally fell off in my hand. Today I removed the media. It appears that there is one healthy root inside the pot. Two others look so-so and then there are a few dark brown ones. The plant was just watered yesterday and these dark ones are a little soft. Odd that most of the roots inside the pot were dead and dried up and yet the dark ones are soft.

[pikevi]

The name rang a bell and I think I have one that is labeled the same but without the 'kultana'. I am nor sure if it is Neofinetia or Neostylis(as per the label).

I am glad you got one. I have been struggling with it ever since I got it. Now I have one nice new root and a new extention on an old one (second picture).

What is in the medium you are using?

Thanks.

[Sharyn]

pikevi: It's growing in coconut fiber - very loose and open. I have my Neo falcata and my Ascofinetia potted in the same stuff and it's great, although requires water about every 2-4 days now that the weather is colder. I was given a Vanda culture sheet for this plant.

[tom499]

becareful with coconut fibre, I find it to hold alot of water and has given me problems in cold temps, though you are in a warmer area, cold probably means warm here

[articuno75]

What if you were to treat it like a Neofinetia and use the culture techiques? I know that Neos are simililar to Vandas, but maybe these are retaining too much water like you are describing. I notice that you have yours in spagh and coco husk, Pikevi, have you tried just Spagh? The husk might be keeping it moist too much longer and Neo types like to dry out a little before the next watering.

[Sharyn]

Tom: You're correct about the coconut fiber retaining water, however, the stuff that's in my pot is like threads of coconut and dries out pretty quick. pikevi's plants in the coco husk with sphag added would probably be much too much moisture in my part of the country.

articulno75: Right now, until I get my homework done, I'm treating mine the same as the Neos until I find out differently. Just need to find time to read up on it's care.

[articuno75]

I made a culture sheet on Neos somewhere on the threads. Just look up Neofinetia falcata and you'll find it. It might help. I don't know what to tell you about the root system on your plant. You can also go to New World Orchids There Dr. Lehr also has some hybrids that he sells. I don't know if he has a culture care sheet on them there or not, but I think he does.

[tom499]

Ah thats ok then, the stuff i had was big chunks and wasnt good for my plants.

That stuff sounds good though, would give you a good balance (Y)

[pikevi]

Thanks, Sharyn.

I have to re-assess the mix I am using now. I will try a mix with less coconut husk.

[Sharyn]

pikevi: Here's what this coconut fibre looks like. It's very loose and doesn't hold too much moisture. I need to water almost every day in the summer. Now that it's colder, about every 2-4 days - depending. I mist them each day. My plants potted in this are also in clay pots. The media is wrapped very loosely around the roots. Still haven't figured out if I should remove those brownish roots.

[arleneg]

Sharyn,

Looking at your pics, you still have a couple or so good aerial roots. The browned roots should be trimmed off if they are soft or feel hollow. You can test it by just pressing on the brown roots. If soft and feels hollow, trim them off. Then repot in a clay pot, basket or net pot with coarse media which retains a little bit of moisture, but not much.

repotme.com has good recipes for orchid mixes. Although they don't note the ratio per ingredient, I adjust it according to the orchid. For example, if a vanda type, I would add more perlite or granite chips than coconut husk chips.

Orchid Mix Selected Blends

I tend to refer to the above web page when I want to try a mix. If I don't have a certain ingredient, I substitute it with something similar I have in my inventory, or go to a local nursery, OSH or Home Depot to find something similar.