Thinking about mounting my Neo.

[Olive Cook]

Hello all, A couple months ago I bought my Neo. Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' and I have it potted in LECA (not s/h) However, it's not thriving like I thought it would. It seems healthy, even though the spike didn't survive the shipping. I know they like baskets, but how do you all think it would take to mounting?
I do have the time to water every day, so that's not an issue.
Also, what would be best to mount it onto?
Thanks!

[tocarmar]

I got one a few months back & both spikes also blasted from shipping. I was going to mount but decided to put it in a large pot due to its size. The roots were about 10-12 inches long. I tried to pot it like a traditional Neo to see how it would due. It seems to like it, it is sending out some new roots. So it would be up to you to mount it. I have mounted some of the Neo's on cork. They seem to like that. I haven't tried them on anything else, Yet!

[katrina]

Lou Sneary should do well on a mount. I have mine in a net basket w/chunky bits and find this works better for me because they like a LOT of water during the growing season.

My guess? If you're thinking it's missing something...it might be a light issue rather than the medium. These guys like a lot of light.

[Olive Cook]

Well, I have him in the south window, closest to the window so none of the other plants block his light. He also picks up some of the artificial light... What more can I do?

[-k-]

South window should provide adequate light, you know what the candlefoot is approx?
Mounts are much fun!

[Olive Cook]

I have no clue on the candlefoot...

[katrina]

South window might be enough this time of the year IF there are no obstructions.

I have a S window that due to the angle of the sun right now(feb and mar only), no obstructions such as trees or anything and no overhang...on a sunny day it will register over 3000fcs right inside the window.

My sister's S window same time of the year...a tree adjacent to the window and a bit of an overhang on the roof...only a little over 1000 fc.

Olive, I'm not saying you can do anything more than your window...I'm just presenting the possibility given this plant's light level requirement. Your medium should be just fine for this plant and given some of your other posts in other threads I know your temps should be fine. Sooo....my next suspect would be light. It's a process of elimination when looking for the reason a plant isn't doing as well as you think it should be doing.

[Olive Cook]

Thanks Katrina.
I'm hoping it isn't the light, because over the next couple of weeks we'll be moving to our new house, which has two LARGE picture windows facing both East and West, but no usable South windows. I plan on putting it and my Dens in the West window, should I get another light to hang above them? If so, what would be the best single (or double) bulb florescent to hang? Price is a big issue, so the lower the price the better.
Thanks!

[katrina]

You might want to consider putting them outside for the summer. If you have a suitable spot. Nothing beats...IMO...the benefits that come from being out in nature.

As for economical lighting...my first year I used some of the small cfl twisty bulbs designed specifically for plants and put them in little clip on light unit that has the deep-ish shade...sort of like those desk lamps except these were clip on unit. (I hope that made sense.) They aren't perfect but they do help and they are the most economical solution that I could find. I had those things clipped everywhere my first year.

I also used...and still do...the 2 bulb shop lights from HD. For my lower light plants I use a cool and a warm bulb in each. For my higher light plants I've used the full spectrum bulbs. I also used the HO bulbs but they were a bit more expensive.

The cym is going to need a LOT of light and probably more than any fluoro can provide for the best flowering...so the time outside would do it a world of good.

Oh, I should add. The twisty bulbs I used were the "grow" lights that are actually grow lights rather than the ones that just make the plants look better. If you read the fine print on the sides of the boxes you'll see where it says which is which. Sooo confusing because the ones that just make them look pretty are called grow lights too.

My large cym is in nearly direct but dappled sun all afternoon in the summer...and then because of the size of it, I can't fit it under the T5's so it sits under one of those twisty grow bulbs during it's time indoors. It's not getting enough light to bloom as well as I would like but it's the best I can do for something so large.

I honestly believe the time outside is going to be huge in generating the light they need...if you can do it. Every year my plants spend the summer outside and I really do believe it goes a long way in getting the results I've been getting. Nothing beats Ma Nature (IMO).

I don't know if all the rambling was any help or not but I hope so.

[Olive Cook]

I can put the Cym on the front porch during warm weather, it's West facing, but it should do... I guess I could just basket the Neo and hang it out there as well

[katrina]

sounds like a plan!