Neostylis-- Vandaceous Orchid

[ryan820]

I love the look of a vanda in a glass jar or vase with its roots reaching down into the water. This is a neostylis-- a cross between a neofinetia and another orchid, Rhyncostylis. It looks very much like a tiny Vanda.

So here it is, blooming now for me.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-41QC8XOigU/TNLvvVB8PqI/AAAAAAAAAuU/A10FKwhoMjY/s800/neostyllis.jpg

Neostylis 'Lou Sneary' Bluebird

And here is the full plant in its vase:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-41QC8XOigU/TMY2sUM4qUI/AAAAAAAAAqg/DZc51ELD1fE/s640/IMAG0184.jpg

Due to my exceedingly dry climate, this plant gets watered whenever I go into the solarium, which is many times a day.

[Great-Full]

Sweet and delicate

[PhoenixRyan]

I love the "hook" beneath the buds. Very cool!

PR

[ryan820]

I love the "hook" beneath the buds. Very cool!

PR

I think its the nectar. I don't know much about the plant besides basic culture-- but the flowers are supposed to be very fragrant-- sadly, this one is not. At least not yet. Sometimes fragrant orchids will only be so at dusk or dawn or after they mature for a while. But so far, only a slight hint of a smell. Although it could be Anna... she just had a bath. lol

[abbyjen]

Very nice Ryan :)
Such interesting blooom with beautiful hues

[MichiganDave]

It is cool!

I cannot see from the picture, but is the glass jar partially filled with water/fertilizer?

[ryan820]

Hi Dave--

No it is not filled with water. However, I do fill it three times a day (at most) to keep the thing watered. The first time I fill it up with weakly fertilized water and leave it stand for a while-- the other two times I fill and drain it right away-- just enough to keep the roots from withering in my very dry climate.

I'll try to get another photo of it tomorrow-- its in full bloom now.

[ryan820]

Here's an updated pic....

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-41QC8XOigU/TNq-6JKjzeI/AAAAAAAAAvE/186rcbL28B0/s720/neo.jpg

[PhoenixRyan]

That is just gorgeous!!

PR

[MichiganDave]

Yes, it looks gorgeous indeed.

Ryan, the watering scheme sounds tedious. What is the reason you are doing it this way? And what if you forget one day.


David

[ryan820]

Yes, it looks gorgeous indeed.

Ryan, the watering scheme sounds tedious. What is the reason you are doing it this way? And what if you forget one day.


David

I wouldn't call it tedious-- its as simple as filling a glass of water. And considering I'm in my solarium every day without fail, I'm not likely to forget. When I go away for a few days the top of the glass it wrapped in plastic around the plant and that limits evaporation (I also add some moist moss). It can last a few days this way. The reason I grow the plant this way is that I love the look-- that and the plant likes having its roots hang with water going down them as you'd find it in Nature (this is a hybrid of course but you get the drift). Most vandaceous orchids will thrive with this care.

[abbyjen]

Ryan

Your Neostylis sure makes a wonderful display.

It must give you such a thrill everytime it blooms.

[ryan820]

Ryan

Your Neostylis sure makes a wonderful display.

It must give you such a thrill everytime it blooms.

I actually haven't had it long at all-- a month or so. But I have two other vandaceous orchids that I grow like this and they're growing at weed-speed. So I figure I should stick to the method.

The flowers don't have a strong scent-- until this morning I noticed a lovely smell in the room and discovered it was this plant. So... right about 10AM is the time to appreciate this one!

The scent is a tea-rose scent with some lilac aromas.

[MichiganDave]

Yes, it looks very good indeed. I am going to try that too but probably not on my orchids because I might kill them as I sometimes forget to water. :p