BLOOMING NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'SHOUJOU' 猩々

It is a beautiful spectacle, Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 in bloom! Amethyst color tinted flowers are less common among typically white flowered FUUKIRAN. Even a young plant like mine, with only one spike and five flowers is a show stopper. The pale amethyst growing root tips coordinates beautifully with the amethyst tips of the sepals and petals. 

Blooming Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 displayed in a Japanese pot by Youzan (Shimizu Masakazu) of Tokoname.

Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 flower close-up

ON WITH ITS GROWTH CYCLE

Since March, I had my FUUKIRAN placed outside under the shade of a live oak tree. Often watered by the rain and with regular foliar spay of Super Biogold fertilizer, the orchids were growing well and many have produced pups. Most of my plants are definitely becoming bigger clumps.

I re-mossed my entire collection in the beginning of October in preparation for their rest. Since then their roots and leaves growing have been slowing down for the most part. My FUUKIRAN are entering hibernation. The night temperatures now have established in their 60s (60F / 15C) and soon will start to deep into low 50s (50F / 10C), as an average.

It is usually the coldest month, when FUUKIRAN rest, during December-January-February and into March. Watering must be reduced to every 5-10 days and the light intensity is lowered too.

It seems that here in Florida my FUUKIRAN, so far, are following their natural growth cycle:

December/January/February/March - hibernation

March/April - beginning growth

May/June/July - active growth

July/August - rest

August/September/October - growth

October/November - preparation for hibernation

Blooming occurs from late spring to June/July and may repeat August/September/October.

Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 in the fall, with five new growth developed this year.

INTRODUCTIONS ● NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'SHOUJOU' 猩々

CHARACTERISTICS: leaf span - 6 in (15 cm); jiku - brown; tsuke - crescent moon; ne - brown*

This FUUKIRAN is named 'Shoujou' 猩々after the Japanese mythological spirit. Shoujou is a human-like sea spirit with long hair and red skin, who dresses in seaweed and lives in the ocean floor. Shoujou is known for making a drink form shiro sake that is poisonous only to those who are bad. To a good person it is a delicious drink. I like the use of Shoujou spirit name for this orchid! Although, it is often translated as "Red Face", a "faceless" name to me.

The plant has a beautiful presentation, with fairly narrow leaves positioned more or less straight. Flowers are light purple on a dark purple stem, hence the connection to the sea spirit. This FUUKIRAN originates from the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four main islands of Japan.

Neofinetia falcata 'Shoujou' 猩々 displayed in a Japanese pot by Youzan (Shimizu Masakazu) of Tokoname

Depiction of Shoujou as a character in a Noh theater play

Noh theater mask worn by Shoujou character

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* The characteristics used are of the plants that I own