Bring the orient to your windowsill by cultivating this little jewel treasured by royalty for its fragrance and foliage.

Neofinetia falcata (Thunberg) H. H. Hu (1925.) was the sole member of its genus until 1996. The generic name commemorates the French botanist Achille Finet (1862-1913.), while the species name refers to the spur of the flowers.

In the history books there are some connections between the Samurai culture and this tiny plant. In the book A History of the Orchid by Merle A. Reinikka writes:

“Samurai warriors grew Neofinetia falcata, known as an orchid of wealth and nobility.”

The warriors would travel for miles in search for one of the tiny little orchids to bring back to the royalty, and if he succeeded that was the sign of the warriors bravery.

In Japan iy is known as Fuki-ran (Rich and Noble Orchid) or
Fu-ran (Wind Orchid).

According to a Japanese book written in 1725 by J. Matsuoka Neofinetia falcata grows best in cut female hair. This sounds rather bizarre, yet human or animal hair indeed may provide a well drained and well aerated substrate for epiphytic orchids.
It has the additional bonus of acting as a long-range, delayed action nitrogen fertilizer.

Nevertheless, don't try to imitate the early XVIIIth century Japanese orchid enthusiasts!

The hard protein called keratin present in human and animal hair, nails, horseshoe, claws, skin, feathers of birds, etc. is indeed decomposed by soil bacteria and microscopic fungi present in every soil or orchid mix into compounds which are excellent sources of nitrogen for higher plants, including orchids.

However, using keratin-containing natural manuring inevitably results in enriching hugely the populations of keratin-specialist microfungi in the "potting mix" and many species of those keratin-specialist microfungi are highly pathogenic to humans as well as animals.

Such fungal infections affecting "only" the hands or feet of greenfinger plant enthusiasts are relatively minor inconveniences in comparison to infections affecting the head resulting in loosing the hair at the infected areas permanently.

The worst-case scenario is infections caused by inhalation of the spores of these pathogenic fungi - such lung infections are practically uncurable even today, i. e. very probably lethal.

For the world outside Japan Neofinetia falcata was discovered in 1773 in the Nakasoka Hills by C. Thunberrg and was exported to Europe in 1813 by William Roxburgh, Director of the Calcutta Botanical Garden.

Neofinetia falcata has been known by several different names throughout its life, due to its similarities to other orchids. It was once listed as Angraecum falcatum (Thunb.) Schltr.

The little flowers produce 2” long spurs much like the Angraecums do.

The species name highlights this feature: falx means "sickle" in Latin and its spur is sickle-shaped, indeed.

The leaves are shaped like an Angraecum or the strap-leafed Vanda.

This funny little hybrid resulted from crossing
Luisia linkvensis with Neofinetia falcata

Ascofinetia Peaches ‘Kultan’

This little orchid and it hybrids are excellent for windowsill growing and under lights, their compact habit is perfect for those small areas.
The fragrance it produces can fill a room like a very fragrant vanilla candle.
Most of the hybrid crosses are also very fragrant.

According to the book of J. Matsuoka already cited above:

During active growth it requires humid conditions, plenty water and moderate shade. Sitting in a kitchen window above a sink or in a bright bathroom is ideal for this orchid.

In the winter when the roots are not actively growing you can reduce the water slightly.

In the orient Neofinetia traditionally was grown in shallow bonsai dishes, on mounds of soil and sand mixes decorated with some moss, to look like they are sitting on mountains. To avoid compacting the substrate the soil and sand mix was just poured onto the roots of the orchid and pressing the mixture down say by fingers was advised against - very reasonably, indeed.

The temperature for this little jewel is really on the cool side and that is why a windowsill is excellent in the home.
The minimum winter temperature should be around 10-12 ºC.
Summer days' average 26-31 ºC with nights of 19-23 ºC.

Light range is 2000-3600 fc with 80-85% humidity. Never let these little orchids dry out and water heavy during the growing period.

Lightly fertilize and make sure you leach the pots to insure no accumulations of minerals.

Turning at this point back again to the traditional methods of cultivating this orchid, diluted fish soup was used for fertilization. Excellent method even today for any orchid but needs experience and self-constraint on behalf of the gardener.

The fish soup (more exactly fish extract made by cooking the fish in pure water only) used for fertilizing orchids must be highly diluted and applied very sparingly, only when it is indeed necessary. Otherwise you may end up with the rather unpleasant experience provided by stinking fish markets, instead of the wonderful fragrance of your orchid ...

Rest during the winter consists of cooler temperatures and less water, but do not allow them to dry out.

Stop fertilizing until new active growth appears. Give them as much light as possible during this time since the winter light is not as bright as the summer light.
You can mount Neofinetia falcata on slabs of tree bark or Osmunda pads or grown in mounds of Sphagnum moss.

If grown on slabs the humidity must be maintained and water applied often in the summer. You can wrap the roots in Sphagnum moss or coconut fiber and place them in to small pots.

This is the way I grow mine which is also placed in a basket with my Ascofinetia hybrid.