Wrinkly and yellow tolumnia leaves

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It's too wet. They prefer drying completely every 24 hours. Not many people succeed growing them in bark. Read again the Tolumnia link I gave in an earlier message.

Hi yes, I did read it, thank you so much. How do you define completely dry? Like bone dry, crispy roots? or just not "wet". I want to be careful because my environment is very dry. What would you suggest that I change, based on my current set up? Water less frequently?

Best,

Phals

[SG in CR]

Originally Posted by estación seca

It's too wet. They prefer drying completely every 24 hours. Not many people succeed growing them in bark. Read again the Tolumnia link I gave in an earlier message.

Care to share the link with the rest of us?

[WaterWitchin]

I'd take about 3/4 of that bark out. Don't peel bark off any roots that are attached. Just shake it out until you have a lot less bark in the pot. Then water it once a day or water every other day and mist the roots on opposite day.

Folks who grow in a pot usually have a little bark at the bottom that retains a bit of moisture (thus more humid), but the roots are exposed, not covered up with bark.

Also check between the leaves of the larger dying fan. Tolumnia are scale magnets, and by the time you realize you have scale it's usually pretty advanced.

I grow them mounted, under a mister. When I didn't have an automatic mister, I grew them as stated above, or grew them mounted and misted early and mid day, ran water over them from faucet every other day. Water in morning, and it will be dry by night.

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I'd take about 3/4 of that bark out. Don't peel bark off any roots that are attached. Just shake it out until you have a lot less bark in the pot. Then water it once a day or water every other day and mist the roots on opposite day.

Folks who grow in a pot usually have a little bark at the bottom that retains a bit of moisture (thus more humid), but the roots are exposed, not covered up with bark.

Also check between the leaves of the larger dying fan. Tolumnia are scale magnets, and by the time you realize you have scale it's usually pretty advanced.

I grow them mounted, under a mister. When I didn't have an automatic mister, I grew them as stated above, or grew them mounted and misted early and mid day, ran water over them from faucet every other day. Water in morning, and it will be dry by night.

Got it, done! Thank you so much. I put it in a little smaller basket then put on top of a bit of bark then hung it. Hopefully it will like the new set up. And will check for scales. Thanks for the caution!

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Care to share the link with the rest of us?

Do an advanced search on terms "Tolumnia" and "DVOS" with my partial username "estación". You'll find lecture notes I took when Daryl Venable spoke to our Society.

[Steve83]

Those roots need more air movement than the extra container allow.

[anakcili]

I hv killed a lot of tolumnia. This occur when I water my tolumnia from top. Now I only left 1 tolumnia and this one I only spray water at the root on daily basis and it is doing fine currently.

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by Steve83

Those roots need more air movement than the extra container allow.

Mr. Tolumnia has unfortunately passed away...RIP. Definitely a learning curve orchid! But I will try again and do better next time! Thank you for your advice

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

Originally Posted by anakcili

I hv killed a lot of tolumnia. This occur when I water my tolumnia from top. Now I only left 1 tolumnia and this one I only spray water at the root on daily basis and it is doing fine currently.

Good to know I'm not the only one killing tolumnias! But you know what, challenge accepted LOL. Thanks for the tip!

[claypot]

I have always grown my Tolumnias mounted so they dry out very quickly. The mantra for me is that Tolumnias grow ON something not IN something.
In nature they are twig epiphytes, that is they grow at the end of small branches and twigs so their roots dangle exposed always. Some people say that getting foliage wet will kill them but They survive rainshowers in the wild just because they dry so quickly. I believe that those who lose their plants from wet leaves is that they are housed along with other orchids which need higher humidity so cannot dry easily. Mine get a good soaking every couple of days.
Try l googling ROGER TOLUMNIA and see several youtubes.

[2SadDeadPhals]

Originally Posted by claypot

I have always grown my Tolumnias mounted so they dry out very quickly. The mantra for me is that Tolumnias grow ON something not IN something.
In nature they are twig epiphytes, that is they grow at the end of small branches and twigs so their roots dangle exposed always. Some people say that getting foliage wet will kill them but They survive rainshowers in the wild just because they dry so quickly. I believe that those who lose their plants from wet leaves is that they are housed along with other orchids which need higher humidity so cannot dry easily. Mine get a good soaking every couple of days.
Try l googling ROGER TOLUMNIA and see several youtubes.

That's the thing! I have watched so many YouTube videos, but everyone has different set up. It also seems like people who grow them mounted tend to have green houses and/or live in warm climate like Florida. 50% of indoor growers I've seen grow them in pots with different media. I may try following a NYC grower's set up the next time, since that's where I live. She actually potted it in clay pot with sphagnum moss. I will see if it does well for her!