Tolumnia with desiccated roots

[Jugyjoy]

Dear all,

I’ve just bought two Tolumnias and they came bare-rooted in those little baskets. I am worried about one of them, a little plant with one fan and two new shoots. The poor thing has some roots but apparently all dried up. I can hardly see any of them turning green (ish) when misted. Perhaps I am mistaken taking it as a sign of desiccation, but then when I compare it to the other one which has quite a few green roots, I start to worry. I keep both of them under grow lights in my grow room where the temps are around 22C (72F) daytime and down by a couple of degrees nighttime. The humidity is around 50%. I am reluctant to mount them as I have never done it. Potting up is an option. If anyone could advise what to do, I’d be grateful.
Many thanks! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[Fairorchids]

Tolumnias are typically grown in near empty pots (tiny clay pots seem to be the norm in the US).

Plants should be watered (not misted) daily in the morning, and allowed to dry out by mid day.

[Jugyjoy]

Many thanks for your reply. ❤️ I don’t know how to water these plants if I’m honest. They sit deep in their pots and if I were to submerge their roots I would have to dunk the whole plant in water. Which is why I misted. The only way these could be watered is sifanding them up in very little water, letting the roots wick moisture. Is this how it’s done?

[estación seca]

Yes, dunk the whole thing in water. Dunk the whole plant.

Have a look at this thread:
Darryl Venables on Tolumnia - DVOS September 2018

[FranningtonBear]

This is how I grow my Tolumnia. She is indoors, on a windowsill but also receives 6 hours full-spectrum LEDs as well. I live in the UK.

I don’t see your location but based on the set up of your new Tolumnia’s pictured, I think I can guess where they came from!!

[Jugyjoy]

Wow, I can see roots poking out of the pot. 😍 😍😍But, pray Frannington, is this small-sized bark that you filled the outer pot with? You left the inner pot (basket) empty and the plant is stabilised when she pushes the roots into the bark?

[FranningtonBear]

Originally Posted by Jugyjoy

is this small-sized bark that you filled the outer pot with? You left the inner pot (basket) empty and the plant is stabilised when she pushes the roots into the bark?

Yes, correct. The inner basket is/was empty, it has a few tiny pieces of bark that have fallen in now but it started off empty. I have used a medium grade bark in the larger pot and roots have grown through the basket.

[Jugyjoy]

Thank you so much. I don’t think I should post thank you replies, but many thanks nonetheless.

[jtrmd]

I
have only been able to grow these mounted or in empty clay pots

[Roberta]

I would suggest to not cut anything! Too hard to tell what is good and what is bad. Just rinse the roots well before repotting (if you must pot... Tolumnias really don't like pots.)