Tolumnia, with yellow leaves, with little light? Hmm

[iOrchid]

I got this Tolumnia for about a week ago. Then it had very dark leaves. Shipping was about one week. Today, about a week after then leaves are getting yellow, and it dont get much light at all. I read that yellow leaves means to much light. I have it in a window with very diffused light. I have it potted in Leca, that seems to be a great medium for this plant?!

Here is a picture of it:



and here is a bad, bad iphone picture when I got it:

[FairyInTheFlowers]

It looks like the leaves are withering and dieing off, keep a close eye on it to make sure it does not progress, as it could be a simple aging of the oldest leaves.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You checked the roots yet? Try doing that to see if there's anything wrong with them.

I also recommend pulling the plant up higher. Don't bury the bottom of the plant in the potting media.

[WhiteRabbit]

I agree with King - pot it up a bit higher, check the roots. Might be too wet ? I don't know how fast that leca dries. Try a tiny clay pot - these do best with very little media.
gl!

[phalaephila]

Tolumnia do not like to have constant moisture at their roots, so the way it is planted may be a problem. They really like to have their roots dry quickly after watering.

[ezil]

I agree with all of the above. I noticed that you have the Leca in a container that does not have draining holes in the sides. The roots are probably sitting in very moist/wet conditions. If at all possible, make sure that it is in a container that has ample aeration. Good luck

[Paul Mc]

I have to agree with the above on use of media, watering and how deep it is potted.

Most people on the OB who grow them tend to either grow them bare rooted with sphag or put them in tiny clay pots with a few chunks of charcoal in them. They water only in the morning to ensure that they are dried out before they go to sleep at night. It's also important to ensure that water is not getting into the folds of the leaves (especially at the base).

In the wild, they grow on trees, bushes and shrubs in the Carribean where they get flash rains and constant wind off of the oceans which dries them out fast. I think it's important to remember where they come from and how they grow when handling them at home because it gives you a referrence to what they want.

If the leaves are light green then you need more light. I'd still protect them from afternoon sun, but they should have just a hint of purple tint to their leaves from what I understand. Otherwise, they are not getting enough light and may not bloom for you.

[iOrchid]

Thanks for all the reply!

Well, I did some experimenting. I removed the Leca and use normal compost instead (with some leca at the bottom of the pot), and removed the two "dead" leaves.

If it wont survive I get another one, and use it with moss.

[iOrchid]

What potting media should I use, So i dont need to water the orchid every day?


Here is the rot system of the plant.

It looks good?

[silken]

I don't think these will do well in moss or compost (as I understand the term). They need a fairly loose open media and a bit of water in the morning so they can be dry by evening. Mine is in a net plastic pot (very open with large coco chunks and lots of roots showing. Many of the roots on mine would be dry within an hour after watering easily. I only have one but I know others pot them in very tiny clay pots with just a bit of charcoal chunks in the bottom. These need fairly frequent watering but if I water a little heavier, they can go a couple days without. The roots do need to breathe.