Tolumnia Sylvestris--no blooms

[Phal grower]

WhiteRabbit, I wouldn't even know what a bud looks like on this guy. What conditions do you grow yours under? Mine are under 4-T8 tubes along with another tully that's blooming fine. Think I'll put it outside this summer and hope for the best.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Phal grower

WhiteRabbit, I wouldn't even know what a bud looks like on this guy. What conditions do you grow yours under? Mine are under 4-T8 tubes along with another tully that's blooming fine. Think I'll put it outside this summer and hope for the best.

Well, I presumed it was a new keiki until it took on bud shape. I was previously growing it outside mid-spring thru mid-fall, inside the rest of the year. Last year I left it outside all year (the very coldest nights - zone 9, it spent in the garage), seldom watering it over winter. I was disgusted with it It was late winter or early spring when the spike started ... Left it outside again this winter... we'll see ...

I've bloomed some Tolu hybrids, gave sylvestris the same care, except for the others being potted - grown in same light and temps...

[Phal grower]

Hard to tell what environmental factors initiate spikes with sylvestris. Could it be the overall size of the clump that allows the plant to flower? Just a thought.

[Brooke]

I've had a Tol. sylvestris for several years and it blooms every year. It grows in Catt light, never below 60 and in a g/h. Sorry I can't find a picture of it.

The keikis you keep getting are the way this Tolumnia multiplies. There is a word to describe its growth habit that contains the word "rhizome" in it. It also has medium green growths, no red in the foliage.

I got mine from Andy's orchids years ago so check his site to see if he still has one with growing conditions listed. Or email them, they are nice enough to answer you even if you didn't order from them.

Note to self - get a picture next bloom season.

Brooke

[Phal grower]

Brooke, that is great to hear that you've flowered this one. I couldn't find it on Andy's Orchids but I am very interested in getting mine to bloom. Do you grow yours mounted? Also, I was wondering how often, how much, do you fertilize yours? Thanks

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by brooke

I've had a Tol. sylvestris for several years and it blooms every year. It grows in Catt light, never below 60 and in a g/h. Sorry I can't find a picture of it.

The keikis you keep getting are the way this Tolumnia multiplies. There is a word to describe its growth habit that contains the word "rhizome" in it. It also has medium green growths, no red in the foliage.

I got mine from Andy's orchids years ago so check his site to see if he still has one with growing conditions listed. Or email them, they are nice enough to answer you even if you didn't order from them.

Note to self - get a picture next bloom season.

Brooke

Congrats! Nice to know someone has actually bloomed one!

[Brooke]

Matt I do have mine mounted because it came from Andy mounted. As the little growths got longer I did tie them to the stick he had it on. Now I don't have any space left on the wood so the new growths are in the air. It gets watered every day the sun shines and watered weakly each time.

I noticed last night I have buds on it now. I will try to get pics of it when it blooms.

Thanks Sonya hope you and everyone else gets theirs to bloom. It is a very entertaining plant because of its growth habit.

Brooke

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by brooke

Matt I do have mine mounted because it came from Andy mounted. As the little growths got longer I did tie them to the stick he had it on. Now I don't have any space left on the wood so the new growths are in the air. It gets watered every day the sun shines and watered weakly each time.

I noticed last night I have buds on it now. I will try to get pics of it when it blooms.

Thanks Sonya hope you and everyone else gets theirs to bloom. It is a very entertaining plant because of its growth habit.

Brooke

You have given me the hope that it IS possible to get these to bloom! I checked mine yesterday - don' t see anything that looks like possible spikes, but mine also has lots of growth, so easy to miss things - NOT that I expect to find anything exciting

[theanalyst]

Congrats Brooke! Keep us updated!


I decided to move my tolumni to the outside of my greenhouse. Perhaps a switch up with motivate it to bloom.

Also, I treated myself to a new oncidium while away this week!