What is this adorable thing? Mini oncidium

[lauraeli]

It made me buy it! :-D look how cute it is, so little <3 I didnt know they came in mini.

This one is potted in charcoal.

But Ive really only grown phals. How do they compare, as far as care?

[cbuchman]

That is a Tulumnia (equant oncidium). The key is to make sure it drys out really fast and is never even damp at might. They also like high light, but introduce it to the higher light levels gradually.

Tolumnias are indigenous to the Caribbean and are used to minimal water when they get rained or sprayed in the breeze.

They're a favorite of mine too

[No-Pro-mwa]

It is so cute. I saw my first one of these last spring when I went to the greenhouse to get my flowers. I couldn't believe how small they were. I wanted one so bad.

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

That is a Tulumnia (equant oncidium). The key is to make sure it drys out really fast and is never even damp at might. They also like high light, but introduce it to the higher light levels gradually.

Tolumnias are indigenous to the Caribbean and are used to minimal water when they get rained or sprayed in the breeze.

They're a favorite of mine too

How do I make sure it dries out? If I water it in the morning, will it dry out by nightime?

Would it be happy in an east window? Or a north window under a single gro light tube?

[No-Pro-mwa]

I think they take fairly bright light. I probably shouldn't answer this but I know the ones I saw didn't even have any media in the pots. They just were growing inside the pots and there roots were attached to the pot. So I would think if you wanted media in it it should be large bark.

Hopefully someone else will answer that knows more than I. But I have looked into them a bit as I may get one someday.

[NYCorchidman]

They don't have to be bone dry by night.
I try to water mine in early part of the day along with my other orchids, but in the past I mainly watered my tolumnias at night. lol

I can say I grow these quite well.

One thing about warm growing orchids and having them wet at the root at night is that if the temperature at night drops significantly in your growing condition, they might suffer. then again, when you water orchids in pot, they will be somewhat moist even at night and that is not a problem. bone dry by night would mean you have a mounted tolumnia and/or you have to water everyday.

Regarding light, these need a lot of light to grow and bloom well.
If your east window gets the sun in the first half of the day, that should be good enough. I wouldn't recommend north window for anything other than ferns or some African violets.

I grow mine by the south window with minimal shade, so mine grow in nearly full sun (filtered by the glass).

I keep them dryish during the winter or when they are not actively growing, but still this comes down to about at least twice a week watering.
During the hot summer, I water a lot more.
Water good especially when you spot a spike otherwise you will lose that spike or have a minimal number of flowers.

Happy growing!

[lauraeli]

My east window gets only a few hours of sun. Some of my phals near that window have been turning red in places though so it's not too bad. It's either that, or under the gro light with my mini phals

[NYCorchidman]

A few hours of sun is good.
For now, keep this one there and give it one year to see if it blooms well. I'm almost certain it will bloom.

Compared to phals, well, I grow my phals in high light (well, almost all my orchids) so my care of phals and tolumnias are about the same, although I try and expose tolumnias to higher light possible while phals are a bit further away from the window now. poor phals. hehe

So, yeah, grow your toluminia in the east window where it can enjoy a few hours of morning sun.

[Reeses]

It is so cute! There were Tolumnias at the show I went to over the weekend and I made myself walk away because I didn't think I'd be able to give them enough water. It sounds like I was mistaken there Good luck with this little guy! It's precious

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I wouldn't recommend north window for anything other than ferns or some African violets.

Lol you are so funny All my orchids are in a North window lol. I do add extra lights for the catts and vanda, ect. but the rest are growing just fine in the North.