Tolumnia on a mount

[NYCorchidman]

Nice settup, Ryan!

If they are growing fine, then you should expect spikes when those growths are mature.

I am still growing all mine in those tiny clay pots (except for two that I transplanted in a large pot with bark).
Watering is the major challenge for me as well. I mist them everyday, but during the summer, I got a little lazy and they got super dehybrated and some looked very wrinkly.
I soak them at least twice a week for at least half an hour. It seemed to work wonders with them as all the growths are coming back to life and just today as I was soaking them again before my five day trip, I found that three or four of them are growing spikes also! yay!!!
Five day is long enough time for these little guys to dry out. I'm afraid growing spikes might get affected negatively, but the weather says NYC will pretty much be cold and rainy the whole time I am gone, so I am a bit relieved.

By the way, you never got back to me about which tolumnias you wanted. I still have ones without spike which might be easier to ship before the real cold weather kicks in.

[Pilot]

Hey Neil,

Sorry life got away from me for a while. I decided to hold off on the Tolumnia anyway mostly because I need to prove I can flower them on my own first, although I still want a division of that Wils you showed me.

That's great to hear your plants are spiking! My hope is to one day get a group of them large enough that when they do spike it's quite the show. But truth be told, whatever blooms I get of these guys I love.

I have one I got in the spring called elfin and it the most delicate creamy white and I'm proud to say its grown a substantial new fan since I got it.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

BTW, I hope you didn't take offense to anything I said. I've just quit a very toxic job and I tend to be more at the throat than my linguistic training requires me to be. Thank God that 4 years of experience is over and I can become more of the person I used to be- understanding and compassionate.

I didn't take your words negative or toxic at all, on the contrary. I know you mean to help and you have so no worries.

I shod update that thread about my sh Tolumnia. Wha I can tell you is, since planting it in sh it has grown two new fans and just recently I spotted what looked like a few more new fans.

Here's a pic I just took.

So I suppose in total it's grown maybe five new fans since I've owned it. One problem though....no blooms. I think it's partially because the first fan I grew ended up getting crown rot due to careless watering. The leaves of this Tolumnia are deep and crest a pocket perfect for water retention and I think the fan stalled. All the others haven't yet matured. Hoping they will soon.

[Bud]

You have mounted them quite well.
The mottled leaf Phal is going to revive now that you covered the roots with moss.
It is a big help that you have invested on a humidifier and enclosed the room. Colorado is elevated and dry, you really trusted your instincts on this.
I have my tolumnias on a clay pot with quick draining media....like you I maintain evenly moist environment that it doest have to feel the dryness of the airconditioned apartment....

[Pilot]

Thanks Bud... The Schill was a last minute thing I added. It was the last of a group of keikis that were ailing after the main plant finally gave up the ghost.

As for the humidifier... I have done everything else to care for all my orchids short of enclosing them and cranking up the rh... And so I did. I have an RO unit that fills the barrel and a float switch that shuts the RO unit off once its full. A five disc ultrasonic mister floats inside and pours the moisture into the air. A small fan pumps air into the barrel and forces the humid air out. The fan is variable so I have had to adjust to to hit the right balance between too dry, humid, and in door tropical rain (which did happen!). Enclosing the area keeps that balance more stable and keep harmful humidity from getting to the surrounding house structure. Works well so far. It'll blow through a good 40 gallons a week.

I've placed those mounted or needing frequent watering by the exit point of the barrel. They enjoy very moist air without actually getting wet. They seem to enjoy it so far. I've noticed a lot of new root tips growing just this past week, a mere two weeks after using the new set up.

I also can place things like mega thrive inside the discs, which is then atomized and pumped into the room. I leave it right away so as not to inhale it, but this method is used in hydroponics to get these trace hormones and nutrients to the plants quickly. Works well! And honestly I don't know that if I get some if it'll hurt me but I figure its safer if I not.

[Bud]

sounds like an impressive set up, make sure not to get sick....inhaling hormones might make you grow a third nipple, heh

[Vanda lover]

I have mine in plastic baskets with a little sphag. These I have sitting in the tops of jars so that there is added humidity. it works well, they are usually almost dry my night.
But your way looks much prettier.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Bud

sounds like an impressive set up, make sure not to get sick....inhaling hormones might make you grow a third nipple, heh

I already have a third.

I'm kidding!!!!!!!!

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I have mine in plastic baskets with a little sphag. These I have sitting in the tops of jars so that there is added humidity. it works well, they are usually almost dry my night.
But your way looks much prettier.

Hey we all do what we need to do to grow our orchids. I just always wanted to try. Mount and often times the mount would be too big for my set up but for the size of tolumnias, this problem was solved.

[nlm2951]

Very nice! I have some of my orchids on mounts and love them.