Tolumnia on a mount

[Pilot]

I love these small plants but I've had a hard time finding my groove growing them. I kept them in their small clay pots that are useless to most other plants but my environment was just too dry and they desiccated. Then I tried sh but they are not easy to get established in sh. The one that did establish has done very well but has yet to bloom for me. Light seems to be sufficient as it takes on the purple color typical of high light situations.

So I decided to try one more method, mounting. I don't see it much different that the little clay pots however I have recently built a ultrasonic humidifier and enclosed my grow area in the basement and so the humidity is way up. Even those in clay pots are doing well now. But I wanted to still try a mount. I took the plants with new roots growing and fashioned a wire so that it is around the base of the older plants and then drilled into the wood. You cannot see the wire at all once I wrapped long strands of moss around the bases. And that was it. I set the whole thing on a clay saucer filled with grow stones and then topped with water to keep the local humidity even higher. The moss is slightly damp come lights out, not wet at all, and it remains slightly damp until the next day or two. Much better than my native environment!

Here it is... It's brand new, so no telling if it'll work.

[Bluesky]

I grow most of mine mounted. They like to have their roots watered & then dry quickly. I put them outside in the summer. I usually water them every day or ever other day.

[cbuchman]

I mounted mine as well. The quick dry out is the key as mine has spiked and is doing very well. Can't wait to see its first blooms.

I am so thrilled with this small success that I bought two more yesterday . The new guys are in small clay pots and are in spike. I will mount them in the spring when they are in more active growth on the same mount as the other. as there is plenty of room.

[Paul Mc]

Interesting. I have four to Lunitas, three of them are in the small pots you described. However when I pulled them out they were mixed with old medium so I immediately pulled them out and got rid of the medium. I tried to put them back into the small pots but with no success. I opted for placing them in relatively much larger pots, about 3 inch diameters, and added a bit of charcoal. They have grown and bloomed religiously for me! But it may be because I removed the old broken down moist medium and they are in large enough containers that air gets in there and dries things faster now.

The other is mounted but while there is growth, it's really been nothing spectacular in comparison.

[Pilot]

Well these are test plants. Most of the others remain in their tiny pots. They have some bark and charcoal in them too.

I really believe the issue this entire time was the severely low rh I experience here. Even inside, colorado weather can plummet the rh for days at a time. 5, 7% is not unheard of during day to week long periods and no orchid will survive that much less thrive.

Ever since I made my 55gal US humidifier and enclosed the grow area, every plant has increased in vigor and appearance. My phal leaves are substantially wider and with better color.

[Paul Mc]

Keep us posted on this! I do love the mount you created! I'd love to know how it works out. As an FYI, the one I have mounted has a dab of sphag under it as well. It's always dry by evening though.

[Pilot]

I will keep you posted. I hear what you're saying about the plant drying out its roots quickly. They don't seem to be giving on this fact with the exception of my tolumnia growing in sh. But you know, even if the plant does well in sh, there is something not appealing to me about this plant. They look best when they are light and airy like their meant to grow. So I'm glad my humidity issues have been fixed because those on their clay pots swaying in the gentle breeze of the fans looks great to me.

I'm excited about the mount. It looks great to me in person. I don't expect these guys to bloom any time soon since they've struggled but both are actively growing.

[Paul Mc]

I hear you! They look great on mounts!

So how is yours in S/H looking these days? I remember that thread!!!! I was thoroughly fascinated by it!!!! It seemed beyond belief given what I currently know of Tolumnias!

[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.

[bballr4567]

That is a great looking mount!