Help id giften mini orchids

[Tukatuka]

Hi all,

I need help id-ing these two mini orchids that my friend gave me. I was told that they are mini oncidiums, but how come they don't have pseudobulbs like oncidiums do?

I have also posted a photo of one of these orchid's leaves that seems to fall at the slightest touch with brown discoloration at the base. Now there are only 3 leaves left! What is this and what should I do?

Thank you

[Ordphien]

They used to be called oncidiums. But now they are tolumnia.
I don't have one so I can't really help with care.
Normally that happens to me when the medium is too wet with other orchids.

I know tolumnia like to dry quite fast. Before nightfall I believe.
So maybe too much water? Or potting medium that hold too much water?

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[RandomGemini]

They look like tolumnia genting angel or tolumnia genting leopard... genting angel is white with dark pink to red spots, genting leopard is yellow with red spots.

I believe that the colors of the blooms change based on the surrounding temperature when it blooms, if I've read it right then they have more vibrant colors when they bloom in warmer temperatures, so the appearance of the flowers can vary a lot.

I've been considering getting these orchids myself, so I've done a little homework.

They look over potted to me, just from your photos and that potting medium might be holding too much water for them, as Ordphien said. What are they potted in?

I know that these orchids grow in good light, south to southeast facing windows would do nicely for them and they like to dry out over the course of a day. I believe the best thing to do is mist them in the early morning and let them dry out before dark.

I also agree with what was said above, they look like they have been kept too wet.

[Tukatuka]

Thanks for the replies. These Tolumnias are potted in a chunk of coconut husk and fine tree 'twigs'. They are not chunky enough to be called barks.

Here in Indonesia I have been unable to find orchid barks. We only have coconut husk, charcoal, moss and these twigs that comes from what appears to be fern like plants.

They dry out quite quickly and I water them once every two days. When you said that it is overpotted do you mean it has too much media?

Should I remove some of the top media?

Thank you

[cbuchman]

Indeed, it is critical that Tolumnias dry out very quickly. They are often grown in pots with no media at all. I grow mine mounted with a daily mist.

If your Tolumnia is not dry before nightfall, then it is likely to rot. Removing some of the media is one way, also increasing air movement is another. These little guys can take a lot of light too - just acclimate them to increased light levels slowly.

Good luck!

[RandomGemini]

I mean that it looks like the pot is too big, which also means there is too much media. From what I've read about these guys, over potting can lead to water sitting at the roots too long.

Given that you live in a very humid climate, I would pot these in a fast draining medium, like charcoal and just mist them in the morning.

Hopefully someone else will chime in too. I don't have a lot of experience with the mediums you're talking about, I use bark and moss, but I think in your climate, moss is the wrong choice for tolumnia for sure.

[trdyl]

Tukatuka, the fine tree twigs you are referring to is more than likely shredded tree fern. It is a very popular media for this type of plant.

[WhiteRabbit]

I grow a Tolu in tree fern fiber and pumice, clay pot (approx. 2 1/2" - but has a lot more fans, it's quite crowded in there). It gets watered usually every other day, every third day in winter. It does not rot. But, I wouldn't want it taking any longer to dry out than it does.

Other good potting options are bare root in a tiny clay pot, or a small amount of chunky horticultural charcoal (clay, or net pot).

If using any potting media, use a skewer to determine when it's dry.

[MattWoelfsen]

These plants come from the Carribean--Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, southern Florida, etc. they get a lot of sun, wind, and rain. So the more you can duplicate these conditions, the less likely you will loose leaves. As others have advised, water in the morning allow to dry quickly, dry by nightfall--good advice for plants grown indoors. But if you grow them outside--where it rains at night, that is okay as they get fresh air outside. They hate stagnant air. Also, do not cut the flower spike once the blooms are finished. Tolumnia will often grow new branches from old spikes.