Tolumnia have always been one of my favorites... little plant, big bang of flowers. I've unfortunately spent the last twenty years experimenting so much with them that I have frequent failure to thrive. And scale are attracted to them like flies to honey.
This time, I'm bound and determined to (1) quit experimenting and stick with a mount for aminimum of two years, and more if growing well; (2) start a regime of systemics for scale, which I've never, ever done with anything before. Isopropyl alcohol just ain't cutting it; and (3) grow and bloom healthy Tolumnia year after year, instead of slowly killing them off after three or so years.
I read and read and read some more recently. Basically it's all the same schtick, regardless of where I read. One question I have keeps coming up. This is from Travaldo's blog, but it's repeated all over the place in similar verbiage:
To stimulate flowering, Tolumnia needs a clearly defined period of rest. It is necessary for the period from November to February, and is that the orchids contain much drier than usual, and do not fertilize. Watering the orchid growing in the substrate, it is necessary to replace it with light spraying and perform this procedure no more often than once in 3-4 weeks. For orchids on blocks, the irrigation frequency is reduced to one time in 10-15 days. After the appearance of peduncles, the rest period ends and the watering of the orchid resumes in the usual volume.
Seriously? I can understand the withholding fertilizer, but frequency of watering one time in 10-15 days? I simply cannot imagine doing that. Last year I auto-misted them twice daily, and still they dry out very rapidly. Does ANYONE follow a similar regime with that long a space in between irrigating?
Second question... not having used a systemic program on anything prior... how often is "enough" for preventative maintenance. I understand the once infected and weekly for three weeks. But preventative? Twice a year, once each time? Three times a year, once each time? Quarterly? Guidance please.
---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 AM ----------
PS RH runs about 60-68%, a fan on in the area 24/7, and temps average 65-68F during day, down to 62F nights.
Thoughts on growing Tolumnia
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