Snipping spikes on Tolumnia

[greenhouseFrog]

I have a particular Tolumnia(Jairak Firm ‘Sweet Pink’) that is in spike but I’d rather have a new fan with some new roots for mounting.

If I cut off the developing spike, would/could the plant then devote its time and energy to fan development?

Thanks in advance and have a happy holiday!

[Roberta]

Nooooo... You will not get new growth by cutting off the spikes, all you will do is deprive yourself of the pleasure of looking at the flowers! (Where did THAT notion come from???) The plant will grow when it is ready to grow. Give it excellent culture, and it will grow on its own schedule. You can't rush orchids! You need to be patient!

If the plant is growing new roots, you can mount it even if in bloom. In general, Tolumnias do better mounted since they are twig epiphytes. (Most people have difficulty growing them in pots over the long term) Where you live, especially, it should do very well mounted. But in general, the time for mounting is when new roots first appear, since they are the only roots that will actively grab the mount.

[greenhouseFrog]

I want to preface this by saying I’m not crazy however I have to admit that the thinking behind it didn’t go that deep…I’ve grown tired of looking at it! It’s been in bloom since mid-February on the old growth that I got it with and since then it has put on 2 new growths, one of which carries the spike in question. This is a really vigorous plant!

I’ve never mounted a Tolumnia in spike;I’ve only mounted them just past the emergence of new growths, but at this point it would make more sense to mount it and enjoy the show because it has the other new growth that can get started on the attachment.

You’ve been like the fairy godmother of orchids since I have started posting here; thank you!

[Roberta]

Thanks! I could not bring myself to cut a blooming flower spike... Tolumnias go on and on, part of their charm. Go ahead and mount, no worries about leaving the spike to keep on blooming. If the plant decides it's an issue, it'll quit on its own.