Another Tolumnia/Rodrumnia Advice Thread - Orchid Board

whygreenberg · #1 08-13-2008, 06:38 PM

I just received a Tolumnia Phyllis Envy 'Ruby Queen' x self and a Rodrumnia (Tol. Akeka 'Peaches' x Rrm. Orchidom Dancer). They are HUGE! Tolu's leaves are around 7" on 4 fans, and Rodru's leaves are about 10" on 3 fans! So my real question is...

I've read all the previous postings about how to pot or mount them, what kind of medium (or not) to use. I'm a little confused about what to do tho. Here's the thing...both are mounted on cedar shingles in big ol' sphag-balls. But they must be doing ok given their size, right?

So, I guess I'm looking for advice and opinions. To remove the sphag-balls or leave them be?

Ross · #2 08-13-2008, 07:04 PM

Either way, would be my advise. What do you want? You like mounts? The sphag isn't really needed as these guys grow high in trees with exposed roots. The crosses aren't really all that different except they tend to be more foregiving (in my experience.) I suspect this is because the growers are looking for more robust plants and the best qualities. The spp tend to be less foregiving about drying out, etc. If you decide a pot is your thing, I would highly recommend a net pot with charcoal chunks as the medium. Charcoal takes like, forever to breakdown, so you won't have to repot very often.

whygreenberg · #3 08-13-2008, 07:18 PM

Thanks, Ross! I do like mounts and have more room for 'em than I do for pots. I was just surprised at all the sphag on those two b/c I knew their roots like to really dry between waterings. I think I will probably remove the sphagnum but keep them as mounts. Just wanted to see what others (well really, you Ross) thought about it.

And please, if anyone else has another take on it, letter rip.

mspatt · #4 08-13-2008, 07:43 PM

I have ten or eleven Tolumnia(s)--don't know the plural--They are almost all mounted. Most are bare root per the advice of a professional grower in Australia with lots of awarded plants

The thing I would be looking at when deciding if I wanted to keep the mounts is the state of the roots! If they are clinging to the cedar boards, very gently remove the sphag ball and just let them go their own way. Mine are on my deck right now and they are putting out new growths or giving me spikes

Curiously, the couple that are still in sphag are the ones that seem dehydrated. I do know that too much water will kill them really fast. All in all, I would recommend mounting these great little plants

cb977 · #5 08-13-2008, 07:52 PM

Yvan, they came that way from Oak Hill, correct? I don't mess around with the mounts I receive from them or Andy's

whygreenberg · #6 08-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Hmm...they did come that way from Oak Hill. I dunno. Given what I've seen with how long sphagnum takes to dry out in my set up, I dunno.

Ross · #7 08-13-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

Hmm...they did come that way from Oak Hill. I dunno. Given what I've seen with how long sphagnum takes to dry out in my set up, I dunno.

I agree. My experience with Tolumnias is they really need to get bone dry overnight. I'd recommend redoing the mounts. Just my 2 cents.

quiltergal · #8 08-14-2008, 10:04 PM

I followed Ross's most excellent advice and repotted my Tolu. Genting 'Volcano' in a net pot in charc chunks. I was a little sceptical at first, but it's doing great and kicking out a new growth. The new growth looks much better than the existing fans. They looked funky when I bought it from the grower. It was in a 1" thumb pot. It's much happier now. It's hanging from the top of my grow rack and is getting as much light as I can throw at it.

whygreenberg · #9 08-17-2008, 07:39 PM

Well. I decided to redo the mounts, removing all that sphagnum. Interestingly, the majority of the growing/active root system had all either emerged from the sphag-ball or avoided the sphag-ball entirely. So, I'll just see how they do. If it seems like it's not getting enough moisture – the actively growing root tips dry up, or the new fans are growing pleated – I can always add some sphag back or try Ross' charcoal potting.

Ross · #10 08-17-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whygreenberg

Well. I decided to redo the mounts, removing all that sphagnum. Interestingly, the majority of the growing/active root system had all either emerged from the sphag-ball or avoided the sphag-ball entirely. So, I'll just see how they do. If it seems like it's not getting enough moisture – the actively growing root tips dry up, or the new fans are growing pleated – I can always add some sphag back or try Ross' charcoal potting.

It's not my setup - I read about this somewhere, or maybe, I got one potted this way? Anyways, however you do your tolumnias, make sure you can (and are willing to) soak them every morning, then have them go bone dry by night. Never fail. The water should be at least "pure" (RO/distilled/rain) or a weak mixture of fertilizer in the "pure" water. These guys are sensitive to chemicals, in my experience. I think they prefer pure rain water or RO water instead of the standard MSU mix (in other words, really weak fertilizer, if any at all.)