Tolumnias & Zelemnias- how long to bloom?

[daemondamian]

Hi folks,
I have a Tolumnia Jairak Carnival and a Zelemnia [cross of Zelonka [bad spelling I think] and Tolumnia] Liz 'Full Moon' which have flower spikes of about 10cm now.

This is the first time that they are flowering for me. A friend actually said that the Tolumnia is flowering 5 months early [it's Autumn here in Australia].

Does anyone know approximately how long it takes for the spikes to develop and then open?

thanks
Damian.

[littlefrog]

I love these things... Time from first spike to bloom varies quite a bit depending on (probably) temperature, light, cross, etc. I confess I've never timed them, but I think the ones that are in full bloom right now probably started spiking in late January. So, a couple months from first spike to first bloom.

If they are happy, most tolumnias will rebloom on an inflorescence, like a phalaenopsis. Don't cut your spikes until they dry up. Last year I had plants in good bloom from February through August (the same group of plants), and a few flowers in the time between August and this February.

Zelenkoa onustum is what you aren't spelling right... Used to be Oncidium onustum. Still is, on most of my tags.

[Tesa]

Hi,

the plant´s genus is called Zelenkoa like Zelenkoa onusta, former Oncidium onustum. But that doesn´t matter.

The blooming start will take a while and it depends on many factors like light, water etc. .
Count with 8 or more weeks. Mostly, when the spikes reach 30-70 cm, the buds will begin to form.
So be patient!

Good growing and greets from Germany

Tesa

[daemondamian]

Thanks Littlefrog and Tesa on your helpful information

The spikes seem to be growing farily fast- I can already see tiny buds.

With my first Tolumnia [the Jairak Carnival] I cut off the spike after it finished flowering despite the fact that it had another little bud on the spike because I thought it would be better spending the energy on establishing the plant..

then I found out about them reblooming and that I should have left the spike on

Also I ended up 'meeting' a guy up north who grows many Tolumnias and sent me quite a few including the Liz Full Moon and he advised me to mount mine, which was very good advice

Zelonka versus Zelenkoa well at least they both start with Z

Nice to meet you both, and hopefully I will have some photos of blooms to post in a few months time

Regards
Damian.