Tolumnia Blooms! - Orchid Board

lycaonpictus · #1 01-13-2011, 12:07 PM

My tolumnia started spiking in December, and I've got three in bloom now! (One only opened its first bloom yesterday.) Thought I'd share pictures of some happy spiking plants, and the two bloomers. (Stun Gun is one of my favorites in my collection.)

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...oyous-love.jpg

Zoi2 · #2 01-13-2011, 03:51 PM

Ooh, they're lovely!!
Joann

grasshopper · #3 01-14-2011, 06:03 PM

Those are awesome! I love the blooms in the first close-up photo!

Paul · #4 01-14-2011, 08:54 PM

I'm envious! I can't bloom tols, I can grow them but that appears to be it. Lovely blooms!

jrodpad · #5 01-14-2011, 09:28 PM

Wow! I've never seen so many flowers from one tiny tolumnia before.

What's the secret?

Other than God given talent.

Nice growing!

-J

lycaonpictus · #6 01-14-2011, 09:52 PM

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I think any "God given talent" is just genes in the little guys themselves.

Paul -- Any time you want to get rid of those tolumnia that you "can only grow," I'm happy to take them off your hands!

I think the closest thing to a "secret" I have with tolumnia is keeping them in a wardian case so that they stay in relatively high humidity, and giving them a LOT of light. They are very oncidium-like in the amount of light they enjoy. Also, I honestly think switching to RO water improved their health a lot. Other than that, just the usual "fertilize weakly-weekly, don't let them stay wet."

I'll try to post more pictures as the others bloom!

billc · #7 01-15-2011, 04:41 AM

Very nice. What are the potted ones growing in? Hydroton?

Bill

lycaonpictus · #8 01-15-2011, 09:34 AM

If Hydroton is another name for "expanded clay aggregate," then yes!

All my potted tolumnia are in straight clay aggregate (I've gotten used to calling it PA for "Prima Agra," even though it isn't that specific brand). I've also got a half dozen that are mounted, mostly on cork bark, and I've recently started 3 or 4 in straight EcoWeb. So far, they seem to be loving the EW! So I recently put a plant that was scraggling in pot onto an EW plaque, and we'll see how it takes to that.

LP

Paul · #9 01-15-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lycaonpictus

Paul -- Any time you want to get rid of those tolumnia that you "can only grow," I'm happy to take them off your hands!

Could happen! (Though I tend to be a stubborn s.o.g. ["son of gun"])

Quote:

Originally Posted by lycaonpictus

I think the closest thing to a "secret" I have with tolumnia is keeping them in a wardian case so that they stay in relatively high humidity, and giving them a LOT of light. They are very oncidium-like in the amount of light they enjoy.

I've tried that too. Even have some with the leaves getting a touch of burgundy so I know the light levels are high enough.

lycaonpictus · #10 01-15-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

I've tried that too. Even have some with the leaves getting a touch of burgundy so I know the light levels are high enough.

Huh. Yeah, I would definitely say it sounds like the light is high enough. I suppose you could have reluctant bloomers, but I can honestly say that tolumnia are the one type of orchid I've never found to be reluctant, as long as they are reasonably happy.

What kind of temperatures do you keep them at? What are they planted in / mounted on? Do you know the names of the hybrids? We'll see if we can't get these blooming for you!

LP