Tolumnia potting question

[Paul Mc]

I just bought a Tolumnia, and from what I've read in books and online it should be potted bare-root with perhaps a few pieces of charcoal mixed in (for good luck, lol...). I am willing to water it everyday in the morning as people and books have suggested and leave it in it's tiny clay pot.

Here's my questions/dillemas though.

1.) How do you guys ensure that your Tolumnia gets what it needs when you are on vacation. While I could always ask someone to water it, bear in mind that there are over 80 tropical plants plus my 30 something orchids and I don't want to overload someone with that. Would putting some sphag lightly packed in for the week to 10 days while on vacation be acceptable?

2.) The grower has it potted in somesort of moss, and I haven't dug in to see what's in there. The roots are all over the place outside of the pot. I'm assuming it would be best to completely get rid of what's in there and follow the standard of nothing but a few pieces of charcoal with the roots. Or would placing a few small strands of sphag be acceptable?

[WhiteRabbit]

If the weather is warm enough, and you get frequent rain they could perhaps be left outdoors. Being rather small plants, you could also perhaps have someone take care of them at their home for the time.
Additional charcoal, or adding tree-fern fiber would help retain moisture a bit longer, tho I don't know about 10 days

[kenr62]

I grow mostly mounted & open baskets & use a rain tree I built when away - made from a sprinkler tower, a timer, schedule 80 tubing and a bunch of fogg-it nozzles. A very simple version could be constructed with one or two nozzles for a few plants...

[johnblagg]

I was given several of these last June and they did fairly well mounted and outside in the summer ...but I started seeing them go downhill this winter indoors ...

I repotted into hydrotron and just water well and mist ...they are making new growths now and looking much better but that dosent answer what to do if I leave for a few days ...your rain tree sounds like it would take care of it well....I water by spraying mine down a couple of times a day now.

[Gin]

The rain tree might be ok. if there is no natural rain if kept to wet for too long , rot is the problem if water sits in the fans when cool .Mine are watered about every other day when cool . Might be best to either take them to someone to take care of them while you are gone or come and water them daily if hot or every other day if cool .. depending on where you are .

[Paul Mc]

LOL... Hello Gin. I'm in St. Louis, so it's probably about the same for me as it is for you.

That's kinda what I figured. The rest of the orchids I can always just water before I leave and they are usually fine for a week (except if it's really hot outside and they are outside). But since the Tolumnia are kinda picky I thought I'd check in with everyone else.

The sprinkler idea is kinda interesting. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it before! Leave it to us orchid geeks to get all these great ideas, lol...

[Gin]

lolol I forgot you were from here in that case I would take them to a baby sitter Gin

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Gin

lolol I forgot you were from here in that case I would take them to a baby sitter Gin

HMMMM gin lives close in fact :P.....and the rot thing is what I had a issue with in fact Gin ....putting them in hydrotron really helped but I lost a little ground...

They are returning though

[Gin]

sure bring them here or to John only a 3 hour drive one way .

[Paul Mc]

LOL... I'll have to remember that!

So when I bought this Tolumnia, it had charcoal on the bottom (which I have read is appropriate) and it has a thin layer of live moss in it. It's set in a small clay pot, and a lot of roots are growing outside of the pot.

So, is the live moss a bad thing? Should it be removed or does it actually help to "lick" up remaining water throughout the day? I'm assuming it helps, and the pot and moss is dry to the touch in the evenings which is good.

If I need to remove the moss, I think I'm going to wait until it's done blooming so i don't accidentaly hurt any of the roots and cause bloom drop.