Tolumnias overwatered - Orchid Board

Pilot · #1 11-10-2011, 10:12 AM

Hi all...man I feel stupid. But yesterday I forgot to take my tolis out of their little container in which they steep in water, usually only for an hour or so, for the entire day. I can can't believe I forgot. This has only ever happened one and I water them nearly every day. I'm hoping that frequency will make them uniquely apt to whether this all day of sitting in water.

They are out of the water now, of course, but my question to the forum is, are these guys tough enough to survive this slip up? I checked the roots as they grow in almost nothing but a piece of bark or two and a clay put and them seem turgid. Will they be ok? Otherwise they're very healthy plants and actively growing.

WhiteRabbit · #2 11-10-2011, 12:56 PM

In the past,I have forgotten theTolus soaking in water for a day - shouldn't be long enough to be a problem,so long as they dry out in 2-3 days.

jrodpad · #3 11-10-2011, 01:11 PM

I'm amazed at how hardy tols are. I've never left them submerged, but I have dried them out to the very brink of death and they've come back to life. I think it should be fine if followed by a sufficient dry period before the next watering.

-J

camille1585 · #4 11-10-2011, 01:51 PM

I don't have Tolus, but have often forgotten about soaking orchids. Sometimes overnight, sometimes a day, and once an entire weekend. No harm done!

Gage · #5 11-10-2011, 01:58 PM

I'm sure they'll be fine. Just let them dry completely.

silken · #6 11-10-2011, 02:10 PM

I too am sure they will be fine.

nenella · #7 11-10-2011, 02:40 PM

with all of the above. I too am guily of having forgotten orchids ... just make sure they dry out and resume your normal watering schedule.. & it won't miss a beat!

Bud · #8 11-10-2011, 03:08 PM

Ryan... Colorado is basically a dry arid area indoor and outdoors...soaking the Tolumnia for a day was maybe heavensent...since it is in a bark media that drains easily...I soak my terete vandas for 24 hrs when I see that its leaves are closed...it helps it open and refresh itself...but dont do it often since it is winter...if the water gets cold you might have an even greater problem

Pilot · #9 11-14-2011, 12:07 PM

Thanks all...for some reason the forum failed to inform me I had replies to my post, so I would have responded sooner!

I have forgotten orchids in water before, too, but I'm such a novice at tolumnias that I was overly concerned. They have very fine roots...and I found many that are brown and dried out but I remember them always being that way. So I poked around and found green roots that I'd expect of a tree dweller to have in and around the bark medium. The plants seem fine. I tend to keep them more moist than I think most would but only because, like Bud said, I live in an arid climate. And in a southern window, even more so! I keep them in glass, with the top vented so they don't boil to death, but doing this keeps their humidity much higher and I can make it most of the day without them drying out and come night, they're dry and safe from the drop in temps.

Also, when can I expect them to spike again? I have phals pushing spikes now...loads of them, actually.

ezil · #10 11-14-2011, 07:51 PM

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one doing things like that! Your tolus will just continue to grow, and you should not lose any sleep over this episode. They will bloom again - once they start forming spikes, it doesn't take too long. They can bloom any time of year, but it's unlikely that they will start until the days start getting longer. I still have one in bloom, and don't expect the others to start spiking until March/April, but than they bloom off and on until fall.