Tolumnia Irene Gleason X Rodrumnia Apple Hollow - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Bud · #1 03-26-2012, 06:56 PM

Tolumnia, is previously known as the "equitant Oncidiums," the popular term "equitant" (derived from the Latin meaning riding a horse) the species were segregated from the mega-genus Oncidium by Guido Braem in 1986. The plants are small, usually epiphytic, with small or absent pseudobulbs completely covered by leaves, which are triangular or circular in cross section and overlap each other at base to resemble a fan. The inflorescences arise between the leaf base and bear colorful, showy flowers. The labella are large, ornamented by variously shaped calli. The column bears prominent wings flanking the stigma.
The genus is endemic to the Greater Antilles, with one species extending to Florida and one into the Lesser Antilles. Some species are also listed by the Royal Horticultural Society as endemic to mainland Central and South America.
Tolumnia has been hybridized for a relatively short time -- about 50 or so years. The short time it reaches flowering; approximately 2 1/2 years from pollination to bloom has enabled breeders to make significant advances in just a few years. Recent hybrids have many colors and forms not seen in the species. The small size and adapting to variable conditions make them ideal for growing under lights or on windowsills. The key to growing Tolumnias is mimicking their natural habitat.
Watering is a crucial aspect to success with Tolumnias. There is no set rule for how often to water. You need to find your water regimen according to your grow zone, humidity and temperatures. Only close observation of your conditions will indicate frequency. Plants must dry out between waterings. Drying will be faster outdoors than on a humidity-enhanced windowsill. Damp, cloudy days will retard drying while bright, breezy days will hasten it. Plants on mounts can be misted daily because drying is rapid, but those in pots must be observed more closely for complete drying. The saying: "if in doubt, don't water" applies here. Avoid misting or watering during the heat of the day. Water that collects in the overlapping leaf bases can reach "cooking" temperatures and severely damage plant tissue, especially the tender young growths.