Tolumnias spiking!

[Lagoon]

Can't get enough of these little tols. Beautiful blooms, the plants looks super healthy. Great job on that one -- Be proud

[Kelly R]

I have a tolumnia spiking as well. It is my first experience with this species, so I have a few questions. The original poster mentioned misting and watering frequently. I water this one twice a week. Is that enough? Also my spike is still bright green, at what point does it turn the darker color I see in your pictures. Lastly, my spike was growing straight up, but 2 days ago it decided to take a 90 degree turn and hasn't uprighted itself. I put a clip on the stake just underneath it to keep it from going further down, which it was starting to do. Is this normal when the light direction hasn't changed?

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[cbuchman]

Hi! I posted these information in another thread, but will repeat it here so that you can see that Tulumnias seem to thrive of less water than you would think.

There was a great culture "box" in the July 2012 Orchids magazine from AOS (American Orchid Society). AOS refers to them as Equitants. The article has some great pictures too. Here is a summary.

For the most part the species are from the Caribbean and are generally found on small branches where they are exposed to a lot of sun and their roots are exposed. Rain is from showers and short in duration and breezes are constant. They tolerate a wide range of temperatures.

• Roots must be able to dry rapidly. Use a dry & porous medium if in pots, or mount
• Lave rock is an ideal medium or river gravel, osmunda. Be careful with bark/coconut chunks as they break down and then the roots cannot dry rapidly enough
• Use clay pots to promote rapid drying. Use the smallest pot possible. Plastic net pots can also work. Mounting is also good
• Air movement is essential
• With good rapid drying, water frequently, perhaps twice per week augmented by misting
• Light is similar to Catts, ideally about 3,000 foot-candles or more
• Fertilizing is not so important. Dilute fert every week or two. Plants will take up what they need.

Armed with this AOS information, I bought Tulumnia Pink Panther (it's a miniature) last summer and it is now in spike. I bought 2 more a few weeks later from Silva orchids which have since bloomed. I'm growing one on a mount and 2 in pots until spring when I will add them to the mount that I started.

I've killed many before - I think from too much care - but seems to be doing fine with the AOS advice above.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

Nice! My Genting Leopard and one of my Pink Panthers are in bloom now. 'Tis the season for Tulumnias!

Yep, 'tis the Tuli season!

I have a Pink Panther that finished bloom about a months ago, so I won't see flowers again for a while now.
None of my Popuki Mitzi is spiking. I know I dried them badly, but they grew back nicely. but no spikes yet.
I would love to see how red they will be this time, but still waiting and waiting.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Seems like we're all enjoying Tolumnia spikes.... Nearly every single one of mine is spiking now!

Congrats, Ryan! Your s/h is working with tollies then!

I think I will switch most, if not all, of mine to something like s/h because these little pots dry out like crazy and I don't want to constantly worrying and watering them.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Can't get enough of these little tols. Beautiful blooms, the plants looks super healthy. Great job on that one -- Be proud

Thank you, yeah, gotta love these little cuties.
I burned most of mine with dark purple tints and spots.
Pretty N Pink are somehow burn resistant I guess. They are the only ones nice and green.
and grow&flower the best for me.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Kelly R

I have a tolumnia spiking as well. It is my first experience with this species, so I have a few questions. The original poster mentioned misting and watering frequently. I water this one twice a week. Is that enough? Also my spike is still bright green, at what point does it turn the darker color I see in your pictures. Lastly, my spike was growing straight up, but 2 days ago it decided to take a 90 degree turn and hasn't uprighted itself. I put a clip on the stake just underneath it to keep it from going further down, which it was starting to do. Is this normal when the light direction hasn't changed?

How long have you had yours? If your tolumnia is spiking under your care, then I guess you got the culture right.

I believe many people kill orchids by overwatering especially phals, but these are killed by underwatering.
With such a tiny clay pot they come in, and dry air in the our homes, they do dry out very fast. They also need a lot of light, which also take moisture away from them fast.
So keeping them sufficient moist, especially while they are growing or spiking and in bloom. Not enough water will stunt the growths, with wrinkles in severe case, and spikes and flowers will either die out or won't last long with less than ideal amount of water.

I soak mine whenever I can (every other day or everyday in the summer, at least twice all other season), and I mist the exposed roots all the time. in the morning and evening. If I'm home all day, I mist throughout the day.

[NYCorchidman]

One more pot is with flowers now.
Another of Genting Sunray.
The last bit dried up but looks pretty good.
I thought this spike was going to be lost due to dehrdration, but I soaked very diligently hoping for the best in the last two weeks. I guess it paid off.

Now I see some buds ready to open any minute on one of the Pink N Pretty. still no spikes on Popoki Mitzi. hmmmm

[Vanda lover]

I just got my 2 in the mail in the spring, but they are looking very healthy and I hope they will spike. I want more bloom for Xmas.

[Pilot]

Wow it's wonderful!!! Love this one!

I thought of you yesterday. I stocked up on some serious tolumnia!!! I posted pics of them in another sub cat of this forum. The one pot has so many fans its busting out of it! No spike on that one but I got two others that are also awarded plants. One of them is Tolu Valentine, a deep, rich red.

I think it's in a misc forum here...Something about showing photos. Can't remember. Lol

Found it:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community/showthread.php?t=64386