Tolumnia Leaves Drying Out

[KristenJ]

Hi all,

I am having problems with one of my Tolumnia orchids and am hoping someone can help.

I have a Tolumnia Red Passionate Galaxy. A few weeks ago its leaves started looking like they were drying out. Then a few dropped off. I thought perhaps I wasn't watering enough because normally it likes water twice a week (roughly) but it had not been drying out like normal, so I reduced it to once a week right before this happened. So I went back to watering it twice a week. But the leaves are still drying out quickly. I am concerned I have over watered and need advice on how to fix this mistake. I can post pictures tomorrow if this would help.

Thanks!

[silken]

Yes pictures would help. As well, how is it potted and how are the roots. These like to be watered in the morning and dry before night time. I don't water mine every day but about 4 to 5 times a week and they are in a very open loose media in net baskets.

[Paul Mc]

From your description, sounds like its staying wet for far too long in moist medium. I grow mine bare root in small clay pots with just a small bit if horticultural charcoal. I water them daily and sometimes twice daily during the summer, and just briefly every morning during cooler months. I suspect you are growing yours in some sort of medium given the context of what you wrote.

[WhiteRabbit]

These do like to dry fairly quickly. Might be staying wet too long ...? Perhaps stick a skewer in the media to monitor the moisture.

[Paul Mc]

LOL... I would like to add that silken is correct. These should never go to bed wet or moist. I'm suspecting that the moisture in the media (if you are using media) may have killed your roots which in turn would create leaves drying out. Just a hunch.

[Vanda lover]

I have mine in small mesh baskets with a little sphag, sitting in the tops of vases. There is a fan in the room which helps them to dry quickly, and the vases retain a little moisture. It is easy to tell when the sphag is dry, which is usually every day or 2. They love growing this way.

[KristenJ]

Sorry for the late response. It is potted in a clear cup with bark-like media. I'm not sure exactly what because it is in the same media that I bought it with. I have noticed since winter started that the media it is in has not been drying out as quickly as it used to. I just moved from LA, with no real winter, so I've never had trouble with my Tolumnias drying before.

I posted a picture of the dried leaves. You can see it's completely dried out in the front group of leaves. The back group is still green, but it is starting to lose a leaf. The roots look the same as they always have. I pulled it out a little, but I didn't want to disturb it too much. The roots I could see seem to be fine. The media was definitely still damp, with some moisture still in the cup. What steps should I take to save him?

I am growing another Tolumnia bare root in a small clay pot. They have both always been happy until now. I posted a picture of my second tolumnia because his leaves are starting to look a little leathery. I am wondering if based on all of your responses if I am underwatering him?

Thanks everyone for all of your help.

[Paul Mc]

Do the roots turn green when you water? Are there any new green root shoots happening?

If you are growing bare root, daily morning dunk in water is required, though I've been known to skip a day here or there on occasion, lol...

I still wonder if your other one is because the media is staying moist for too long. How long have you had it? Could it be that the medium/bark is old ad causing issues? As things decompose they also change PH and retain for more water while allowing less air to the roots. Wondering if it might be a combo?

[KristenJ]

The roots don't turn green for either one. They get a brighter white, especially on the one growing bare pot. I will increase the watering for that one. Should it be a dunk or is letting the faucet run over it ok?

I don't know how long the other one was potted before I got it, but I have had it for a year and a half now. I think you are right, because it is still damp today from the last time I watered it.

There are no new green root shoots on either. The bare pot one is growing new leaves. The one in media was growing new leaves about 2 weeks ago, but those dried up too.

[silken]

It's hard to say from the picture, but the one in the clear pot looks like old and possibly too wet of media. Tolumnias grow on thin branches of other plants and get rained on and then dry out quickly. So that's kind of what you are trying to imitate to grow these. Most people seem to use a few charcoal chunks in a clay pot. Or myself, I have several in plastic net pots with a few chunks of bark and one came with chunks of coco fibre in the net pot and seems happy that way so I have left it. I just run water thru it early in the day and then leave it to drain and dry. The roots are mostly exposed and get lots of air. I would un-pot that one and maybe give it a quick soak in some seaweed water or SuperThrive or KLN rooting hormone and then put in something that can leave the roots more exposed or open to air. I've read these plants don't like tap water so try to use rain water or R/O if you can.