Tolumnias Starting to Bloom

[No-Pro-mwa]

I think I just saw my first of these. Holly cow I didn't know they were that small. I guess that's what I saw at a greenhouse. My dear hubby was with me so I couldn't look to long.

Well I also had a dentist appt. so I had to get going.


Man I want one.

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

I just returned from a cruise on the Danube River going from Budapest to Prague. It was a fantastic trip except for the long plane ride between Europe and Hawaii. I was happy to find these in bloom on my return.

Rodrumnia Bravo x Rodrumnia Blushing Angel by hawaiiansunshine, on Flickr

Rodrumnia Bravo x Rodrumnia Windsong by hawaiiansunshine, on Flickr

Rodrumnia Just Splendid x Rodrumnia Bravo by hawaiiansunshine, on Flickr

Rodrumnia Windsong x Rodrumnia Velvet Queen by hawaiiansunshine, on Flickr

[james mickelso]

Very nice. I've acquired a few and experimenting with them. I used to be able to grow them quite well when I lived in San Diego but when I returned to the north San Diego county they wouldn't grow well at all. So far the new batch is doing fine. I have them hanging on wire in small 1 inch pots and mist them once or twice a day. RO with a smidgeon of fert. Highest light location in my hovel of a greenhouse. Boy! A cruise down the Danube sounds nice. The Yangse would be better. The travel to Europe must have been really long.

[UnstuckinTime]

Those are absolutely stunning!

[syspila]

Hi Folks,

I have been dabbling with orchids for 30 years or so. I am not a know it all! I have some Tolumnias, mainly hybrids from Hausermans. I keep them in the small 1 inch clay pots where they survive winter though an air vent does dry them but they survive with some leaf wrinkling. They do flower in late Spring or Summer. Two questions; can I water them a bit more than once a day? Also, I almost never get any aerial roots and they grow 2 to 3 additional fans per year tho I have never repotted them. Any ideas? More light watering? I use rainwater with some algae in it. Thanks.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by syspila

Hi Folks,

I have been dabbling with orchids for 30 years or so. I am not a know it all! I have some Tolumnias, mainly hybrids from Hausermans. I keep them in the small 1 inch clay pots where they survive winter though an air vent does dry them but they survive with some leaf wrinkling. They do flower in late Spring or Summer. Two questions; can I water them a bit more than once a day? Also, I almost never get any aerial roots and they grow 2 to 3 additional fans per year tho I have never repotted them. Any ideas? More light watering? I use rainwater with some algae in it. Thanks.

I think it's fine to water them if they're drying early in the day. Is there media in the pots? If so, use a skewer to make sure it is dry before watering.

The roots are growing to where there is moisture (into the pot), rather than into the air - there's nothing wrong with that.

[syspila]

Yes, WR, they dry during the day and I water them mid-morning and early afternoon again, they almost always are dry before nightfall. Very little media...perlite, some hydrostones, a bit of charcoal. I sometimes put a bit of bird fecal material in...just once per summer. Some still have a bit of sphagnum in them. I guess keeping the roots in the pot. some plants do have a couple roots out of the pot. The plants do flower but later in summer. I have not checked moisture per your comment. I will do that. Thanks.

[hanzy08]

Stunning! they remind me of the little guppies lol!

[kcmodena]

Originally Posted by Hawaiian Sunshine

This is what makes growing Tolumnias and Rodrumnias fun. Here are photos of three plants that came from the same seedpod. They are blooming for the first time. The colors and markings on the flowers are so different that it is hard to believe they are siblings. Well, maybe there are some resemblances.

do you in fact do the pollination>>? and if so WOW!

[Hawaiian Sunshine]

There always seem to be a plant in bloom. Here is one blooming for the first time.

Tolumnia Talisman x Rodrumnia Bravo by hawaiiansunshine, on Flickr