New Tolumnia Issues

[Spotted Milti]

Hey everyone
I just have a quick question about my tolumnia Jairak Flyer 'Carnation.' First of all, has anyone grown this? When I got it, it bloomed for me pretty quickly but the blooms were very different from the pictures online. They seemed like a very washed-out red instead of deep red and purple. Still adorable, but it might have been like that due to conditions during transport. But if not I don't mind if the colors stay that way.

I grow it on a shelf with my other oncidiums in my bedroom. I live in Georgia and it receives southern exposure (though it's been so cloudy and rainy this winter I've attached a grow light to the shelf for supplemental light), 50-70% humidity, water twice a week during the winter right now (I'm sure that'll pick up once the temperatures get into the 70's in spring and summer). It's on the far wall of my room so it doesn't get direct sunlight or anything. It has a new fan growing on the side and roots everywhere. Very little medium in a small plastic pot, so I keep that pot in a larger plastic pot with a bit of medium for some stability.

Anyway, my concern is that when I cut the flower stem off after it had officially dried (no chance of it reblooming on the spike), it started to develop an infection on two of the nearby leaves, so I snipped them and dabbed a bit of cinnamon on them. No issues and the whatever-it-was stopped and it was happy again. But a new leaf was growing between the ones I snipped and now it's starting to turn a pale yellow. No signs of rot or infection. Thoughts on the little yellow leaf? My theories include not giving it enough water for the new leaf and the new little fan. I've just been trying to stay cautious since the winter has us at low temps this year.

I appreciate any help!!!

[Dollythehun]

I grow many Tolumnias, and I have Carnation. I believe it's in bloom now. I'll take a picture in the morning. However, they are vibrant and then fade, that's normal.

I grow mine similarly to yours. Mine get enough light that the foliage gets bright red. They like to be watered frequently and dry quickly. I grow mine in clay pots and tiny bark. I recently had a couple yellow leaves, too. No worries.

[Spotted Milti]

Wow thank you so much! That's a relief to hear.

[Ray]

Certainly the cultural conditions affect color development in flowers.

Tolumnias with no direct sunlight?!?! Why not? In winter, the sun is probably low enough that direct exposure through your window will not be damaging, and they do like a lot of light.

[Spotted Milti]

It seems to enjoy the 8 hours I give it under the light, but you're probably right: during the winter the sun should be okay! I cooked one last summer in the same window right after it bloomed so I was trying to give the new one a fighting chance haha!

I've always read that new growth turning yellow is really bad. Is it different with tolumnias?

[Dollythehun]

We don't know why it yellowed. I wouldn't worry unless It progresses. Mine have an occasional yellow/dried leaf. Gradually move your pants to more sun. If the leaves are hot, it's probably too much. You can also run a small fan across them.

[Spotted Milti]

Okay thanks!

Your carnation is beautiful!! This is what mine looked like when it first bloomed. I think it got mad it was shipped in spike.

[Dollythehun]

---------- Post added at 09:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------

[/COLOR]Is that a freshly open bloom? What did they look like on arrival? If that's what it looked like on arrival, I think you're mislabled. Tolumnias are notorious for this (Look up a thread DVOS Tolumnias by Estacion Seca).

Mine is in high light. That alone could make some difference. It might have gotten stessed in shipping but, that's a lot of difference!

[Spotted Milti]

Yep, I took that picture when it first opened and they stayed pretty for about a month. I was kind of disappointed because I wanted that super dark red. Only two buds opened and the rest blasted during shipping. It's either mislabeled like you said or it's just the first time it's bloomed and hasn't figured itself out yet

[Dollythehun]

Read that thread I suggested. I actually like yours. I'd be willing to trade you something for it, when it warms up. I've complained before that I had three labeled differently that all looked the same. I'd contact the vendor.