Tolumnia problem - Orchid Board

Jkelee · #1 11-17-2008, 03:05 PM

Hey there, I am having an issue with a couple of my tolumnias'.

Some of their leaves are turning brown. My watering habits, fert, nothing has changed. BUT temp on them has.

Why is this happening??
I have many, but only a couple are doing this.

Oh, and they are Not soft and yucky feeling. Very firm still. So No Rot there.

Any ideas why??

Ross · #2 11-17-2008, 03:09 PM

I've not seen this with mine, so I am of no help. Sorry. Second thought: are they getting really strong sunlight? Maybe back off a bit on the sun? (It could be sunburn.) Just grasping at straws in an effort to help. You get so much stronger light than we do up here

littlefrog · #3 11-17-2008, 03:11 PM

Looks like high light and/or stress. Stress could be as simple as a bit more light than the roots are able to support with water. I actually grow mine fairly cold in the winter (55-60, probably colder than they want) and they will often discolor a bit under those conditions. But, they grow and bloom like little weeds, so I guess it works.

On the plus side, getting a lot of light on the plants is the best way to get them to bloom well...

Jkelee · #4 11-17-2008, 03:13 PM

They've been in thier hotel from this past spring. So I don't think that its Sunburn right now. Cause ALL SUMMER long, the HOT Sun here, never ever burned them. They were totally Green all summer.
It's just now, in the winter, that they are turning brown. But like I said, Not ALL my tolumnias are turning brown.
I was wondering if it's the D COLD we've gotten down here this past month at times?? And only some of my tolumnias got hit with that cold??

Ross · #5 11-17-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlefrog

Looks like high light and/or stress. Stress could be as simple as a bit more light than the roots are able to support with water. I actually grow mine fairly cold in the winter (55-60, probably colder than they want) and they will often discolor a bit under those conditions. But, they grow and bloom like little weeds, so I guess it works.

On the plus side, getting a lot of light on the plants is the best way to get them to bloom well...

Keep in mind, Rob, we are at a much more northern latitude with inherently weaker light. "Full sun" up here is not same as Orlando. So she could definitely be getting way too much light based on us that profess to grow under "bright light" (for us). I'm agreeing with you, but just wanted to add the extra explaination. Maybe a bit more shade. Tolumnias don't need to be burnt to a crisp to bloom well. Mine run from pale green to slightly tinged with purple and bloom prolifically. Dark green fans are not so quick to bloom.

littlefrog · #6 11-17-2008, 03:36 PM

Although we get some pretty impressive sun in the summer, and the duration is longer. I see sunburn more often in the winter, believe it or not, due to changing path of the sun and the fact that it is cloudy 95% of the time around here. A day of sun in michigan winter is like a supernova...

I suspect stress more than anything else, and that would account for the leaf color too.

One thing to consider is that we have developed our notions of what equitants want based on the first hybrids and some of the species. A 'modern' equitant has been bred for several generations for floriferousness and ease of bloom. Plus, most of the equitants you see today actually have Rodriguesia species in the background as well, which in my experience don't need nearly as much light to do well. I agree that cooking plants to the point of ugly leaves is really not necessary.

Have fun!

Rob

Jkelee · #7 11-17-2008, 05:43 PM

Does someone know the Rule on the LOWEST temp Tolumnia's can Take It??

Maybe that's my issue?

littlefrog · #8 11-17-2008, 06:02 PM

I've had mine down into the low 40's for short periods of time. I don't think they liked it though. I think most of the species are from Caribbean islands, cuba, and south Florida, if I recall. So that would be what you are striving for...

Ross · #9 11-17-2008, 06:14 PM

Rob is correct. Most spp are from Carribean, thus crosses are also from there, by default

Sandy4453 · #10 11-17-2008, 09:01 PM

One of my Tolumnias did the same thing, jkelee, only, one entire section was eventually lost...leaf by leaf, they just fell off. I haven't a clue why because they're all growing in exactly the same conditions. I have a feeling that water got trapped and rotted the base of that section. The leaves were firm but fell anyway. The rest of the plant is still growing strong minus the big bald spot now.