Repotting Tolumnia - Orchid Board

inle · #1 10-08-2012, 11:58 PM

Stopped at the nursery on my way home to get some fertilizer for my veggie garden. They had these adorable little orchids on sale in teeny tiny 2-inch terra cotta pots.

The one I picked had one bloom left. About 1/3 of the roots were healthy and green/white, the other 2/3 were dead and growing out of the pot.

Does anyone have any experience with repotting these little guys? Preferred potting medium? Should I get a slightly bigger pot? Is it just like repotting others? Cut away dead roots with sterile tool? When I repotted my phal I used some Superthrive in a root soak. This was about five months ago and it isn't dead yet, sent out another spike, so I'm assuming it's okay with this, too?

Bolero · #2 10-09-2012, 02:38 AM

I think they are better for mounting actually. They can rot easily if the air movement isn't right or the temps are to cool.

But I do have some in pots, I use small bark mixed with perlite. I make sure the airmovement is good, they get cattleya (bright) light and some warmth.

Once you have the culture right they are very easy to grow.

inle · #3 10-09-2012, 09:07 AM

thank you for your response.

I would love to get into mounting some of my orchids one day but I know nothing about it now.

Thanks for the advice about the light. I wasn't sure where it's light range should be. again, thank you! Here is a pic:

http://sdrv.ms/WM17kl

AnaLuisM · #4 10-09-2012, 09:48 AM

Tolumnia were my first to mount. I had bought like 7 at .75 each, went to pets mart and bought a nice piece of wood, lot of fishing line and done, they get water every day, they have lots of new growths and roots, even a few spikes with lots of flowers

they look so cute
try it

cbuchman · #5 10-09-2012, 10:16 AM

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've killed many before - I think from too much care

inle · #6 10-09-2012, 10:46 AM

you guys are beginning to encourage me to mount this thing. hmmmmmmmmmmm. research time. any suggestions?

cbuchman · #7 10-09-2012, 12:18 PM

Let me know if you mount. I haven't done any mounting and need to learn about it. I just don't want to sacrifice anybody to my learning!

Daenerys · #8 10-09-2012, 02:43 PM

I have 3 tolumnias that I grow mounted, and they are thriving. I mounted them on pieces of aquarium wood with live moss for padding (see pictures in link), and water them once a day. One of them bloomed with 26 flowers last June and remained in bloom for 3 months (until my cat savaged the spike).

Another one has added 8 new growths over the summer. Still waiting for that one to bloom for me.

I love these little orchids, and as cute as the tiny terra cota pots can be (all of mine arrived potted that way), I really think mounting is the way to go with these.

cbuchman · #9 10-09-2012, 04:35 PM

I've kept mine in the clay pot it came in and made sure it it dries out fast. What is Aquarium wood? I haven't had much luck with my local pet store for mounts - they only had large pieces of really hard wood available.

Daenerys · #10 10-09-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbuchman

I've kept mine in the clay pot it came in and made sure it it dries out fast. What is Aquarium wood? I haven't had much luck with my local pet store for mounts - they only had large pieces of really hard wood available.

I mean stuff like this (that's actually one of my previous orders). It's sold in the 'aquarium' section, so that's why i called it that. Not sure what a better term would be. And yeah, it's really hard.