Tolumnia in SH - Page 6 - Orchid Board

Pilot · #51 05-21-2013, 08:38 PM

BEWARE: This is the ONLY tolumnia I have managed to adapt to SH. I don't know what is different that it has done so successfully or why it is growing so well in this set up but I have not yet got it to spike yet, either. Hoping that'll happen this next season.

Vanda lover · #52 05-21-2013, 11:12 PM

I have healthy tolumnia it the usual type of culture that haven't bloomed yet. Maybe they just need more time.

Pilot · #53 05-23-2013, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I have healthy tolumnia it the usual type of culture that haven't bloomed yet. Maybe they just need more time.

I noticed with this particular hybrid that the leaf bracts are longer and so when the leaf matures it creates a spot for water to settle and stay and I didn't realize this at first and thus lost a few fans to crown rot... It didn't kill the fans but it did not set them up for blooming. The growths I see now are BIG. As if the plants turned a corner. I hope to have an awesome display for the first show. I grow this plant is pretty high light. So high that some plants burn a little if not adjusted to the light. The plant is a combination of dark to light green, red and purple. Its actually very pretty.

Vanda lover · #54 05-23-2013, 11:33 AM

Mine are also grown in high light and they seem pretty happy. I have their little baskets sitting inside my vanda baskets, so the get the same light. I got them from an ebay seller in France last year. They should be mature enough to bloom soon, I hope.

NYCorchidman · #55 05-23-2013, 09:30 PM

Perhaps more light? unless it is already getting enough.

and did this plant suffer any "drought" in the past?

I find that tolumnias will not bloom and skip flowering season when underwatered. I guess it is a way for them to conserve water and survive when not enough water is around.

I had tolumnias that grew wonderfully, then I got lazy and didn't water during the hottest part of the year. well, no spikes. then I began to water diligently. The following new growths matured very small yet they spiked. could be coincidental but I think it was their way to respond to take advantage of the "rainy" season to flower and reproduce.

Ones that I dried really really bad over the winter took over one year to recover and flower.

So, with s/h setup where there is a continuous supply of water, the only thing that might be missing seems light.
Or your plant just wants to grow a few fans and then flower all together in one huge glory like some orchids do.

Let us know how it progress.

Pilot · #56 05-23-2013, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Perhaps more light? unless it is already getting enough.

and did this plant suffer any "drought" in the past?

I find that tolumnias will not bloom and skip flowering season when underwatered. I guess it is a way for them to conserve water and survive when not enough water is around.

I had tolumnias that grew wonderfully, then I got lazy and didn't water during the hottest part of the year. well, no spikes. then I began to water diligently. The following new growths matured very small yet they spiked. could be coincidental but I think it was their way to respond to take advantage of the "rainy" season to flower and reproduce.

Ones that I dried really really bad over the winter took over one year to recover and flower.

So, with s/h setup where there is a continuous supply of water, the only thing that might be missing seems light.
Or your plant just wants to grow a few fans and then flower all together in one huge glory like some orchids do.

Let us know how it progress.

I don't THINK light is the issue. They live just a few inches under an 8 bulb T5 fixture-- they have that "sun kissed" look to them that orchids get at high light. I honestly think the plant is just content and with the crown rot issue it had with a few fans, I think it's now prepared to spike.

It's funny because I've had other orchids not spike in the past and just as I publicly complain, poof...spikes appear. maybe that'll happen this time!

As a plant itself, its pretty... it has yellow, green, red, purple all among the various fans.

NYCorchidman · #57 05-23-2013, 11:02 PM

I like your expression, sun kissed. A few purple dots you mean?

Most of mine are sun smacked. lol
I even burned one leaf under halogen lamp two years ago. bloomed well though.

I too believe yours is now ready to spike after suffering some issues of its own. didn't know about that.

Orchids have ears I wonder? lol
I sometimes complain about tossing out some for not flowering or growing on time. then they spike or start sending up a new leaf. hahaha