equitant name challenge

[thom]

can any ID experts help me with this gift equitant?

I've had it since September 09 and I'd love to know the species name? Love to know how to grow it also?

Can anyone help with the ID? thanks plenty!

Thom in Pittsburgh

[mspatt]

Okay, there is a picture hiding somewhere...where is it? What did I miss?? An equitant oncidium is called Tolumnia now...

[thom]

duh! I forgot the photo.........here we go...........anyone ever see this little guy?????

mucho gracias.

Thom

[thom]

mspatt....you know this oncid? please holler if you got a fix or a quess.

[mspatt]

Thom, I used to grow them (mounted), but I could not give them enough light in the winter. They also needed daily misting/watering. They needed good air circulation and were very prone to rot if water got in the fans of the leaves.

Pot culture?? Sorry, can't help you there.

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[Gin]

I grow mine mounted they are prone to rot as mspatt said . I would mount it, water early in the am . so it is dry by night time . I tried to grow one in a pot in bark it did not turn out well Maybe you could if it is potted in a small pot with the expanded clay pellets or just naked in a small clay pot .They like lots of light to bloom .

[thom]

hi Gin and Mspatt..thanks for your advice.

So this oncidium doesn't have a species name? or is Tolumnia the species?

This plant has doubled in size since I got it as a gift last summer.
So i'm thinking i'm doing something right by it.

But, you know I want to help it to bloom now!

Lots of light, no problem.
High rain forest humidity is a problem.

I can only keep it at about 50-60% humidity on average. I think it likes it more steamy?

Thanks again for your help..........

Thom, in Pittsburgh, the orchid capital of the world.

[littlefrog]

It is probably a tolumnia, almost certainly a hybrid. No way to ever figure out its real name.

Grow them bright and hot. They can get cooler in the winter. I personally like to grow them mounted.

[thom]

Littlefrog. thanks for your advice.

Tolumnia hybrid for sure.

I have been keeping it bright and hot all winter and summer.

Do you have any pictures you could post of yours in bloom and mounted?

Love to see an equitant in bloom and then hope for good things for mine!

thanks.........Thom

[got ants]

There are some taller species, but most specie tolumnia are under 3" in leaf length. You won't know what it is until it flowers.

I have about 15 different Tols, not including the compots of bahamensis.

Tolumnias grow mostly in the caribbean with the bahamensis also in Florida. As noted above, they like to dry out. Too much rain will kill them. I grow mine outdoors, but these lil boogers do great in a bright windowsill.

The species are much harder to grow than the hybrids.