Tolumnia potting options - Page 3 - Orchid Board

BettyE · #21 08-05-2012, 04:07 PM

I like the tolumnias because they are soooooo easy to grow/bloom. I recently re-potted my four into lava rock, and they are doing great. I water twice a week, and lightly fertilize only once a week. I should be getting blooms this Fall or Winter...BettyE

NYCorchidman · #22 08-05-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishmommy

call me crazy, but I have tolumnias in 4 inch pots and they do fine. The critical thing is to use huge bark or large lava rocks to maximize air flow through the medium. These plants like to dry out every day like a vanda in my experience.

You're not crazy at all. I have mine in 4 inch or larger. Size doesn't matter. They don't "know" what size they are in. lol

They just grow.

dougbraz · #23 10-22-2012, 08:29 AM

rekindling this post:
I just bought a Tolumnia Jairak Firm which I thought was cute particularly as it was inside a 1-1/2" plastic pot set in a larger 3" pot that was just filled with common gravel. I water every day an the blooms are beautiful!

Paul Mc · #24 10-22-2012, 09:10 AM

As long as it is dried out by night, you will be good. They want to be completely dry for bedtime. Otherwise, you may start to have issues.

dougbraz · #25 10-22-2012, 09:14 AM

Tks Paul for the heads up. I don't see a problem here as I live in the tropics and after all, a spray of water on gravel in the morning should be well dried by nightfall, BUT..you never know..I also have a tray underneath to increase the humidity (kinda redundant these days).

NYCorchidman · #26 10-22-2012, 11:29 AM

I grow mine hanging by the window. I have hard time keeping them moist enough usually.
One is coming into spike and all else should follow very soon I think, unless the growing spikes dried up due to lack of water.
I should come up with better way to grow these so they get enough water.

cbuchman · #27 10-22-2012, 11:42 AM

I just moved mine to a mount. I got is last summer and it came in a small clay pot. I am concerned that it doesn't get enough water too. I am misting by hand whenever it feel dry (moss is even crispy) but that can be several times a day. Mine is in spike, but I am watching it closely. I really like them, so if I can get the culture working for me on this one, I will get some more. I'm sure they will just jump right into my pockets in order to get taken home with me

Another thread on this topic is at http://www.orchidboard.com/community...olumnia-2.html (including pictures of my mount

)

NYCorchidman · #28 10-22-2012, 12:01 PM

Yeah, all mine came in that tiny clay pot with either no media or some little bark/charcoal chips.
The challenge is that they dry out too fast too much.
I wish I could mist them several times a day but I really can't do that.
I do mist at least once a day and soak in water at least twice a week. They grow quite nicely that way throwing out multiple fans and flower spikes, but I neglected them just a little bit when they needed water the most. During hot summer.
In no time, many of the leaves wrinkled up and some even died.
Now most of them have perked up with my diligent misting and soaking routine. I should have done better job because dealing with these super small plants are not that difficult at all.
Well, I will have to give some more time for others to spike. if not, the spikes must have all died even before they developed.

NYCorchidman · #29 10-22-2012, 12:02 PM

I'm thinking of mixing some moss into a mix in a larger pot. I have two tolumnias in a large pot with lots of mix and they do the best.