Tolumnia Passionate Red
 

Hi all, I was bored the other day and got onto eBay to look at Orchids (bad idea), ended up with this plant Tolumnia Passionate Red.

I have grown Tolumnias under lights before with quite a bit of success. But I don't have my Orchid light any more and plan to grow this one outside in my patio in LA and may be winter it in my cold frame. Has anyone grown these, especially in So. California? Main concerns here are Winter temps (can drop to 45 F/8 C) and water quality (tap water in So. Cal is notoriously bad).

Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

Here are the pics of the orchid I bought...
The potential flowers:
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/...eRedFlower.jpg

The actual Plant:
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/...teRedPlant.jpg

Thank you
Andrew

:help

That is a healthy plant with a new fan coming out...you may want to place it outdoors this warmer months under bright shade and a month before the frost comes put it indoors near the south facing window...

Can't help you with culture, but you're going to have some beautiful blooms! I've also made the mistake of wandering around on Ebay when bored, and also end up with more orchids.... Dangerous!!

Bud. I plan to grow it out doors. The question is when do I bring it in? No frost around here ever. But night temps.do.drop to upper 40s and 50s in winter.
Andrew

Correct that tag - it's Passionata Red.

And NEVER let it see anything near the 50's. Tolumnias originate in the windward islands of the Caribbean. Need I say more?

sometimes as a freak of nature, Los Angeles also have a day or two of frost...mid December to end February bring it indoors...
I remember restaurants at Beverly Hills area put out lighted gas heaters umbrella types near the tables on the outdoors patio(Im a very tall guy ...I get singed when I get too much near it and bump into it)
water when its about to reach dryness

Bud, you are right, frost can occur depending on location. Where I live it hadn't had frost for over 100 years. But with luck I will get it this winter LOL.

I've had luck growing Tolus outdoors mid - late spring thru early autumn and then in a south facing window until the next spring. They have likely taken brief periods at night less than 50 - but I stress brief, and just a bit lower. I'm sure they do get overnight temps under 60 quite a bit.
And even when indoors in winter, mine take overnight temps around 55

I allow mine to dry completely in between waterings. They like to dry quickly then drenched. Ideally should dry out in no more than 3days - less is better. Pot in as small a pot as possible - clay or net pot. Use just a very small amount of fast drying media or even bare root in a clay pot.

Hey Sonya, thanks for the tip. I have a cold frame/small plastic cover mini green house, and I plan to grow it in it. I heat it with a mini heater in the winter and ususally can bring temp up to mid to upper 50s. If I see it declining this winter I will pull it inside. I have to water it with LA municipal water, I hope that is ok.

A nice thing about Tolus, they are quite small, so if you need to bring it in, should be easy enough to find room for it.

I use tap water for mine - don't know how it compares to your tap water.

try using RO or filtered water as well...i see some lime scale buildup (well so i think) on some of the leaves

Nooooooo!!!!! Don't use LA water. Just buy the RO water you get from the machine in front of the supermarkets for this guy. Your water has about 350 to 550 ppm mineral salts as TDS. Very hard on tolumnias. I switched awhile back and everything grows so much better. Just put a cupful on a sheet of glass laying flat and let it evaporate. You'll be amazed water could hold so much TDS and still be clear. Or make ice cubes with it and let them melt in the glass. What do you see in the bottom? Get RO water. That is a nice looking plant. Very healthy looking too.