Mounting Tolumnia Genting Volcano

[cirillonb]

I rescued my Tolumnia from certain death by the help of Ross when he advised me to put in charcoal and wet then allow to dry. I have produced a lot of roots but the top is not great. Two new fans are doing nothing. I'm willing to try mounting. I have a piece of EpiWeb ( a slab) but I'm unsure how to go about it re: sphag. or not. I also got some coco husk fibers. Perhaps this would make a good base since it doesn't hold as much water as moss.
I know Ross and others have been very successful mounting this genus and look to them for advise.
Nick

[Ross]

Mounting should work great (after all, that is how they grow.) But I am concerned that your plant put out roots but the leaves are wimpy. How is the light? They need just short of full sunlight to do well. Artificial light isn't their forte'. Mine are in full sun in south window and doing great.

[cirillonb]

mine is as close as it can get to a true East window. Direct sun from about 8 AM until 11:30 AM (late sunrise is because we overlook a court with a building opposite. All my other sun lover seem to be doing OK in this exposure.
Nick

[cirillonb]

I should add it does not get overheated. I have tried to check.
Nick

[Ross]

Might still be not enough. I have been moving some of my sun lovers out into full (unprotected) sun during mid day to up the sun-units of energy (is there such a thing?) Even VA isn't far enough south to get the true "full sun" values that Floridians get. The Tolumnias grow in full sun in the Bahamas and other Carribean Islands. Much more light. This could account for the wimpy growth.

[cirillonb]

unfortunately I don't have any options but where I keep it. could I mount on epiweb covered with cocohusk fiber since I seem to have nothing to lose?

[clifford]

I was curious how this turned out.

Found one of these at the local nursery in bloom for $12 and couldn't resist-- but I have the blackest of thumbs when it comes to orchids of any kind. (they usually last quite a while, but never thrive).

I ended up mounting my 'volcano' but it has begun to yellow in it's slow creep toward death. Sounds like it's time to take this out of the terrarium and give it more light, which I'll do tonight.

Google searching hasn't yielded much in the way of specific care info.

Thanks!

Cliff

[billc]

Hi Cliff, I mounted my Tolumnia this spring by sticking it on a cork slab and holding it secure with a big rubber band. I put it outside hanging on a lamppost in full sun (facing east) and it's got a spike that's about a foot long now. I spray it every morning(unless it's raining with a spray bottle to soak the roots. It turned really maroon with the sun, but seems to love it. I think the secret to these guys is water early and let them completly dry out. When I bring it back inside, I'll probably water on days I know it will be sunny. Hope this helps.
The picture is from about a month ago.

Bill

[cirillonb]

since I mounted mine on epiweb (similar to fern tree fiber) and placed it in an east window. It is doing very well but no spike yet.
Nick

[clifford]

I think it must just not be getting the light it would like...so to a nice bright window it goes.

Thanks for the updates and advice, much appreciated!