First Tolumnia, am I doing okay? - Orchid Board

caseydoll · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:30 PM

I just received my first tolumnia today!

It's name is Tolumnia Robsan 'Orchid World' AM/AOS x Tol Newberry Dancer 'Behemoth'. I have been reading lots of past posts and from that advice I think this is what I'm going to do. I have medium sized charcoal chunks (from first rays) and a 3" net pot. This weekend I'm going to repot it into that. The 3" pot seems a little big compared to what others are using but this thing is HUGE compared to what I was imagining. I think it could eat a 2" pot but I'll see how it goes. I also don't have a 2" one soooo.....

It will be on my orchid rack under t-5 fluorescent lighting. I will slowly get it used to the light since I don't know what it's already used too.

I use MSU fertilizer at 125 ppm for pure water and I always put 2 drops of KLN in per gallon of water. I plan on watering every other day.

Okay, how does that all sound? I think it is following everything that has been suggested (pretty much all from Ross!

). It seems like others following this advice has done well so I'm giving it a try. I know that some people prefer mounting theirs but I'm not going to use that as an option. It's in a pot now and is really healthy looking so hopefully I can keep it that way. Wish me luck and please let me know if you see a flaw in my plan!

Ross · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:35 PM

You're doing the same thing I am. These guys can take pretty high light, so get them close (eventually) to the lights. I water mine mostly daily (some days I don't feel like it

) so you may want to adjust your watering depending on wether roots are growing or not. I put my net pots into slightly larger clay pots to ballast the plant (keep it from tipping over) and hold a bit of moisture. Seems the charcoal dries pretty quickly in winter. 3" pots should be fine for a plant as large as you describe.

Leisurely · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 06:48 PM

If your plant has a well established root system and the roots are attached to the clay pot, (I am assuming that it is potted in a clay pot with charcoal.) I would crack the pot in several places and insert pot and all into the net pot and fill around it with charcoal. I have about twenty Tolumnias that I have been growing for about two years now and they are all doing great. They are still in the 2 1/2" pots with medium charcoal and the plants are getting large. I grew these plants years ago and they would do great for a couple of years and then just fall apart. Scale hides in the fans and you can't see it and all of the leaves just fall off. I have a routine this time that seems to be working well. Each month I spray with RD-20 (like Physan-20) and bayer, oil or orthene, rotated. I grow mine in bright Cattleya light and water with rain water every other day both winter and summer. I believe the rain water is one of the things they like well because their roots are ultra fine. Good luck and I am sure you will be wanting more. Since they are so small, there is always room for another one.

caseydoll · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 07:03 PM

Thanks guys for the tips! I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right before I actually do it. (if that makes sense!

) I'll try and post a pic later just because! And Ross, if it sounds exactly like everything you're doing it's because I looked at all your posts on tolumnias.

Terri and Gwen (among others) seemed to do well following your advice so I thought I would take a stab at it too. That's why I bought one.

Thanks again!

Ross · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseydoll

Thanks guys for the tips! I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right before I actually do it. (if that makes sense!

) I'll try and post a pic later just because! And Ross, if it sounds exactly like everything you're doing it's because I looked at all your posts on tolumnias.

Terri and Gwen (among others) seemed to do well following your advice so I thought I would take a stab at it too. That's why I bought one.

Thanks again!

Enjoy the blooms. They come in spring. Like Jerry said, the more light you can give them the better. Outdoors this time of year in full sun (when we get it

) is good.

kybasche · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 04:37 PM

I just received the same orchid that you originally posted about (did you get it from Carter and Holmes?). I'm also new to Orchid culture, and have gotten myself a bit of a frenzy about how to best take care of the little thing.

It was shipped in a 2.5" clay pot (so cute!) with what looks like sphagnum moss. Based on what I've read so far of the posts here (which hasn't been much) it seems like 2.5" or 3" is about the biggest they'll ever get into. Is that a misunderstanding on my part?

Also, based on what I've read, the moss does not seem like a popular choice... most things mentioning charcoal (like this post). Should the plant be repotted? The moss dries out fairly quickly (watered in the morning, it is fairly dry by night).

Further. Are coconut husk chips an acceptable medium for this type of plant? I have lots available that have been used when growing citrus, which would afford me a bit of convenience in not having to acquire another bag to take up what limited space we have

.

Forum looks great. Can't wait to learn more and see what these little plants can do.

Derek

Ross · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 04:52 PM

I don't think moss is the best for these guys since they rot so easily. They really want to totally dry out overnight. My last two purchases were 1" thumb pot, bare root (the roots growing crambed into the pots). I love this method as all I need to do is submerge the whole plant in the water/fertilizer mix for a few, then drain. Every day. A no brainer.

littlefrog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kybasche

It was shipped in a 2.5" clay pot (so cute!) with what looks like sphagnum moss. Based on what I've read so far of the posts here (which hasn't been much) it seems like 2.5" or 3" is about the biggest they'll ever get into. Is that a misunderstanding on my part?

Also, based on what I've read, the moss does not seem like a popular choice... most things mentioning charcoal (like this post). Should the plant be repotted? The moss dries out fairly quickly (watered in the morning, it is fairly dry by night).

Further. Are coconut husk chips an acceptable medium for this type of plant? I have lots available that have been used when growing citrus, which would afford me a bit of convenience in not having to acquire another bag to take up what limited space we have

.

Forum looks great. Can't wait to learn more and see what these little plants can do.

Derek

Well... If you grow them right, you will have trouble keeping them in a 3" pot. I think I'm growing mine right, some are in 6" tree fern pots and needed to be divided years ago.

Moss is good for a while. But it will break down long before you need to repot. I like tree fern. But mainly I like to mount them on cedar shakes. They grow best mounted.

I don't know why coconut chips wouldn't work. As long as you have them.

Ranchnanny · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 06:18 PM

Hi Everyone, I have 3 Tolumnia Gentings and I was going to put them in s/h but Ross said

that is bad for them. So I did has he said and potted them loose in 3 inch net pots using charcoal and I threw in a couple PA pellets. They arrived in little tiny clay pots with no medium just pot bound. They are in the Orchidarium and seem to be doing fine I do see some new little fans showing. I water them in the a.m. with a spray bottle and they dry by nightime. Can't wait to see them rebloom.

Check out the

Thanks for the advice Ross

Sheridan

kybasche · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 08:51 PM

Did I read correctly... the roots can grow into a clay pot? If this is the case, and I want to re-pot in CHC (is this acronym used in the orchid world?), or charcoal, or what have you, how do I get the plant out of the moss? A previous post mentioned breaking the clay pot and just putting it inside a larger one. But if I want the moss out as well, how can this be accomplished without damaging the existing root system too badly?

Also. When watering into a medium of, let's say, charcoal (which, I presume, with no real basis for making this assumption other than convenience, is similar to CHC's), do you mist with water/fert, or pour water through (if so, how much? it drains fairly immediately I'd guess).

I'm sorry if these questions are well versed in the forums elsewhere. I'll keep reading and not have to ask so many. I promise