My first Tolumnia

[Ray]

Tolumnias originate on tiny branches of shrubs on the windward side of Caribbean islands. They are in constant, warm breeze, and see almost daily rains, but are dried out in a matter of hours, if not minutes.

Anything that keeps them wet will kill their roots. I would err on the side of letting them be too dry, rather than enclose them like that.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Ray

Tolumnias originate on tiny branches of shrubs on the windward side of Caribbean islands. They are in constant, warm breeze, and see almost daily rains, but are dried out in a matter of hours, if not minutes.

Anything that keeps them wet will kill their roots. I would err on the side of letting them be too dry, rather than enclose them like that.

Thanks, Ray. I read up on these guys as much as I could... and understand the conditions they favor. I wish I could impress upon people just how dry it really does get here. This tiny plant dries out pretty fast-- within minutes-- but the humidity does stay up for it... still testing it out though.

I've had plants dry up so fast in my conditions that I need to start as conservative as possible... and go from there. I've not had the plant very long so too early to tell, but so far so good.

I should also note that is WINDY here all the time, too... it'll probably destroy my attempts at higher humidity, bu the plant is getting plenty of air, too!

[Sekhmet]

I also did my homework on where these originate, and having spent some time on windward sides of Caribbean islands, I know that my humidity is NOTHING like that! I swear you can drink the air sometimes!

I will keep up the misting and watering regime. I guess I should be looking for wrinkled leaves as a sign of dehydration?

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[WhiteRabbit]

I can't say for Colorado, but I think in Seattle, you shouldn't have a problem - can be dry here, and mine have mostly done well - I'd use a skewer in the media, you can use that to check for moisture - it the skewer even feels dry, but cool against your cheek or lip - there's moisture in the media

I know Colorado can be extremely dry, but,maybe try the skewer in the media - I do know these can suffer from rot from being too damp

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I know Colorado can be extremely dry, but,maybe try the skewer in the media - I do know these can suffer from rot from being too damp

I don't think this was for me, but wanted to be sure, I'm not actually putting anything besides the pot and some bark media in the pot of my tolumnia... there is sphag near the plant, but not touching it or it's pot. So far, so good! But yes, CO can be extremely dry. Thankfully, Nature has blessed us with lots of rain lately-- but it doesn't change the fact that partial pressure-wise... our high alt simply holds less water... a lot less! But orchids are strong adaptors... sometimes they just need a bit of help. That's what I'm attempting with the vase. I really hope it works... I love my tolumnia!

[FairyInTheFlowers]

I think the little vase and Tolumnia is cute! My Tolumnia, which I have had for over a month, is potted in a net basket with CHC. I usually water it every day, or water it one day, and then spray the medium down with a squirt bottle the next day, and then water the next, etc. etc. The one thing though is that it is grown under lights, with consistent light strength(2,500ish fc) and length, temps(26C days - 18C night) and humidity (55%-65%), so that is probably the reason why I can water it so consistently. And, it is even growing a spike, so it is obviously happy!

[WhiteRabbit]

my suggestion of a skewer in the media - a bamboo skewer, like for kabobs - I have one in almost all my orchid pots - to monitor moisture in the media - pull the skewer out, touch it to your cheek or upper lip - if the skewer seems dry, but feels cool, there is moisture in the media - Tolus can dry completely inbetween waterings. My Tolus are potted in very small clay pots with a small amount of charcoal - one is potted in tree fern fiber. Bark, retains moisture longer, and chc longer still - which is why I really recommend trying a skewer, so you can know for sure how fast the media is drying.

Pilot -
I found this last night Average Relative Humidity(%) - only lists a few cities in Colorado, so not sure if it's accurate for where you are ? the numbers don't seem alarmingly low - tho winter, adding heat indoors would definitely create quite low humidity - another reason for trying the skewer - humidity isn't always the same, so media can dry faster or slower depending

gl

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Pilot -
I found this last night Average Relative Humidity(%) - only lists a few cities in Colorado, so not sure if it's accurate for where you are ? the numbers don't seem alarmingly low - tho winter, adding heat indoors would definitely create quite low humidity - another reason for trying the skewer - humidity isn't always the same, so media can dry faster or slower depending

gl

Thanks for the link. The averages for CO locations actually surprise me a little. I have a weather station (NWS station, not my own) very close by and the humidity at any given time is never much above 30%. 30% isn't terrible but most people on here work very hard to fix such a "low" humidity, where for me it is nice. But no, the averages don't really reflect reality. When our winds pick up, which they normally are blowing, humidity drops into the teens without much work.

[WhiteRabbit]

humidity is almost always lower than 30% summer days here - low 20s is usual, teens and single digits occasionally, and I don't do anything to try to increase humidity for my plants - yes, usually breezy here too, tho the breeze is usually coming off the bay or ocean, so maybe not as 'drying' as breeze in CO

anyway - a skewer in the pot removes guess-work - my orchids all have been doing much better since I started using skewers

[silken]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

humidity is almost always lower than 30% summer days here - low 20s is usual, teens and single digits occasionally, and I don't do anything to try to increase humidity for my plants - yes, usually breezy here too, tho the breeze is usually coming off the bay or ocean, so maybe not as 'drying' as breeze in CO

anyway - a skewer in the pot removes guess-work - my orchids all have been doing much better since I started using skewers

I too have resorted to the skewer method as I was forever getting root rot on various types of orchids. I can't believe how light a pot can feel, and you would think it must be bone dry. But the skewer is still wet or damp! I would have watered lots of plants too often had the skewers not been there!

Thanks to OB for that idea!