Tolumnia in S/H success

[Nanotyrannus]

Tolumnia Jairak Rainbow ('Lady Gaga x 'Kona') by Shiny Piplup, on Flickr

I've had this Tolumnia in a clear disposable cup with plain LECA for 2 years now. It's from a seedling population. The reservoir is only an inch high. I've never had any rotting issues at all. I actually think I could've gotten a bloom sooner, because I've been extremely lazy with this plant. It's gone weeks without water, much to its detriment. I've also recently learned that the Tolumnia is a heavy feeder! Its newest leaves are quite large after I've adjusted its feeding regiment.

[WhiteRabbit]

wonderful!

[flowerpower]

Wow. It's always fascinating to read about orchids that people say have to dry out doing well in semi hydro...

For whatever reason my cattleyas seem to love semi-hydro too.

I would love to see vandas growing in semi hydro...

[Nanotyrannus]

Originally Posted by flowerpower

Wow. It's always fascinating to read about orchids that people say have to dry out doing well in semi hydro...

For whatever reason my cattleyas seem to love semi-hydro too.

I would love to see vandas growing in semi hydro...

Everything I own is growing in S/H! That includes Neofinetia, which has been reclassified as Vanda! But seriously, I've been using cut-up microfiber towels on my vandaceous orchids to some success. It acts like an inorganic sphagnum moss. Potting a mature Vanda into S/H is such a pain, and in my experience they never like it. I'd probably have more success starting with a Vanda seedling in S/H.

[fudJy23]

Very interesting!

I have a Tolumnia mounted on cork. When I first got it, I was watering it every day. In the last couple of years due to my schedule, I've been watering it once a week and noticed the fans aren't as big as they used to be. I thought it needed to dry out but this is very interesting and I may have to try it!

Do you also have a picture of it in the pot, not just of the flowers?

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by flowerpower

Wow. It's always fascinating to read about orchids that people say have to dry out doing well in semi hydro...

Yeah, I’d love to hear that explained too.

I guess there’s a simple explanation but I can’t think of it.

Arron

[flowerpower]

I think the drying out increases ventilation in the container so that the orchids that like to dry out between waterings are probably the ones that need more ventilation than others. So these are the orchids that like coarse media or being bare-root/mounted - vandas, cattleyas etc.

This ventilation issue is not an issue in clay pebbles. I also think it's about how adaptable an orchid is when growing new roots. If an orchid typically prefers dryness, yet is very adaptable to a wide range of conditions, it should do well in S/H.

My cattleyas actually seem to really love water. I have one cattleya that drinks its reservoir like a fish! I love plump pseudobulbs and semi hydro orchids are good at staying plump because they never need to pull from their pseudobulbs...

---------- Post added at 11:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 AM ----------

I am actually trying vanda seedlings in S/H and will let you know how they do.

[Ray]

If your setup and watering practices are such that the LECA dries out, you really aren't growing the plants in semi-hydroponic culture, but are simply growing in typical culture, using an inorganic medium.

[Nanotyrannus]

Apologies for my absence! I've taken pictures of the pot for those who want to see.


Tolumnia Jairak Flyer ('Lady Gaga' x 'Kona') in semi-hydroponics by Shiny Piplup, on Flickr


Tolumnia Jairak Flyer ('Lady Gaga' x 'Kona') in semi-hydroponics by Shiny Piplup, on Flickr

The roots reached all the way to the bottom and sat in water perpetually. If you look closely, the plant is shriveled now. The roots had been left dry for too long and have died. You can see that they're completely white and did not die from rot. It was my fault, there was a heat wave and I neglected it.

Originally Posted by Ray

If your setup and watering practices are such that the LECA dries out, you really aren't growing the plants in semi-hydroponic culture, but are simply growing in typical culture, using an inorganic medium.

Ah, yes of course. In the beginning it was showered with water in typical S/H fashion. Only incidentally have I left it dry due to neglect. It's growing new roots once again, so I have hope it will bounce back. I realize some people are hungry for anecdotes of success with this genus, and I hope I'll add one more. I'll keep this thread updated!

[estación seca]

A friend here in Phoenix grows Tolumnias in S/H with success. I'm not there very often but he says he doesn't let the reservoirs go dry.