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Tolumnia Sylvestris Success?

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by cnslr81, Dec 30, 2013.

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  1. Dec 30, 2013 #1
    cnslr81

    cnslr81 New Member

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    I've had a mounted tolumnia sylvestris for a couple years now. No matter how I care for it, I have not had any successful blooms and the plant has slowly been dying. For a while I had it growing under a T5 blub with daily watering. That setup was not successful, so I moved it to an area with a bit less light--bright during the day (when it is sunny outside), with little bright light in the evening. Still no success. Currently, it is on it's last life I believe, but I don't want to give up.

    Any tips? Suggestions? Help?

    Early days after purchase:

    [​IMG]

    Now :(:
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Dec 30, 2013 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    These want to dry very quickly. So that moss is killing the roots. It would be best on just the bare wood. They will grow away from what they are attached to and hang out in the air.
     
  3. Dec 30, 2013 #3
    cnslr81

    cnslr81 New Member

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    Good to know! Someone else just suggested this on another forum. When I purchased it, it already had moss, so I assumed it liked moss. I should have known better! ;)
     
  4. Dec 30, 2013 #4
    Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    I'm in Rochester, right down the road from you - my Tolumnia sylvestris grows on a three-inch stick, no moss, hung up right underneath the lights. It gets sprayed every day, and is dry within an hour. It's still pretty tiny, only three growths, but it produced a single bloom over the summer, so I'm assuming it's happy with this treatment.

    -Stephen
     
  5. Dec 30, 2013 #5
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I grow this species and totally agree with Marni. I grow it on bare wood, tree fern, and weathered cow bone and it does well on all of those with no moss. Once it is established it grows fast.
     
  6. Dec 30, 2013 #6
    cnslr81

    cnslr81 New Member

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    Thanks for all the suggestions! Thankfully, after removing the moss the roots weren't as bad as I feared. I dipped them in rooting hormone and have two tiny plants sitting on top of moistened bark (for potting). I will likely place it back on the wood, without moss, after a couple days.

    This is great info. When I bought the Orchid it was growing with some moss and never knew that tolumnias grow better without moss.

    Stephen-great to have another Upstate NY person! I moved to Syracuse in 2009 from PA. Any recommended Orchid nurseries or suppliers in the area? I haven't found any near Syracuse.
     
  7. Dec 31, 2013 #7
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    As a general comment - just because you acquire a plant growing a certain way or in a certain medium, it does not mean that's what the plant prefers. More likely, it is an indication of what works for the previous grower IN HIS CONDITIONS. You should always evaluate how the needs of the plant and your ability to provide those, and then decide how it needs to be grown.
     
  8. Jan 1, 2014 #8
    Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    None in Syracuse, but Marlow Orchids here in Rochester has a great selection, and Jim Marlow is very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. http://marlowsorchids.com/ Tell him I sent you!

    -Stephen