Badly stressed Tolumnia

[dennis westler]

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 10/20/2011 9:55:01 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, k. writes:

Hi Dennis,

 

I’m hoping to save a Tolumnia Genting Volcano.  It’s dying a slow death.  I’ve had it since Spring of 2010 and it not only hasn’t put out any new growth or new roots, it’s leaves are also shriveling up and a few are getting a little brown on the tips.  I’ve rescued a phal using the sphag n’ bag technique, but I’m not sure if this will work for a Tolumnia (since they like their roots to dry out frequently). 

 

I’m considering soaking it in some DynaGro KLN, but am not sure where to go from there.  Should I sphag n’ bag for a while.  Should I pot in clay pot and water with a KLN solution?  Is it too far gone already?  Help!!

 

 

Any advice you can give, would really be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

K

Dear K

 

I think it may well work, as the point of doing the "Sphag and Bag" thing is to prevent further desiccation of the plant, allowing it to produce roots if possible. Remove all the dead roots and place the plant into a large enough bag so that any moist sphagnum is not actually touching the plant. You do not want the plant to be wet, you simply want it to be in a consistently saturated environment. Place the bag in a warm bright location but make sure it does not get any direct sun.

 

These are not the easiest plants to grow in many areas. They are generally bred from species that are twig epiphytes or lithophyte, so they  are used to having lots of air movement, and roots that are very much exposed. It is not so much that the roots want to dry out frequently (implying that sometimes they are fine with being wet) it is that they need to dry out quickly after they are watered. This means clay pots and a coarse medium are best if pot culture is necessary in your space, or better yet, mounted or basket culture. They also require very bright light and warm temperatures. In the right location they can be great windowsill plants, or excellent in a warm to intermediate greenhouse. They are so cute and cheery that they are often difficult plants to resist at sales!

 

Good luck, the plant may recover, but it is not a certainty.

 

Sincerely,

Dennis