My Tolumnia won't bloom

Yes, tolumnias need a -lot- of light to bloom.

J. Del Col

I don't have many, but the ones I have are mounted and hang *under* the Vandas. They grow and bloom like crazy.

Diana

I haven't seen your window, but 99x of 100, the reason a healthy mature orchid grows well but won't bloom is insufficient light.

Sometimes the plants will adapt to the lower light in a couple years and then resume blooming, but after 5 years, I think you're past that point ... Kenni

Well, I have a few (maybe a hundred) tolumnias now. I love the little guys, they are rapidly becoming my favorite group and they are very rewarding plants to grow. I agree largely with the more light suggestion, but I have a few more suggestions. Proper nutrition is also important, without the right food it doesn't matter how much light you give the plant. Some might bloom anyway, but it won't be optimal. I fertilize with a dilute fertilizer at almost every watering. Also, up here in the north country tolumnia are somewhat seasonal. I get best blooming from late February through May, with repeat blooming (off of old spikes or newly initiated spikes) throughout the rest of the year. To me this seems to indicate that a brief cool period might enhance spike formation (but isn't strictly necessary), although that is an artful guess, not science. You may wish to try a period of enhanced diurnal temperature range (say, down to 55-60 at night, 80+ during the day).

For me, tolumnias seem to bloom wherever I put them in the greenhouse. I honestly don't know why, and I don't think it is skill (probably neglect, benign or otherwise). Most are housed in the 'corner of death' (TM) which is insanely bright and hot in the summer, and bright and modestly warm in the winter. But, I also bloom them interspersed with the minicatts and even on benches which are mainly phrags. I don't think those spaces are getting nearly as much light as the corner of death. All that said, there are some plants that never bloom. I blame genetics. If you have given the plant as much light as you can possibly give it, it is growing well and is happy, and it still hasn't bloomed within a year, it is time for the dumpster or the raffle table. As an aside, I select my 'keepers' based on floriferousness more than any other quality. If they don't have _lots_ of flowers and multiple spikes, they don't last long in the collection. Flower size and quality are indeed important, but even a modest flower is truly spectacular when presented on 6 or 7 spikes with 20 flowers per.

Rob

Kenni Judd wrote:

Please forgive me (especially you Aussies)... I don't know where this came from.

"My tolumnia just won't bloom. My tolumnia just won't bloom,

I moved the thing all over the place, Misted it 'til I was blue in the face.

I'm a big disgrace to the orchidgrowing race, My tolumnia just won't bloom."

Hmm, Ray. 8:57 pm post, huh? Tipping that bottle of schnapps, are we? LOL!

Diana