Tolumnia hawkesiana is native to Cuba. These orchids were encountered in the eastern part of the island. They grows on shrubs on the north coast...
Tolumnia hawkesiana also called as Hawkes Tolumnia, Oncidium hawkesianum, is a species of the genus Tolumnia. This species was described by Guido Jozef Braem in 1986.
IDENTIFY TOLUMNIA HAWKESIANA
Tolumnia hawkesiana is native to Cuba. These orchids were encountered in the eastern part of the island. They grows on shrubs on the north coast.
It is a miniature sized, hot growing twig epiphyte, which reaching a height of no more than 3 cm, with a short stem completely enveloped by distichous, imbricating, conduplicate, serrate, acute, 2.0-2.5 cm long and about 0.7 cm wide leaves arranged in a fan-shape.
Hawkes Tolumnia blooms on a to 8 cm long, slender, erect, 2 to 4 flowered, racemose inflorescence with the flowers all carried towards the apex. The petals of both whorls are greenish with pink coloration. The lip is bright pink with a dark yellow crest. The lip is convex, the lateral lobes located at its base are bent, resembling a half-tube or skirt. Their upper edges are slightly wavy. The middle blade consists of two rounded parts. The isthmus between the lateral and middle lobes is short and narrow. On the crest there are conical outgrowths. On both sides of the column there are small pointed wings.
TOLUMNIA HAWKESIANA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Tolumnia hawkesiana needs a light level of 20000-30000 lux. These plants require relatively bright, diffused light, but they should be protected from the direct rays of the midday sun. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
The average summer temperature is 32-33 ° C during the day, 22-23 ° C at night, with a daily difference of 10-11 ° C. In winter, the average day temperatures are 28-29 ° C, and nights 18 ° C, with an amplitude of daily fluctuations of 10-11 ° C.
Humidity:
Hawkes Tolumnia needs the average humidity is 75-80% for most of the year, and at the end of autumn and at the beginning of winter it is even 85%.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Due to the habit, Tolumnia hawkesiana are usually grown on cork or tree fern rootstock, but this requires maintaining high humidity.
Watering:
The rainfall is moderate to heavy for most of the year. For a period of about 3 months in winter, the average rainfall is slightly less, but the conditions are only rather less humid than dry. The cultivated plants should be abundantly watered during active growth, but their roots must dry quickly after watering.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plant should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content from spring to full summer has a positive effect on the development of new increments, and a fertilizer with an increased amount of phosphorus administered before the period of rest improves their flowering and maturation.
Rest period:
In winter, Tolumnia hawkesiana need less water, but they can never dry up completely or stay without water for more than a few days. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear in the spring and more abundant watering starts.
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