Tolumnia variegata is native to Great Antilles from Cuba to the Virgin Islands, with the exception of Jamaica. This species occurs on branches, shrubs and small trees in an environment ranging from dry to very humid at 0-2000 m...
Tolumnia variegata also called as The Variegated Oncidium, Cymbidium variegatum, Epidendrum carinatum, Epidendrum haseltonianum, Epidendrum variegatum, Oncidium x furcyense, Oncidium variegatum, Oncidium variegatum f. furcyense, Oncidium variegatum f. roseum, Oncidium variegatum f. varvelum, Oncidium variegatum var. purpureum, Oncidium variegatum var. roseum, Oncidium x varvelum, Tolumnia borinquensis, is a species of the genus Tolumnia. This species was described by Guido Jozef Braem in 1986.
IDENTIFY TOLUMNIA VARIEGATA
Tolumnia variegata is native to Great Antilles from Cuba to the Virgin Islands, with the exception of Jamaica. This species occurs on branches, shrubs and small trees in an environment ranging from dry to very humid at 0-2000 m. In Puerto Rico, which is located near the southern, warmest range, the plants grow in both dry and humid regions below 800 m.
It is an equitant, creeping, epiphytic miniature, which reaching a height of 1.5-7.0 cm, with very short, erect, 0.1-7.0 cm stems enveloped by 4 to 10, imbricate, distichous, fleshy to coriaceous, bilaterally flattened, channeled on the upper side, linear to elliptic-lanceolate, falcate, acute to acuminate, serrulate, 1.5-7.0 cm and a width of 0.3-1.1 cm leaves.
The Variegated Oncidium blooms on an erect, simple or branched, to 80 cm long, laxly few flowered inflorescence that has lanceolate, acute bracts and has new branches and flowers appearing after the first blooms all occurring in the spring, summer and fall with 2.5 cm, long-lasting flowers. The flowers are usually white, but sometimes they can be purple. They are colored brown or purple at the base of the inner petals, and the narrowing of the lip located between its side plots at the base of the middle plot is yellow.
TOLUMNIA VARIEGATA 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 variegate 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:
It is a thermophilic plant. The average summer temperature is 25-26 ° C during the day, 12 ° C at night, with a daily difference of 14 ° C. In winter, the average daytime temperatures are 23 ° C and the night 8-9 ° C, with an amplitude of daily fluctuations of 14-16 ° C.
Humidity:
The Variegated Oncidium needs the probable average humidity of 75-80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Tolumnia variegata grow best in small, empty clay pots without a substrate. They are also grow well attached to pieces of cork, wood or twigs. Such cultivation requires, however, maintaining high humidity in the summer of daily watering, and in the case of hot weather even several times. It is also possible to grow in small pots filled with a loose, permeable substrate that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering.
They should be repotted or divided as rarely as possible, because they react adversely to violating the root ball. Necessary repotting or dividing plants should be done when the growth of new roots begins. This allows the plants to acclimatize in a relatively short time and provides them with the least stress.
Watering:
For most of the year, rainfall is moderate to heavy, but in winter, for 3-4 months, the conditions change to a little more dry. Tolumnia variegata should be watered regularly from spring to autumn, but the roots should always dry quickly. The plants grow in dry and humid conditions, so they tolerate complete drying between subsequent waterings, but it is best not to dry them for a long time.
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, the Tolumnia variegata need less water and the substrate should dry slightly between waterings, but it should not be allowed to completely dry out. Fertilization should be reduced or eliminated until new growths appear and the abundant watering starts in the spring.
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