Tolumnia - best time, or not, to repot

[Paphluvr]

Is there a best time, or absolutely do not repot time, for tolumnia? It seems to me that it doesn’t have a rest period.

 

[big923cattleya]

I think that Tolumnias prefer not to be repotted. They do not like their roots disturbed. I understand that they do not mind growing out and over a pot. Root systems prefer to be wandering, unconfined if you will.
Many people here grow them in small clay pots without any potting material at all.
It is important for them to dry out quickly.

 

[CarlG]

In general, the best time to repot any orchid is when the plant is actively making new roots, and those roots are long enough to not have their tips broken off, but short enough to again avoid damage from potting stuff.

As far as tolumnias go, I don't grow them, but my understanding is that they really want their roots exposed to air.

 

[Paphluvr]

When I had higher humidity and better air circulation (i.e., under lights in a dedicated grow room with humidifier and circulation fan) I grew them mounted, but now that they’re grown in my living area neither the humidity or air movement is ever ideal.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I'm not sure about absolutely no repot period, but as Carl says above, it is best to repot any plants when they are actively growing or just started growing roots.
Many things said about orchid growing is just old saying that is not really accurate and the same goes about Tolumnia.
I used to have a bunch of them, all were purchased potted in tiny clay pot with almost no mix or a few bark chips in.
I potted them all in 3.75inch pot with my usual mix (bark or orchiata with some inorganic like lava rock or charcoal chips). I never had issues and I had less than 40 relative humidity except for the summer time. They were always either blooming or growing leaves and roots.
I never found them fussy or difficult at all.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Hopefully Mike and/or sky7bear will weigh in:

https://www.slippertalk.com/threads/tolumnia-golden-sunset-lisa.47799/#post-671047

 

[Ray]

Since moving to coastal NC, where both temperature and humidity can approach triple digits all summer, growing them, mounted on a piece of wood (I have been successful with well-cleaned driftwood and cedar slabs sold for grilling salmon) is like falling off a log.

Winter, indoors, is a whole other situation that has led to depleted plants, if not outright springtime plant replacement.

 

[orchid527]

Is there a best time, or absolutely do not repot time, for tolumnia? It seems to me that it doesn’t have a rest period.

Don't think it makes a difference. You can pot them anytime, in almost anything, and if you forget to water for a week or so it doesn't matter. I've had the good luck of receiving a CCM on one of my plants and it was growing in pea gravel in a clay pot with the roots wrapped around the outside. The pea gravel was damp most of the time. I am including some photos to show how adaptable these plants are,
The first is Golden Sunset "Lisa" growing in the pea gravel/clay pot, sitting inside a slightly larger plastic pot.

 

[orchid527]

Is there a best time, or absolutely do not repot time, for tolumnia? It seems to me that it doesn’t have a rest period.

Don't think it makes a difference. You can pot them anytime, in almost anything, and if you forget to water for a week or so it doesn't matter. I've had the good luck of receiving a CCM on one of my plants and it was growing in pea gravel in a clay pot with the roots wrapped around the outside. The pea gravel was damp most of the time. I am including some photos to show how adaptable these plants are,
The first is Golden Sunset "Lisa" growing in the pea gravel/clay pot, sitting inside a slightly larger plastic pot.

Don't think it makes a difference. You can pot them anytime, in almost anything, and if you forget to water for a week or so it doesn't matter. I've had the good luck of receiving a CCM on one of my plants and it was growing in pea gravel in a clay pot with the roots wrapped around the outside. The pea gravel was damp most of the time. I am including some photos to show how adaptable these plants are,
The first is Golden Sunset "Lisa" growing in the pea gravel/clay pot, sitting inside a slightly larger plastic pot.

Didn't mean to post quite yet. The second is a plant growing in cork chunks in a 5 inch pot. The third is a small plant growing in hydroton, and the last is a plant I saw growing on a rock in the full sun on Virgin Gorda. I know that that plant went for weeks without water and at times that rock must have been 150 degrees F

 

[Sky7Bear]

I think that Tolumnias prefer not to be repotted. They do not like their roots disturbed. I understand that they do not mind growing out and over a pot. Root systems prefer to be wandering, unconfined if you will.
Many people here grow them in small clay pots without any potting material at all.
It is important for them to dry out quickly.

Actually, I have found that they love empty clay bot in shallow water. Who knew?

 

[BrucherT]

Following to pick up advice on this genus. I have never tried it.

 

[Sky7Bear]

Don't think it makes a difference. You can pot them anytime, in almost anything, and if you forget to water for a week or so it doesn't matter. I've had the good luck of receiving a CCM on one of my plants and it was growing in pea gravel in a clay pot with the roots wrapped around the outside. The pea gravel was damp most of the time. I am including some photos to show how adaptable these plants are,
The first is Golden Sunset "Lisa" growing in the pea gravel/clay pot, sitting inside a slightly larger plastic pot.


Didn't mean to post quite yet. The second is a plant growing in cork chunks in a 5 inch pot. The third is a small plant growing in hydroton, and the last is a plant I saw growing on a rock in the full sun on Virgin Gorda. I know that that plant went for weeks without water and at times that rock must have been 150 degrees F

 

[Sky7Bear]

Thanks for the photos. I have some growing in empty clay pots in a semi hydroponic situation, and surprisingly they seem to love it. The key with them appears to be adequate air.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Thanks for the photos. I have some growing in empty clay pots in a semi hydroponic situation, and surprisingly they seem to love it. The key with them appears to be adequate air.

Can you post a photo of this?