Description
Tolumnia hawkesiana
Also known as Oncidium hawkesianum, Tolumnia hawkesiana (note the change in gender with the change in genus) is an equitant miniature species from Cuba that loves plenty of air and warmth. I grow them intermediate to warm, and they grow very well. Flowers are small but showy, like all Oncidiums, and they are also long-lasting. Flowers appear on and off year round.
One order consists of at least four plantlets (each is blooming size) which may or may not be connected to one another.
Culture
Plants like to dry out, so benign neglect is your best bet with this species. Grow mounted, in an open pot with a little coarse material, or just throw them on top of your other orchids (yes, I do this). The biggest Tolumnias I’ve seen are grown by my friend who has a very humid, not too bright greenhouse, and he waters every three days. If you have struggled with Tolumnias in the past, try a little less light and little more frequent watering. If your air circulation is good, frequent watering is fine. I water them every day in my greenhouse.
These guys can produce big clumps over time (see photo). I have a similar species that is as big as a basketball!
In case you wondered, “equitant” means “on the back of a horse.” In the case of equitant oncidiums, the clasping nature of the leaves makes it look like one leaf is riding on the back of another. Aren’t orchid people imaginative?
