The tolumnia orchid–also known as the Dancing-lady orchid–is a blended, hybridized flower of the equitant oncidium species. The term “equitant” comes from the Latin that translates to “riding a horse” and refers to how the leaves of the plant arrange in pairs, essentially straddling each other (resembling one straddling a horse).

Light
These delicacies can be found growing in their native habitats on small twigs at the ends of trees in high light exposed conditions. Therefore, they do well growing in an east window receiving sunlight from early in the morning until 11:00 or 11:30 a.m. They can also be grown in a south window as long as a sheer curtain is used to diffuse the light. If you are growing the plants under fluorescent lights, be sure you supply some incandescent light to make up for the end of the light spectrum. This will insure proper blooming. L.E.D. Grow Lights can provide more than enough light for healthy growth and frequent blooming.

Watering
Watering should always be done in the morning to insure total evaporation from the leaves by nightfall. Be sure to allow your plants to become totally dry between watering. On a slab, it usually means watering every day. In clay pots, potting in charcoal or tree fern, this can mean once every three days to once a week depending on the humidity and air movement around the growing area.

Temperature
Equitants like intermediate temperatures. They prefer a low of 60° F at night and a daytime temperature between 70-80°. They also love to be grown outside as long as the night temperatures do not fall below 50°.

Fertilizing
We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water, all year round. This is the fertilizer that we developed and use on our own plants. The results have been excellent.

Tolumnia orchid plant (Red Color)