Tolumnia is the miniature Equitant oncidium that originated in the Caribbean. These are great compact plants that are easy to grow for any beginner. These plants can often bloom more than once a year. Larger specimen plants or large collections of Equitants can provide some blooms most of the year-round. Equitant’s come in many shades of colors and have flowers that can be solid in color, spotted, or barred.

The group of orchids now called Tolumnia were at one time called Oncidium section Variegata or commonly referred to as “equitant oncidiums”.

These delicacies can be found growing in their native habitats on small twigs at the ends of trees in high light-exposed conditions.

Distilled, reverse osmosis or Rainwater is best as this is the quality of water they get in their natural habitat. Watering should always be done in the morning to ensure 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 can mean once every three days to once a week depending on the humidity and air movement around the growing area.

Equitant’s 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°.