Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: Luc Gilgemyn on January 04, 2011, 04:08:46 PM

Title: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on January 04, 2011, 04:08:46 PM
Flowering with me for the first time (had it for two years..)

Pleione Wharfedale "Pine Warbler"

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on January 04, 2011, 07:12:31 PM
Really nice Luc :)
Well worth the wait. Is it bulking up!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on January 04, 2011, 07:53:08 PM
2 fat bulbils Graham - I hope to get them going next season !  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: alpinelover on January 04, 2011, 08:39:47 PM
Flowering with me for the first time (had it for two years..)

Pleione Wharfedale "Pine Warbler"



I think i saw this one before  ;), very nice one.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on January 05, 2011, 05:54:01 PM
Wharfedale 'Pine Warbler' is certainly the most beautiful of the winter-flowering hybrids. I find it bulks up really well and I have a good stock so I will offer this on my list of spare bulbs for sale when I issue it sometime this coming summer. I know many of you are already on my mailing list but anyone who is not and who wants the list when it comes out, just send me a private message and I'll add you to my mailing list.

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: angie on January 13, 2011, 10:17:13 PM
Now that makes me happy, bulks up, good stock and will have spare in the summer.
Roll on summer.  ;D ;D

Angie :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jean-Patrick AGIER on January 14, 2011, 10:32:53 PM
Hello,
I've just received some pleione bulbils ( very thin ) from the seed exchange; That's the very first time. Could you tell me the way I should plant them, and the after care. Do they have to be planted quickly? How long will it take to lead them to flowering size? ( they are VERY thin )
Many thanks
J-P
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on January 16, 2011, 09:10:24 AM
Hello Jean-Patrick,

there are many ways of growing bulbils. This is what I do:

About timing, I would plant them in February. Depending on what they are, they can take from 3 to 12 years to flower.

Good luck.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jean-Patrick AGIER on January 18, 2011, 11:10:31 PM
Thank you very much Maren
J-P
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Kevin on January 20, 2011, 04:56:39 PM
Hi there,

A month or so ago I was lucky enough to buy one of the limited number of Pleione Wharfedale "Pine Warbler" p.bulbs on sale at Rare Plants. It was in bud so I potted it up and crossed my fingers, resisting the urge to put it outside and waited.

I thought that I'd share mine here too. I hope that this works.....

(http://C:\Documents and Settings\stewar09\Desktop\OTher\pine warbler)

I know that these start growing earlier than most Pleione, but do they also start rooting earlier too? I'm asuming that they do.

Regards, Kevin
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Kevin on January 20, 2011, 04:58:20 PM
OK so that didn't work...... here's another atempt......

(http://forum.theorchidsource.com/gallery/58/medium/17838.jpg)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on January 20, 2011, 04:59:51 PM
Hi Kevin,
Yes, they do start rooting earlier too and this is generally true of all the autumn and winter flowering Pleione. For this reason it is a good idea to repot all these types in early autumn before the buds are too advanced and new roots start forming.

Cheers

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on January 29, 2011, 11:54:27 AM
Hi,

Pln Tsingtau, an old hybrid made from Pln humilis x Pln praecox by H. Pinkepank in 1985. Still lovely, elegant flowers with the humilis parentage visible in the keels. It usually carries 2 to 4 flowers per smallish pseudobulb. This one has been flowering since the New Year in cool conditions (min 5°C). It will probably last another three weeks. But it is slow to multiply for me, more's the pity.

Please forgive my clumsy attempt to turn a black pot into a bowl. It was done to give the flowers more prominence. Must practice. ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hristo on January 29, 2011, 01:15:46 PM
Certainly elegant Maren, pot? can't see the pot for the Pleiones! ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on January 29, 2011, 02:47:32 PM
Maren, that 'Tsingtau' is such a beauty - I'm definitely in love!  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on January 29, 2011, 02:58:00 PM
I don't think I' ve ever seen this one before Maren !  :o :o
I agree with Thomas, it's a real beauty !!!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Kevin on January 29, 2011, 04:57:15 PM
Maren,

thanks for posting your pic. I was thinking about buying Pln.humulis, but this might just knock the species off the list. What a graceful shape.

Thanks,
Kevin
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on January 29, 2011, 06:33:03 PM
Hi, thanks for your kind remarks. I believe I bought it from Ian Butterfield, one of the many that are not on his list.

I have to admit, the Pln humilis flower is larger and more showy, but this is one has a longer stem, more flowers per pseudobulb, it always flowers reliably and the flowers are long lasting.

Here are two of my Pln humilis which flowered well last year but aren't showing any interest this year. They show the different colour forms, burgundy and brown.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on January 29, 2011, 08:24:09 PM
Congratulation Maren for your nice pot of P. Tsingtau . I've never seen these by own eyeball so far.
In my collection finished P. Wharfedale 'Pine Warble' a couple days ago and my P. humilis will flower in 3 weeks.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on January 31, 2011, 08:06:14 AM
Maren,

can you detect any scent on the flowers of 'Tsingtau'?
This would be a nice bonus to the beauty of this cross and "The Genus Pleione" mentions that it is scented.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on January 31, 2011, 08:29:06 AM
Thomas,
I sniffed the Tsingtau the other day and could not detect any significant scent. But they have been open for a long time. Pln praecox also loses its scent towards the end of flowering.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 07, 2011, 09:21:59 AM
Pln Tarawera, another winter flowering pleione, has just come into flower for me. Nothing very special but welcome anyway at this time of year. The cross is Pln. Versailles x Pln. praecox.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 07, 2011, 11:47:28 AM
I totally agree with you Maren, it's so nice to have a few flowers starting to show.  My own Tarawera will be a few weeks yet, but Wharfedale Pine warbler opened yesterday, my first of 2011.  My first flower aborted in January.  A quick word with Paul Cumbleton suggested that it might have got too cold or the humidity had dropped too low.  So I popped the pot into a covered propagator just to keep the humidity up and hey presto next bulb produces two flowers.  Thanks Paul.  
I wasn't going to post a photo as there are a few in this thread already, but can you have too many of something this nice?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on February 07, 2011, 12:44:53 PM
Quote
can you have too many of something this nice?
I don't think so, Steve... afte all, if a trouble shared is a trouble halved , then a pleasure shared MUST be a pleasure trebled -at least!  ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 07, 2011, 07:42:31 PM
Hi Steve,

I'm glad Paul helped you with your pleiones. He does know a thing or two about these. Visiting his greenhouses at the right time is pure, indulgent pleasure.

Coming back to your pleione, it's a very nice flower, holds its petals and sepals well and the lip is gorgeous. Congratulations. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on February 07, 2011, 08:16:53 PM
Hallo,
on my windowsill there are blooming two winterflowering ones.#

The first was Pln. Wharfedale 'Pine Warbler'

The second is Pln. Barcena. It has not yet completely opened but I hope it will do it in future

I got both from Ian Butterfield in early january. At that time I thought that they had already bloomed this winter und I would have to wait until next winter to see the flowers. The more I'm pleased that they flower now.

Best Regards - Ulrich
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 07, 2011, 08:39:21 PM
Ulrich

Stunning shots of those two. I look forward to seeing more of your camera work.

David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 07, 2011, 09:56:10 PM
Agreed. Ulrich, your photography is stunning. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 07, 2011, 10:15:11 PM
Fabulous pictures Ulrich !!! 
Wunderbar !  ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 08, 2011, 04:13:47 PM
First Pleione to flower this year as all my Wharfedale were late last year.

Pleione humilis
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 08, 2011, 05:14:03 PM
Gorgeous flower !!! Just potted mine up this morning, it's hardly moving so far...  ::)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 08, 2011, 06:36:40 PM
Glad to hear that yours are motionless Luc, mine too!
Two question for David.  What do you use for the background in your photos and do you photoshop them?  I've tried numerous black backgrounds but none appear quite as black as yours.  Is there computer wizadry afoot?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 08, 2011, 06:58:49 PM
Glad to hear that yours are motionless Luc, mine too!
Two question for David.  What do you use for the background in your photos and do you photoshop them?  I've tried numerous black backgrounds but none appear quite as black as yours.  Is there computer wizadry afoot?

Hi, I just use either a black card or for the humilis I had some black cloth that I think was bought at a curtain place. If you don't want any of the grain/material showing place about a foot behind the image and the background should then be completely out of focus. I do use photoshop but only to adjust white balance to get the correct coloration. There were nine other shots I was not happy with before I got the one I wanted.

David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 08, 2011, 07:07:59 PM
Gorgeous flower !!! Just potted mine up this morning, it's hardly moving so far...  ::)

Luc, Are they flowering size? Seen plenty for sale as FS but are actually FS-1. Pictures below are what I would class as FS, FS-1, FS-2. Not much difference in the length of the FS and FS-1 but the flowering size tend to be a bit fatter.


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 08, 2011, 07:32:14 PM
It is in fact a newly acquired pseudobulb David and I believe that sizewise it's inbetween pictures 1 and 2 ...  ??? ???  Time will tell !  :-\
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 08, 2011, 08:43:32 PM
Seems fair to call it FS then Luc. I noticed that they only flower when the skinny ends have bulked right out the year before like picture one.

There is no guarantee with a newly aquired bulb as you don't know it's true origin or how its been stored. You may be lucky but if not it's a twelve month wait :( Unfortunately you can't make them flower >:(
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 09, 2011, 10:58:26 AM
Global Warming???

look at this, an advert from the Spalding Bulb Company regarding Pleione Tongariro:    

"These miniature orchids from Tibet are truly fabulous. They will thrive in a sunny, warm, sheltered spot in the garden, but they also make very unusual houseplants." What they don't say is that that sunny, warm spot in the garden should be sheltered by a greenhouse where temperatures don't fall below freezing.

It's the same as ladies tights: built-in obsolescence. :o :o
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 16, 2011, 09:11:13 AM
After a sudden growth spurt the last few cold  nights seemed to have left this forrestii in suspended animation but at last it's open.  This first flower is three weeks earlier than last year despite the cold.  The timing of the cold was snap was much earlier this year, when the plants wanted to be dormant as oposed to the previous year when they were just thinking about growing.

Note the trademark label in the background.  I really must remove them when I take photographs!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on February 16, 2011, 01:35:33 PM
Lovely to enjoy that golden flower in this wet weather, Steve.
Why not get a piece of coloured card to curl behind a flower when photographing? It isolates the bloom and concenrtrates the image beautifully. 
Mid Grey is the "classic" colour for photo colour representation but  black can look lovely too...  8)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 16, 2011, 02:54:48 PM
Looks super Steve !
Mine isn't anywhere near flowering at the moment...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on February 16, 2011, 04:09:39 PM
Really nice P. forrestii. Mine are still in the fridge and don't show any sign of flower buds so far.


Does anyone know whether there are different named forms of P. aurita and especially how different they look?
I've seen P. aurita 'Red Purple' and P. aurita 'Zhejiang' offered (without a pic) and think about getting one of each.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Peter Maguire on February 16, 2011, 04:26:08 PM
Quote
Why not get a piece of coloured card to curl behind a flower when photographing? It isolates the bloom and concenrtrates the image beautifully. 
Mid Grey is the "classic" colour for photo colour representation but  black can look lovely too...   

Black is very good for bringing out the colour of a vibrantly coloured flower (such as a Plieone!) - black velvet is traditionally recommended as it doesn't reflect light back into the lens if the sun is not shining directly on it. You need to have the background far enough from the plant to be out of focus. I'm sure the ladies in the fabric shop wondered why I wanted a metre of black velvet when I bought mine several years ago.  :D
Grey is particularly effective with subtly-coloured flowers, but if you use a card with a slight pattern, then make sure the background is out of focus here also, otherwise it looks odd.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 16, 2011, 06:13:05 PM
Whilst I appreciate the photgraphic advice I will admit to being a little reluctant to start using my plants as models!  The forrestii was photgraphed on its very crowded bench without being moved.  The last time I tried to use a piece of card as a background, I sent a pot of Wharfedale Pine Warbler tumbling to the ground, with two broken flowers the result.
To use black card or not to use black card, that is the question!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 16, 2011, 06:54:15 PM
Always nice to see a forrestii Steve with or without a photographic background.

I have a forrestii that will be open very shortly whilst the others have just started to wake up. This one is finding a new home at the Dunblane early bulb show on Saturday as it has consistently flowered earlier than the others, and I don't wish to have one waking up on its own every year. I think this one was bought from Jacques Amand whilst the basis of the rest came from Koolplants.
I think someone has suggested in a previous thread that different clones may have their own cycles.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 16, 2011, 07:03:54 PM
All mine originated from Koolplants, albeit in two or three different purchases, (Some given away or swapped with friends at first) and now I have quite a colony, but this one is still at least a week ahead of the rest.  Second to flower caused me a stir this morning.  I thought it had a hole in the middle.  Closer inspection revealed it's a double header; two flowers for the price of one!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 16, 2011, 07:14:28 PM
All mine originated from Koolplants, albeit in two or three different purchases, (Some given away or swapped with friends at first) and now I have quite a colony, but this one is still at least a week ahead of the rest.  Second to flower caused me a stir this morning.  I thought it had a hole in the middle.  Closer inspection revealed it's a double header; two flowers for the price of one!

I have to say I'm a bit fussy with mine and I hate double headers and always nip out one of the buds.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 16, 2011, 11:05:27 PM

I have to say I'm a bit fussy with mine and I hate double headers and always nip out one of the buds.

So do I, but only if the flowers face each other. If they face in the same direction as in this example, I tend to leave them on.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 17, 2011, 08:41:04 AM
Nice picture Steve, even with the label ;D

I always cut the underneath flower off a double header as most of the time they don't look that good but also because the bulb puts a lot of energy in to flowering and I would have thought a double will take even more energy up. I'd rather it was used up at the opposite end making new root.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on February 17, 2011, 02:05:40 PM
I always think that if it wasn't able to support 2 flowers it wouldn't produce them (unless stress has caused such occurrence)..... Flowering does not take nearly as much energy as fruiting or the formation of the buds in the prior year so the double flower I have coming up in my forrestii I leave intact. I grow them for the flowers so the more the better.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on February 17, 2011, 03:11:00 PM
I have a lovely clone of Eiger which often produces two flowers on a stem. Unfortunately it inherits weak stems from humilis so sags rather pathetically if burdened with two flowers. Plus, unlike the second flower on many pleione, it opens upside-down and does not look especially nice. I always remove the second bud.

As I hope to sell my spares of this at tonights group meeting I hope nobody from our group is reading this ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 17, 2011, 04:08:33 PM
I guess I'll wait to see what the double flower looks like before deciding if I should cut one off.  Last year I had two forrestii bulbs with double headers, one looked fine, but on the second the smaller flower simply got in the way.  I can't say if this year's double header is the offspring of last year's, but this year I shall monitor the situation, I've placed a cocktail stick marker beside the double flowering bulb so that I can track its offspring and will be able to see if double flowering is genetic or stress induced.  Of course with a sample of one the results will not be statistically significant!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 20, 2011, 01:31:02 PM
Best show of P. humilis I've had for a while as only one flowered for me last year. The one at the back seems to have much more yellow in the lip and is a little larger.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 20, 2011, 06:18:08 PM
Nice show of P. humilis, David. the yellow is quite unusual. - Mine haven't budged yet.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on February 20, 2011, 06:19:53 PM
Love the humilis - here's my much more modest version.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 20, 2011, 06:21:57 PM
Lovely colouring, Alex, and I see there's more to come.

I keep talking to mine nicely. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 20, 2011, 06:30:41 PM
Nice show of P. humilis, David. the yellow is quite unusual. - Mine haven't budged yet.

I've not seen yellow in humilis before. The one on the bottom left also has a little yellow. I'll try and get a better picture in the next few days of the yellow one on it's own as it's not quite fully open yet.

Pleione Kohala is also open today but think the flower is a bit misshaped which is a shame.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 20, 2011, 07:04:46 PM
A nice group David,
Mine are a little behind yours. Interestingly the basis of my group comes from you and this will be the first time they have flowered for me. Several aborted last year.
Looking forward to the next few weeks.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 20, 2011, 07:24:41 PM
A nice group David,
Mine are a little behind yours. Interestingly the basis of my group comes from you and this will be the first time they have flowered for me. Several aborted last year.
Looking forward to the next few weeks.

Hi Graham

I also had quite a few abort this time last year and can only put it down to the weather then. It was still very cold this time last year and freezing at night. I then moved them to a warmer area and they all aborted. Lesson learnt and this year they are sitting in a frost free conservatory and all seem very happy.

The first one that flowered which I pictured before in this thread did take a very long time to open and although it's tempting to move somewhere warmer I resisted this time ;)

David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 20, 2011, 07:41:24 PM
Lovely humilis !!
Fascinating yellow in that lip David !
Will be interesting to see how stable it is !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 20, 2011, 08:53:53 PM
Hi David,
I bought a small poly greenhouse last week, like the one in the photo, to get my pleiones out of the fridge and somewhere I could keep them a little more stable for a few weeks until I can get them outside. It JUST fits in a small gravel area in the garden. It has a small heater in it to keep it frost free. I'll have to pack it away for the summer and get it out again for the winter. I hope that this is doing the trick with the humilis and hope they don't abort again.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 20, 2011, 10:01:24 PM
Hope it does not get too windy where you have it as I had a similar one that flew off one night and ended up in a lake the other side of the fence. I ended up using rope over the top to secure it.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 20, 2011, 10:07:03 PM
Hope it does not get too windy where you have it as I had a similar one that flew off one night and ended up in a lake the other side of the fence. I ended up using rope over the top to secure it.


It has guy ropes and I have tied it down. But the garden is quite sheltered anyway.
I can see it would take off quite easily.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 21, 2011, 12:08:49 AM
I had the same problem. I kept one on my allotment. It sprung all but one ground anchor and the wind made it thrash round and round, demolishing the neighbours' plants and itself and everything that was in it. Never again. >:(
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 22, 2011, 11:58:58 AM
Better picture of unusual Pleione humilis with lots of yellow in the lip and a new Pleione for me which came from Ian Butterfield this year, Pleione Kohala (P. Eiger x P. humilis registered in 1991 by IB).

 
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 22, 2011, 11:59:40 AM
Kohala

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 22, 2011, 06:48:43 PM
That's an interesting humilis David. Are you marking and seperating it to see how it's offspring turn out next year?

The red and white of Kohala is really nice. I can't help seeing that Australian marsupial Koala mis-spelt when I see its name.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 22, 2011, 07:17:37 PM
Ian names his pleiones after volcanoes. Kohala is a volcano on Hawai. But you probably knew that. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on February 22, 2011, 07:33:06 PM
Ian names his pleiones after volcanoes. Kohala is a volcano on Hawai. But you probably knew that. ;) ;) ;)

Thanks Maren! I didn't know either fact. But have now googled Kohala and found it very interesting.
Also looked at Ian's hybrid list for the volcanoes.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 22, 2011, 07:49:56 PM
Two very interesting plants David !!
Thanks for showing !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on February 22, 2011, 07:51:22 PM
The first Pleione to flower here is one of the loveliest formosana clones (my opinion): Pleione formosana "Cairngorm".

Seems like my camera isn't able to catch the brick-red on the lip but mixed some purple in.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 23, 2011, 11:27:31 AM
Your Pleione formosana Cairngorm is much earlier than mine as I have no sign of any movement yet. I also think this is one of the nicest formosana as well as 'Lucy Diamond'.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on February 23, 2011, 12:52:11 PM
Hi Rob, nice to have you around again. With the winter we've had in th UK ( and other places too,I know)  there are a lot of us counting the empty pots now..... hope you find more alive than you think!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on February 23, 2011, 06:28:08 PM
Your Pleione formosana Cairngorm is much earlier than mine as I have no sign of any movement yet. I also think this is one of the nicest formosana as well as 'Lucy Diamond'.

Interesting how their flowering time differs that much.
The formosana "Cairngorm" I got from Pottertons is that early while yours does not show any signs of movement. On the other hand the "Kohala" I received from Ian Butterfield this year is far behind your plant.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 23, 2011, 06:43:10 PM
I had two P. Kohala from Ian B but one is not showing any signs of movement yet while the other is in flower!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on February 24, 2011, 02:32:50 AM
Thomas, I don't recall Potterton's listing Cairngorm this year.  If like me you purchased W2 then you might be interested to know that I spoke to Rob and he was adamant that this is not Cairngorm.  I've just purchased some Cairngorm from another source so that I can play spot the difference.

The reason your Potterton's bulbs are so early is that due to the extreme weather in North Lincolnshire they had to change their over-wintering routine.  Some of the bulbs they sent out were advanced as a result.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on February 24, 2011, 07:24:14 AM
Thomas, I don't recall Potterton's listing Cairngorm this year.  If like me you purchased W2 then you might be interested to know that I spoke to Rob and he was adamant that this is not Cairngorm.  I've just purchased some Cairngorm from another source so that I can play spot the difference.

Thank you for pointing this out.
I purchased the bulb as Pln. formosana W2 but because of the thread about formosana clones here I thought that W2, Cairngorm and Red Spot are the same cultivar. Will be interesting to spot the difference once your bulbs flower.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 24, 2011, 09:48:34 AM
Thank you for pointing this out.
I purchased the bulb as Pln. formosana W2 but because of the thread about formosana clones here I thought that W2, Cairngorm and Red Spot are the same cultivar. Will be interesting to spot the difference once your bulbs flower.

Thomas I hope you don't mind but I took your picture and put it next to one of P. formosana Cairngorm that flowered for me last year to see the difference.



Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 24, 2011, 04:56:19 PM
David,

that' really cool, seeing the two plants next to each other. How did you do it?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 24, 2011, 05:47:20 PM
David,

that' really cool, seeing the two plants next to each other. How did you do it?

Photoshop. Created a new blank document (twice as long) and then added the pictures after making them the same size.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on February 26, 2011, 07:15:50 PM
A wonderful form of P. forrestii from Crustacare and P. humilis again, more flowers this time.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sam on February 27, 2011, 06:42:33 AM
two beautiful species Alex, thanks for sharing
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on February 27, 2011, 03:30:11 PM
The first of my Pleione forrestii is also in flower, a rather closed but rich buttercup yellow form with good red markings. Maybe it opens a bit more when the light turns brighter after the rains have ceased in Holland....
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 27, 2011, 10:25:07 PM
That's a fine P forrestii, Pascal, and so are yours, Alex. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on February 27, 2011, 11:07:48 PM
My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on February 27, 2011, 11:13:46 PM
Oh Mark, that's so sad. Which pleiones do you grow in your peat beds? perhaps they got a little sodden? it's usually the cold-wet that kills, not the cold-dry. Commiserations. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on February 28, 2011, 01:17:06 PM
My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.

Funnily enough I thought the other day that there was no way your Pleione would have survived outside with the weather we had after coming across the picture you posted before.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on February 28, 2011, 10:46:42 PM
Maren they were growing in moss that covered peat blocks. I'll buy now ones somewhere this year and do it again
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on February 28, 2011, 10:49:04 PM
My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.

Where can I buy some?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 01, 2011, 06:52:53 AM
Mark,

I think you are very brave. Was it P limprichtii you were growing there? I can't think of any others that might survive outdoors in our climes, except perhaps humilis , but I would never take the risk with either, I have to admit.  ;) ;)

Having said that, I often have pleiones coming up between my vegetables, as all the old pleione compost goes onto the allotment and with it many of the cast offs. But they usually look tattered, slug nibbled and weather beaten and I feel like saying "Sorry, Darling, you deserved better!" when I see one.

There will be lots of shows on this side of the Irish sea where you can buy pleiones in pots, maybe also on your side? Good luck. :)


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on March 01, 2011, 12:46:17 PM
Sorry to hear of your losses Mark.

I have a few strays that live in my cypripedium pots (covered by a frame light in winter but no temperature protection). They are assorted unidentified ones, including hybrids. One of those visible at the surface is mush but another looks OK. I'm reasonably confident that the buried ones might be OK - they survived the previous winter. Our min temp in both winters was probably about -9C.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 01, 2011, 12:51:10 PM
Hi Mark,
If you are looking to replace P. 'Shantung' then I'm not sure where you would be able to order them from now. But Pottertons and Edrom still have a number of others available in their on-line.

However if you are looking for something with a better chance of surviving the winter then as Maren suggests the best choice would be with P. limpritchtii.
The following link will take you to an e-bay page for a good deal for P. limpritchii. I got my first ones from him some years ago and they were good quality and a reasonable price.

Hope this helps

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pleione-limprichtii-5-large-flowering-sized-bulbs-/170604909232?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item27b8d852b0


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 02, 2011, 08:11:35 PM
My first Pleione for this season opened today  ;D ;D ;D

Pleione leda
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on March 02, 2011, 08:37:19 PM
Super photo of Leda, Luc..... she is lovely
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 02, 2011, 08:47:29 PM
My first Pleione for this season opened today  ;D ;D ;D

Pleione leda


Very nice Luc,
Is this not No.2 for the season? Didn't you start this thread with Pleione Wharfedale "Pine Warbler". Or do you consider that winter 2010. ;)

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 02, 2011, 08:59:25 PM
Thanks Maggi - I agree with you !
I guess you caught me out Graham...  let's say that Warfedale belongs to 2010  ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 02, 2011, 09:41:19 PM
Thanks Maggi - I agree with you !
I guess you caught me out Graham...  let's say that Warfedale belongs to 2010  ;) ;)

 ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on March 04, 2011, 03:27:20 PM
Luc

That is a wonderfull form of Leda you have there. It is possibly the best one I have seen so far. Very Nice.

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: enrico on March 07, 2011, 10:30:17 AM
My first Pleione for this year

Pleione piton

The wind has already damaged the top petal :(

I was wondering... considering the the flower is a bit damaged is there any benefit for the bulb in cutting the flower?

And, in case, where should I cut it exactly?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 07, 2011, 12:37:38 PM
What do you mean by damage? if you are referring to the streaking of colour, that happens, usually when there are extremes of temperature.

I think the flower looks fine. I'd leave it on and wait until it finishes and dries up. Then you hold on to the bulb with one hand and pull off the flower with the other. The entire stem should just slip out of the sheath.

If you pull it when the flower is still attached, then the whole plant will come out of its compost. So it's best to always hold the plant down when you pull. Don't cut, it just leaves an open wound where all sorts of nasties could settle.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: enrico on March 07, 2011, 12:51:56 PM
I mean it is bent (even if you could't guess it from the previous photos)...

Thanks for all the info on the flower removal, that's very useful! :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on March 08, 2011, 11:43:25 AM
My aforementioned double headed forrestii has opened at last, and I'm still not certain if I should have pulled the second flower.  The two flowers seem a little smaller than a normal single, and there's a little damage which may have been caused by the two buds rubbing together or by last night's -4 frost, (greenhouse with a single heater down to 0.2), but it's still two flowers.  Quality or quantity?  That is the question.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 08, 2011, 04:05:32 PM
I could never remove a flower on a double one Steve - glad you didn't !  :D

I've' got two more (singles) flowering today :

Good old P. hekla 'Locking Stumps'
and
P. krakatoa
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 08, 2011, 07:13:30 PM
I really enjoy the variation in all the clones of Leda and Krakatoa. One could happily collect quite some of them.  :D

A yellow Leda is flowering for me as well. I like the colour but the flower shape of Luc's plant is way better.


Regards Thomas
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 08, 2011, 07:17:29 PM
I can see the benefits of leaving the two buds on! That is definitely two for the price of one Steve :) My doubles have always developed upside down and have never looked good which is why I remove them.
I though I would have had something to show by now as they seemed to start early but have slowed down. It looks as though P. forrestii will be early April like last year, and P. humilis will probably be around the same time.

Two nice ones from you Luc.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 10, 2011, 10:02:59 AM
Sorry to hear that, Rob.  :-\

I can see that it's quite tempting to bid on some rare plants which are hard to find.
Hope this year I'm able to tell whether the Pleione scopulorum (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5328.0) I got last year from the same ebay source is true. To be honest I doubt that it is but the flower will show. At least it wasn't quite expensive and might turn out as a decent P. formosana.

Regards
Thomas
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on March 10, 2011, 05:51:27 PM
My first forrestii.
Eiger, cream form but white really.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on March 12, 2011, 02:42:08 PM
Two humilis hybrids opened this morning.  Dr. Mo Weatherhead (humilis x grandiflora) and Eiger (formosana x humilis).  Their opening only makes the total lack of movement in my humilis all the more irritating!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on March 12, 2011, 08:24:41 PM
Pleione humilis close up and alongside P. forrestii - both have been out for a good few weeks now, they seem to be lasting well.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: yijiawang on March 13, 2011, 04:55:09 AM
It is forrestii album form? but a person said it is not forrestii.... the fragrant is same as typical forrestii.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 13, 2011, 10:58:52 AM
This looks like a proper Pln. forrestii alba to me. A really nice one actually - love the contrast of white, yellow and red on the lip!  :D

Flowering for me are Eiger "Snowflake", Danan and Krakatoa. The last one has long and strong flower stems so the beautiful flowers present themselves way better than the other two.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 14, 2011, 08:17:34 PM
Thanks for the show Pete, Alex and Steve - the Pleione season is well and truly underway !!

Three more from me !  ;)

Pleione eiger "To Ah"
Pleione leda - clone 6
Pleione whakari

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 14, 2011, 08:56:56 PM
Some nice ones recently.
yijiawang - I really like the P. forrestii alba. The red and yellow lip looks great against the white. It looks the correct shape for a forrestii to me. I will put that on my wish list.

Luc - Pleione eiger "To Ah" is really nice. I do like the white forms with the bold contrasts.

I may have something to show by the weekend.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 14, 2011, 10:22:39 PM
I've got 6 clones of Leda now Rob - the two that are already in flower now were bought in Flower at Ian Butterfield's nursery last Spring !  So I could make my pick from the tray!

I also have a few paler ones from earlier purchases...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 15, 2011, 07:45:22 AM
Hi Yijiawang,

I much enjoyed your Pleione forrestii v alba but had some doubts about its identification because of the petal shape. So I took the pictures of your plant to Ian Butterfield for identification, I hope you don't mind. He wasn't totally sure about it either. While the keels are exactly like forrestii, the broadness of the petals and sepals seem to indicate that it may be a hybrid. It's one of those "hard to tell" plants, but so beautiful, I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

It will be interesting to see if it multiplies well. That would also indicate hybrid influence, as true forrestii can be a little shy to multiply. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on March 15, 2011, 06:53:12 PM
The first of my spring flowering ones is Pleione Piton 'Ballerina'.

@yijiawang: Beautiful flower, your forrestii alba, regardless of it's identification.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on March 15, 2011, 08:16:31 PM
Quote
Ulrich Bangert in Sickte, northern germany
http://www.ulrichbangert.de/orchid/index.php

Uli, I've tried your orchid puzzle twice... cannot find all the pieces!!  ;D
Great fun!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Diane Clement on March 15, 2011, 08:27:42 PM
Uli, I've tried your orchid puzzle twice... cannot find all the pieces!!  ;D  

I found them all  8)  Is it the same picture every time, or does it change?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Houseslippers on March 15, 2011, 08:34:36 PM
That's the same picture I've just done.

I should be cooking the dinner ....
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on March 15, 2011, 08:36:25 PM
Hi Maggi,
Quote
cannot find all the pieces!!
One has to be careful not to cover some pieces by other ones.

Hi Diane,
Quote
Is it the same picture every time, or does it change?
No, it's always the same one. I have to edit the page in order to change it. But it might be a good idea to change it automatically.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on March 15, 2011, 08:39:56 PM
Yes, I was trying not to cover any and one can move the joined pieces around to search for the lost ones.... I must try again......  :D

Diane, you are such a clever clogs!  And Tony, you're as bad!!  ;D




Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on March 15, 2011, 10:35:01 PM
Rob are those tribal tats? I want a tattoo, and have the design, but I'm scared of the possible pain

bottom of this page - ouch -http://phildeqi.com/phildeqi.htm (http://phildeqi.com/phildeqi.htm)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: fermi de Sousa on March 16, 2011, 05:30:21 AM
Rob are those tribal tats? I want a tattoo, and have the design, but I'm scared of the possible pain

bottom of this page - ouch -http://phildeqi.com/phildeqi.htm (http://phildeqi.com/phildeqi.htm)
A Bat Tat?
 ;D
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 16, 2011, 08:03:48 AM

I found them all  8)  Is it the same picture every time, or does it change?

Me too, you could have a clock attached so that we can have a little competition to see who is fastest ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on March 16, 2011, 01:22:26 PM
Yes Fermi but not one - 5!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Houseslippers on March 16, 2011, 04:09:45 PM
When I had a tattoo done 20 odd years ago, the advice was to avoid bony spots to avoid the worst pain. It wasn't that painful but I remember wincing a lot. The pain's part of the whole ritual ...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 17, 2011, 06:16:03 PM
Two Pleiones with forrestii blood within their heritage opened their flowers.

Zeus Weinstein and Bromo

I'm especially happy with this Bromo as the flower is large and has a nice colour (something between white, yellow and light peach)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 17, 2011, 09:06:53 PM
That Dr. Mo Weatherhead looks good but Kohala 'Pied Crow' is gorgeous!  :o
I'm waiting impatiently to see how the Kohala I bought this winter from Ian Butterfield turns out.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 17, 2011, 09:12:44 PM
Bromo is so delicate Thomas, one of my favourites too - mine is some 10 days away from flowering I guess !

Rob, as Thomas, Kohala and Dr Mo weatherhead are my favourites in this series.
Will have to see how the Leda's multiplie Rob !  ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on March 17, 2011, 09:35:02 PM
A wee reminder, Gentleman, that the preferred size for forum pix is 760pixels wide......  :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: yijiawang on March 19, 2011, 07:31:16 AM
Hello Maren
 Yes I think you are right, an interesting topic.
 It's flower is not typical forrestii's as you said, and I can select 4 forms from them,
 white flower with yellow lip and red spot-white flower with purple spot-cream or light green-golden
 If these are hybrid, who is another one of parent? grandiflora?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on March 19, 2011, 03:06:12 PM
Yijiawang - by my opinion they all are true P. forrestii. I can't see any hybridisation signs. I'll meet Ian next week so I'll ask him, but I think so.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on March 19, 2011, 08:40:27 PM
Hallo Rob,
beautiful flower, your Dr. Mo Wheatherhead. Where did you get it from? It's not on Ian Butterfields list.

The second of my springflowering ones is Pln. Eiger 'Snowflake'.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 20, 2011, 07:29:06 PM
Pleione forrestii and P.humilis.
This is the first time humilis has flowered for me. Should the red markings always be red because a couple of these have deep pink markings.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 20, 2011, 07:44:16 PM
Wonderful display Graham !!  :o :o
The pictures look as if they were taken out in the wild !!!  Very well done !!  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Houseslippers on March 20, 2011, 09:12:14 PM
Yes, I agree, a really beautiful display. This looks like a semi-permanent set-up - am I right?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 20, 2011, 09:51:59 PM
Thanks Luc and Tony,
You are correct Tony. This is the second year they have been in this set up. Last Autumn I carefully removed them from the pots, cutting the old roots in-situ. I then over wintered them in the fridge and replanted them a few weeks ago. The pots are left out through the winter for the moss to continue to grow or reform where I have dislodged it. The compost is moist when I replant and I do not water until leaf growth starts. They are currently in a frost free temporary plastic greenhouse.
This Autumn I will dismantle the setups, redesign, replace the compost, top off with moss and leave out over the winter.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: angie on March 20, 2011, 10:02:40 PM
Graham that's really nice  8) they look so natural set amongst the moss like that.

Angie :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Houseslippers on March 20, 2011, 10:15:04 PM
Graham

You've raised the game for Pleione display ... so the set-ups are in large pans, with the pots being held in a substrate of some kind (bark?), these pots with their old compost remaining undisturbed after pseudobulb removal ready for reuse the second spring, with a total replacement every 2 years? No problems with compost breaking down in year 2?

I want to try this myself. I think it's a really attractive way to display the collection.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 21, 2011, 07:14:57 PM
Graham,

I just can join the others and admire your great display of these beauties! This gives an impression how Pleiones might grow in their natural habitats with the wood and moss.  :D


A nice and sunny day made Pleione Ueli Wackernagel 'Pearl" opening a wonderful flower - love the yellow on the lip as this reminds on Pleione praecox somehow!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 21, 2011, 07:49:21 PM
Thanks Angie and Thomas

Tony, the photo below is of Pleione limpritchii (last year) in it's second year. It is now entering it's third year in the same compost. There are buds coming through but it's next year that will be the most interesting to see if they bulk up well this year. These survive some frost so are easier to manage this way than the less frost tolerant species.

The pots are 30cm diameter and 15cm deep.

The compost is a mix of pine duff (composted pine needles), a handful or two of multi-purpose compost, chopped wood moss, and plenty of large pine needles to open up the mix for drainage. Total cost - next to nothing ;) I have developed this out of necessity as I didn't want to pay the high cost of bark and sphagnum moss.

This year I have used beech leaf mold instead of multi-purpose compost for some of my new acquisitions.

Ian Butterfield and others have developed a compost mix that suits them in their situations and for their needs and of course that suits the pleione's. My intention, (in most cases), is to create mini displays looking as natural as possible that will also look good in the garden when the floweres are gone and the leaves take over. This is rather experimental but it seems to be working so far.

Photos:
P. limpritchtii 2010
P. forrestii (poor photo from 2010) showing the pot.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on March 21, 2011, 08:01:30 PM
Hallo Rob,
thank you for your answer. Yes, that's a pitty, that no selected clones are offered. One never knows how they will bloom, when one buys them.
Regards - Ulrich
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Houseslippers on March 21, 2011, 09:57:13 PM
Graham

Great info - thanks. It'll be good to see a photo of your displays once the Pleione leaves grow. To my eyes these sure beat rows of pots (but I appreciate some may disagree - the shot of the saxifrages in Gert's alpine house posted by Jiri in the Alpine house 2011 thread recently was also very attractive - maybe it's the obvious expertise & attention to detail in both cases that so impresses, apart from the plants of course).  

Looks like you have access to plentiful supplies of live moss as well! Of course, pine duff, moss & beech leafmould are in rare supply in sarf London. I wonder if dodgy Sycamore leafmould & Soleirolia soleirolii would do instead ....
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 22, 2011, 08:37:44 PM
Really great style of growing Pleiones Graham !   :o
Will have to try something similar next season...  :D

Here, a few more opened up today - in pots I'm afraid...  ;D

1-2 : Pleione eiger 'To be'
3-4 : Pleione eiger - cream form
5-6 : Pleione leda - my clone nr 4

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on March 22, 2011, 08:53:03 PM
Many of my Sifaka seedlings are flowering for the first time.
I particularly like the yellows, obviously heavily forrestii coming out. They open more yellow, the petals then develop a pinker cast.
Some more nice yellows expected.
Pic 5 - Eiger.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 22, 2011, 09:01:03 PM


Sifaka 4 is really nice Pete !!  :o
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on March 22, 2011, 09:03:32 PM
I agree with you Luc, that is a very nice form, nr 1 as well, but it is still very interesting to see the variation in this hybrid.

Greetings Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 23, 2011, 12:01:03 PM
I'm with Luc, that Sifaka4 has such a warm colour and glistening petals - beautiful. :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: enrico on March 23, 2011, 01:43:03 PM
Here comes Pleione novarupta raven  :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 23, 2011, 08:14:02 PM
Pete, all of your Sifaka clones seem to present their flowers very well. Good stems and non-drooping flowers. You might put me on the waiting list for nr. 4 as well!  ;D

Enrico, I like how you took your pic of this nice Novarupta clone in bright sunshine.  :D

Unfortunately I was too late home to take a pic of Burrator in the sun. I'm quite happy that I've ordered this hybrid from Ian B. last winter (it's not on his list).
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 23, 2011, 09:18:18 PM
I can imagine that you're happy with it Thomas, it's a beauty !!!

Pleione eastfield "Purple Emperor" opened today !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on March 24, 2011, 01:52:48 PM
I've been away for a couple of days so just catching up.
Luc I will look forward to seeing your natural pleione plantings next year, but in the mean time I must say that Pleione eastfield 'Purple Emperor' is just stunning. I have never seen it before. If I grew more than one hybrid I think that this would have to be in my collection. Maybe by the time it bulks up with you and you have too many  ;) I may be able to find space for it and do an exchange.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on March 24, 2011, 10:13:10 PM
Rob, Sifaka is Piton x forrestii.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on March 24, 2011, 10:16:52 PM
peter what are the parents of sifaka? besides foresstii?  :)
Sifaka is Paul's hybrid P. Piton x P. forrestii.

Here is the first of my flowers.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on March 24, 2011, 10:19:59 PM
Rob

The lowering of the coloumn is indeed a protective action of the flower. Does it look something like this? The picture was taken last season, it looked promissing but still didn't turn out in a seed pod.

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 25, 2011, 12:26:37 PM
Pln Quizapu Peregrine, acquired from Ian last night. Moss - compliments from my lawn.  ;) ;);D ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: monocotman on March 25, 2011, 05:30:45 PM
Maren,

peregrine is such a strikingly different hybrid - I don't think there is another like it. I don't find it the easiest to grow - it isn't as vigorous as some and the leaves never reach the size of the Rakata or Shantung clones. Did Ian offer any tips? extra moss??

Regards,

David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 25, 2011, 10:18:23 PM
David,

he didn't but then I didn't ask and I should have done. I shall ask when I see him next week. I'll have to pick his brains for a writeup of a brilliant talk he gave to the Chiltern Orchid Society a few days ago. He was showing all his newest hybrids and I was so fascinated, I forgot to write down their names. :o :o
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 26, 2011, 10:48:32 AM
PS David,

I have just discovered another one from last year. It's slightly taller and the sepals have a hint of purple. Will post picci when fully open. It only made one replacement bulb.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on March 26, 2011, 06:05:53 PM
Pleione Burrator, X confusa and a small group with grandiflora and Krakatoa, all taken in the greenhouse today.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on March 26, 2011, 06:26:56 PM
Several Pleione have aborted their buds during some sunny days while I was away but not yunnanensis and grandiflora.... :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 26, 2011, 06:27:42 PM
Hi Alex,

that looks like a very interesting greenhouse. Can we see more of it please? :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on March 26, 2011, 08:29:03 PM
Now blooming with me: Pleione Shantung 'Ducat'
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: alpinelover on March 27, 2011, 09:11:59 PM
Here in flower, Pleione 'Tolima'.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 28, 2011, 09:37:57 PM
A wonderful show of Pleiones everybody - must get hold of P. burator and quizapu peregrine... they're so nice !!

Here I have also some more flowers :

1) good old P. asama
2-3) P. bromo
4-5-6-7) 2 more forms of P. leda
8-9) P. uli wackernagel - a light form
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 29, 2011, 01:54:23 PM
Lovely plants, Luc, I really like the white Leda. This variety is so variable. Kath Fairhurst brought a whole lot of pots with different colour schemes to the Hardy Orchid Society show on Sunday, and I had forgotten my camera.  :'(

I made up for it with a quick trip through Ian's greenhouse and will post piccies shortly of plants you many not have seen before. Just need to check the names.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 29, 2011, 07:22:48 PM
Thank you Maren, I'll be looking forward to your pictures from Ian's Walhalla !  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 29, 2011, 07:33:39 PM
Hi Luc,

I sorted out the names and here are just a few that caught my eye at this time of year.

Pln Bonobo
Pln grandiflora x albiflora
Pln Leda 'Fishing Owl 01
Pln Leda 'Fishing Owl 02
Pln Sharon Ann Winter 'Marsh Owl'
Pln Suswa 01
Pln Suswa 02
Pln Samuel Butterfield (this is going to be named after Ian's second grandson, the name has been applied for but not yet confirmed).
I think this cross is absolutely wonderful. It is its first flowering and the pot contained three bulbs with altogether 8 flowers of good size and substance, an excellent cross - he hasn't lost his touch!! The parents are Leda 'Fishing Owl' x grandiflora.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mickeymuc on March 29, 2011, 07:45:37 PM
Here's a pleasant surprise: bought from Orchids & more as "aurita red purple", I just noticed that this flower's about to open. It's nothing like aurita, but from what I see up to now this might be a great flower, with great orange tones inside. Can't wait for the flower to open...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 29, 2011, 08:55:41 PM
Some totally amazing flowers there Maren !!  :o :o
I really wouldn't know what to choose first !
Thanks for showing !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on March 29, 2011, 10:16:28 PM
Pleione Lucy, (Eiger x forrestii). This is the first Pleione cross that I have made & raised to flowering. I used the cream form of Eiger and a white forrestii, (or so I think as I bought a bulb form Germany which developed a white bud which failed to open. But I extracted the pollen and used it successfully), hoping for a good white flower with nice red lip markingings. I am delighted with it.
Rakata "Locking Stumps"
    "     "Shot Silk"
Shantung un-named form.
Glacier Peak
grandiflora
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 29, 2011, 10:44:55 PM
Hello mickeymuc,

that looks like a very interesting pleione, x barbarae perhaps or a pink version of grandiflora?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mickeymuc on March 30, 2011, 07:18:11 AM
Dear Maren,

I have not tried to identify it yet, but they said they got it from Chinese growers, who claim to plant Pleiones on fields and propagate vegitatively.
I'll be at Munich next week and will try to go there again & have a look how the other plants of this "batch" of plants.
They also sell a P. aurita 'Zhejiang' from the same source, but they can't say anything about the flower. Can't wait to see it.


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 30, 2011, 08:21:01 AM
Hi Mickeymuc, very interesting. Don't forget your camera. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 30, 2011, 08:23:19 AM
Hi Peter, your 'Lucy' is very pretty. You can be proud of that. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on March 30, 2011, 08:45:22 AM
Maren,
all of Ian's plants you show here are great. In my eyes Bonobo, Leda 'Fishing Owl' and albiflora x grandiflora (that's Yeti, isn't it?) are special and real beauties!  Suswa is almost shocking bright  8)

Mickeymuc,
I think this 'Red Purple' Pleione is most likely a x barbarae, a real good one with the orange tones on the lip! I saw a pic of the Pln. aurita 'Zhejiang' Orchids & More is selling at a German orchid forum. This is a pale pink with almost white tips, white lip with red markings and some light yellow. Probably x barbarae as well.

Pete,
Lucy is stunning! Some offspring to be proud of.  ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: enrico on March 30, 2011, 09:32:37 AM
My Pleione shantung ducat flowered today, here it is  :)

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mickeymuc on March 30, 2011, 12:17:12 PM
Thomas,

Thanks for the advoce, a good x barbarae is also a beauty in my view :-).
Thanks for telling me about the pic, I'll look for it immediately. Although I prefer bright flowers to the pale ones :-)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on March 30, 2011, 08:32:01 PM
The season has started here as well.
First to flower was a P. forrestii form shortly followed by P. 'Zeus Weinstein'.
Zeus Weinstein is a new on for me and in my enthousiasme to see if this has the same scent as the forrestii parrent I damaged the flower.

Greetings
Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 30, 2011, 09:13:02 PM
A very nice start Pieter !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on March 30, 2011, 09:15:50 PM
Thanks Luc. I am happy to a flower on my forrestii again. I didn't bloom for two years. I almost forgot what it looked like.  ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on March 30, 2011, 09:52:41 PM
You did well, Pieter, Pln forrestii can be rather difficult. It often aborts its flowers, which is so frustrating. In it's habitat, it can be found growing in moss on trees. So that must be the answer, lots of moss and excellent drainage. I have found that all pleiones grow better in company. I now grow them in groups in bowls, whenever I can. It really makes a difference. If one is a bit heavy with the watering at times, there will be strong plants in the group who can take it up, which means that the weaker plants aren't overwhelmed.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on April 02, 2011, 08:38:55 PM
Now flowering with me: Pleione Tolima.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 02, 2011, 10:47:17 PM
A few from today - Pleione yunnanensis, P. limprichtii X albiflora and a shot of my little Pleione area now there are a few flowers.

Cheers,

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 02, 2011, 10:51:41 PM
As requested by Maren, here are a few more views of my greenhouse (the interior, anyway).
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 02, 2011, 10:53:23 PM
I should clarify - I have a small end section that is largely (but not completely) devoted to cacti and succulents.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 03, 2011, 11:04:32 AM
Oh my - that's a beautiful greenhouse. I quite expected it when I first saw one of its 'feet'. :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 04, 2011, 09:07:07 AM
Hi Rob,

Yes, it is an unusual cross I think, or at least I haven't seen it anywhere else. I got it from Crustacare in Belgium (one of the absolute best hardy orchid nurseries around) last year, I don't even know whether it has been named.

Maren,

Glad you like the pics, but it's not as beautiful as your own fantastically restored greenhouse!

Cheers,

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 04, 2011, 07:00:29 PM
Some more Pleiones have been in flower over the last few days :

1-2 : P. erebus 'Redpoll'
3-4 : P. Gerry Mundey 'Tinny's firs'
5-6 : P. jorullo 'Long Tailed Tit'
7-8 : P. shantung 'Ducat'

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 04, 2011, 07:29:36 PM
Alex, that albiflora x limprichtii cross has an interesting flower shape and colour. Would be hard to guess the albiflora parent from the look of the flower.  :)

Flowering for me are two big crosses. A pale x barbarae and a Shantung (from Pottertons) with nice peachy colour and yellow lip.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 04, 2011, 08:19:01 PM
Luc,

beautiful pleiones and gorgeous pictures. I wish I could take pictures like that.

Thomas,

the Shantung is rather special, I agree. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 04, 2011, 09:17:37 PM
Nice Shantung Thomas.

Here are;
Rakata "Keith Rattray"
2 more yellowish Sifaka's, they seem to be quite similar.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on April 05, 2011, 03:14:21 PM
I've been given a few of these, supposedly formosana, but now they are in flower that's obviously wrong.  I know that many of the hybrids look similar but any thoughts as to correct identification would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 05, 2011, 05:37:54 PM
Steve, my guess for your plant is Tongariro.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on April 05, 2011, 07:57:37 PM
Flowering with two blooms: Pleione Shantung 'Silver Anniversary', the most vigorous one of all my Pleiones.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 05, 2011, 10:01:49 PM
Edgecumbe 1 - first time flowering.
Lucy - another bulb flowering 1st time, again has a very open & flared lip.
grandiflora
Shantung Ducat.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 06, 2011, 09:01:20 PM
A few from me. I'm getting interested in them again thanks to all your lovely pictures! My collection has been in a bit of a timewarp as I was so disheartened by the Brevipalpus scare in the late 90s that I stopped obtaining new Pleione and this is why you see none of the newer cultivars. Pics of things like Edgecombe, Leda and Krakatoa might even persuade me to start again. Thanks to great advice from Paul Cumbleton I'm pretty sure my collection has been free of any Brevipalpus (if it ever had it) since before we moved house in 2004 and I still oil dip the whole collection (and the pots!) at repotting time.

Anyway - here are Shantung Ducat, Rakata Shot Silk (the silky sheen does not reproduce well in pictures), and unnamed clones of Brigadoon and Hekla.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 06, 2011, 11:11:10 PM
Oh Darren,

take heart. It is obvious that you know how to grow them. Nice plants and pretty pictures. :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 07, 2011, 08:04:13 AM
Thank you for that Maren.  :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 07, 2011, 08:20:10 AM
Beautiful Pleione Pete !!! "Lucy" looks quite special !  :o :o

4 magnificently grown pots Darren !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on April 07, 2011, 09:13:33 PM
With the warm weather a few more have opent here.

- grandiflora
- Santorini
- Piton
- yunnanensis
- Danan (wrongly named picture)
- Lilac Wonder
- Quizapu 'Peregrine'

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 07, 2011, 10:14:19 PM
Hi,

very interesting. First time I've seen Lilac Wonder, I notice it is a recent (2009) hybrid from G Bergel.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 08, 2011, 07:57:50 AM
Lilac Wonder is lovely. It looks to have yunnanensis in it's parentage - what else?

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on April 08, 2011, 08:11:42 AM
Lilac Wonder - Chunii x Yunnanensis

I registered this for G Bergel in 2009 and as you can see the clone shown above looks nothing like the picture used in registration.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on April 08, 2011, 08:16:32 AM
Lilac Wonder is Berg's hybrid of chunii x yunnanensis - very pretty, never seen this before :o.
I only have the forrestii in flower now.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on April 08, 2011, 08:21:49 AM
Pieter - sorry to disappoint you, I'm pretty sure, there is not the yunnanensis on your picture. It looks more like x taliensis or Piton.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 08, 2011, 08:40:53 AM
Karel_t, I have been wondering about that too.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 08, 2011, 10:55:53 AM
Interesting David - your picture seems closer to the chunii parent in shape and I would have found it difficult to see the yunnanensis influence. I guess in any cross you get examples across the range from one parent to the other and it is interesting to see the extremes here. Your picture shows a shorter stemmed flower than I might have expected as I thought both chunii and yunnanensis had relatively long stems? Is there much variation in stem height?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 08, 2011, 10:57:09 AM
By the way Maren - really taken by your picture of that lovely potful of yunnanensis. It was always my favourite species.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on April 08, 2011, 11:04:33 AM
Lilac Wonder - Chunii x Yunnanensis

I registered this for G Bergel in 2009 and as you can see the clone shown above looks nothing like the picture used in registration.


That photo looks to have been a victim of serious radiation- Very odd colouring :o :-X
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on April 08, 2011, 11:56:47 AM
Lilac Wonder - Chunii x Yunnanensis

I registered this for G Bergel in 2009 and as you can see the clone shown above looks nothing like the picture used in registration.


That photo looks to have been a victim of serious radiation- Very odd colouring :o :-X

Most of the pictures received were like this, don't know what camera he is using but he can keep it.


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ian mcenery on April 08, 2011, 07:42:33 PM
Absolutely stunning plants everyone. Particularly liked Petes Lucy

here is my patch of limprictii in the garden.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on April 08, 2011, 09:08:39 PM
Sorry Ian, there are not limprichtii on your photos. They are pleionoides, however very nice.  :D
Karel.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 08, 2011, 11:02:08 PM
Hello Darren,

thank you for the compliment about the yunnanensis. The picture was mine, the plants belong to Ian Butterfield. You can always tell if it is a rather abundant lot, about a foot across, in a green bowl that has seen a few decades of service.  :D :D :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ian mcenery on April 08, 2011, 11:27:09 PM
Sorry Ian, there are not limprichtii on your photos. They are pleionoides, however very nice.  :D
Karel.

Karel I am by no means an expert with Pleiones (or anything else) but I have had this plant under this name for a long time.

I have googled both and whilst there is variation those shown above appear to match limprictii to my untrained eye.

Just how do you differentiate between these 2 species ?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on April 09, 2011, 04:34:51 PM
Just how do you differentiate between these 2 species ?

Ian, sometime there is really very difficult to recognise the true species. However here I'm pretty sure. On the picture below you can see the difference between limprichtii (up) and pleionoides (below). I also add my P. limprichtii - the photo is from last year. I will have the limprichtii in flower in 2 weeks this year, so I'll show you it later.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 10, 2011, 03:46:30 PM
Just a few more of my Pleione.

Gerry Mundey

Shantung 'Muriel Harberd' (I seem to have hundreds of these - by far the best increaser with me)

Irazu 'Cheryl'. I struggle to differentiate between this and Rakata ' Shot Silk'. It does not have the same silky sheen but is otherwise extremely similar!

Soufriere

The last one I bought as limprichtii but clearly is not - any ideas anyone? It is a large flower.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on April 10, 2011, 11:17:45 PM
Thanks for the feed back everybody. It is always good the hear an other opinion.

As for the  clone of 'Lilac Wonder', David you are very right to notice the difference with the original registerd form. These two clones are not from Bergel but are from the same cross made in Belgium. I find it is a nice example of how different the offspring can be when dother parentclones are used.

As for the yunnanensis/x taliensis, this has been a mistery for years. I bought this plant twelve years ago under de name yunnanensis but it was de subject of doubt with each new flower season as it produced its flowers. At a time a fellow Pleione enthousiast stated that it had more of a yunnanensis than of a x taliensis so I labeld it with that name. I would surely be happy as it can get its correct name.

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 11, 2011, 08:48:42 PM
A few more different clones flowering now;
Sifaka
    "    10
Edgecumbe 2 (My camera still fails to show it's true yellowness.)
      "         3
      "         4
Erebus
chunii
Alishan "Merlin"
Vesusvius "Phoenix"
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: alpinelover on April 11, 2011, 09:17:46 PM
Very nice Pleiones everyone, this Pleione 'Rakata' (photo 1) and Pleione formosana (photo 2).
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: yijiawang on April 12, 2011, 01:05:19 PM
Hello, who can help me to recognize these 2 Pleione? I found them in Sichuan China, altitude 3020meters. pictures were taken on June-30th,y2010
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on April 12, 2011, 04:35:12 PM
Gorgeous Pleione everybody !!

Two more from me :

P. santorini "Yellow Wagtail"

and

P. vesuvius "Tawny Owl"

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sarmienta on April 13, 2011, 06:19:21 PM
Hello Yijiawang
Thanks for showing those really nice pictures of wild growing Cypri,s and Pleione ....Please more if you have ;)
Those last pictures of Pleiones ,couldn't it be just a form of limprichtii.

Gr. Wim
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on April 14, 2011, 08:48:05 PM
It is wonderful to see Pleione in their natural habitat. Thanks Yijiawang.

A few more came in to bloom, in less natural conditions, here.

1) Pleione Captain Hook
2) Pleione Paricutin
3) Pleione Surtsey
4) Pleione Bromo
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Darren on April 15, 2011, 07:05:24 PM
This pleione has survived quite happily the last two winters in this pot with a cypripedium and no protection other than a polycarbonate sheet over the top of the frame. Given it is right at one edge I feel certain it must have frozen through ( a nearby pot of Narcissus was killed off completely) but it seems fine and 2 more flower buds have appeared behind this one. It seems to have some limprichtii in it but as I certainly don't still have anything similar in my named collection I can't ID it.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 16, 2011, 09:58:11 PM
Some from me today - P. chunii, P. Edgecombe, P. Quizapu 'Peregrine' and a rather nice P. grandiflora with a yellow throat if it can be appreciated from the photo.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on April 17, 2011, 08:14:39 PM
Those a some very nice Pleiones Alex.

Is that Edgecombe the same one as in your avatar?

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 17, 2011, 11:36:50 PM
Indeed it is, yes, that was last year though. Still only one bulb. Would be wonderful if it were to increase...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Tim Harberd on April 18, 2011, 05:13:57 PM
At Last!
I have something to show!!
Here are a few that survived the big freeze:

H67.11 Vesuvius ‘Ember’ 78mm A bit of a small flowered cultivar, but well formed and nice clean colours.

R6.40 Shantung ‘Natasha’ 80mm The best of the pink Shantungs, a bit small & droopy this year.

H93.1 Stromboli 95mm Holds its flowers erect, so long as it isn’t sat in a window!

H114.19 Soufriere 112mm. Short stemmed but upward facing flowers.

H183.1 Soufriere x Shepherd’s Warning. 90mm A family favourite.

H169.1 Ueli Wackernagel. 105mm

Tim DH
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 18, 2011, 08:34:07 PM
A few days away and there is such a lot of beauties to admire here! They're all great but Edgecomb is still one which makes me drool-  ;) :o

Some new ones are flowering for me as well:

Captain Hook
Surtsey
Rakata 'Skylark'
x barbarae
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on April 20, 2011, 04:35:39 PM
For some reason I am having an unusal high number of multiflowered Pleione and for the first time ever have a tripleheaded flower of limprichtii. Fortunately all are facing the same way and not one upside down.... ;D
Second is P. pleionoides, I find this group rather messy to be honest, seems to be a very variable species but nevertheless a nice form.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 20, 2011, 08:32:30 PM
The seasons really in full swing - some really nice posts.

Never seen a triple header and for them all to be the correct way up is amazing. What are you feeding them on???

These are my new acquisitions this year and first time in flower.

P hui 1&2 - (depending on wether you recognise this as a species or not) from bulbils purchased several years ago
P. x taliensis - from Ian Butterfield this year.
P. x barbarae - from Ian Butterfield this year
P. hookeriana - from bulbils purchased several years ago. Not convinced this is correct what do you think?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 20, 2011, 09:19:33 PM
Graham, I doubt that the last flower you showed is really Pleione hookeriana. What size are the bulbs? Flowering sized Pln. hookeriana bulbs are still small, just about 0.5 to 1 cm.

Looks like formosana or bulbocodioides to me.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on April 20, 2011, 09:22:01 PM

Never seen a triple header and for them all to be the correct way up is amazing. What are you feeding them on???


At first it didn't seem they would be all facing the right way but the middle one luckily turned 90 degrees. The bulb was the same size as the other that flowered in the pot. Must have enjoyed last season I guess, I feed with a 10-10-10 fertilizer, I don't believe in different formula's for different seasons. In the wild they don't get that either....

I agree with Thomas, your plant leans more towards bulbocodiodes, definitely not hookeriana
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 20, 2011, 10:03:12 PM
Thanks Thomas and Pascal,
I didn't think it could be hookeriana.
The bulbs are small. This is the only one of several to flower. Maybe if the others flower next year there will be some hookeriana amongst them.
It's really disappointing to wait for three years just to find you have been mis-sold something.

Graham
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 21, 2011, 11:39:58 AM
Graham,
I agree. Last year I bought a large batch of P. albiflora from Germany, expecting them to be grandiflora. Well they turned out to be P. aurita, not worth the high price and disappointing in that they didn't even meet my reduced expectations. That's life. :'( :'( :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: arisaema on April 21, 2011, 12:22:27 PM
Maren,

Don't know how many grandiflora you need, but if 5-6 bulbs are enough then I'm happy to help you next spring. It was the first species I bought some 10 years ago, and it's very vigorous, although I lost nearly all of them to a power outage a couple of years ago.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 21, 2011, 05:07:49 PM
Hi Maren,
I think I probably paid much less for my bulbils than you did for your P. albiflora. Annoying just the same.

I think that the P. hookeriana may be P. pleionoides.  I compared them earlier and took new photos. The photo below is the comparison.
The one on the left is my pleionoides and the one on the right is what I bought as hookeriana.
What do you think?

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 21, 2011, 07:22:57 PM
Hi Graham, you may well be right there. If I didn't have that stinking cold, I would print a picture and take it to Ian Butterfield to look at. But I don't like to give my afflictions to my best friends, so it will have to wait. I will ask him when I'm safe. :)

Hello Arisaema, thank you for your kind offer. I may take you up on that later in the year. My grandiflora didn't like the autumn at all. They were in pots where the roof was leaking and had rotted in their compost before I noticed. I know better this year. ::) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 21, 2011, 08:02:29 PM
Hi Maren,
I hope your cold gets better soon. Just head to your Pleione collection that must make you feel better.
It would be nice to know what Ian thinks of the comparison.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 21, 2011, 08:52:36 PM
My last Edgecumbe to flower.
Glacier Peak
Ueli Wackernagel.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 21, 2011, 09:00:46 PM
Your Glacier Peak is beautifully captured, such glistening petals and sepals. And the dark Ueli Wackernagel is quite rare, I believe, it shows well the influence of Pln aurita.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on April 22, 2011, 08:36:37 PM
Pleione pleionoides and P. limprichtii today.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 23, 2011, 08:50:15 PM
A few more from me,
Volcanello
Askia
aurita
My don't know what it is.
? xbarbarae. I was sent this as scopulorum!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: mark smyth on April 23, 2011, 10:45:06 PM
A lone Pleione Shangtung has flowered today having survive the big freeze in December. I must check the rest tomorrow
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 24, 2011, 03:07:18 PM
Pete, your unknown one could be a Shantung or Pavlof clone - just my guess.

Flowering here are Pleione aurita and Erebus 'Redpoll'
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 24, 2011, 08:08:31 PM
Thanks Thomas. I think you could be right - my ? plant could well be a Shantung. (Don't know Pavlof - have you a pic?)
The colouring of your Erebus "Redpoll" lip is terrific.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pete Clarke on April 24, 2011, 08:12:22 PM
Thomas  - I also meant to comment on your aurita.
Is yours pale or mine dark? Not sure what is the normal colour shade for it.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 24, 2011, 11:24:22 PM
Pln aurita can be pale or dark, they come in many shades.

Here is Pln Spot Nosed Monkey, obtained from Paul Cumbleton some years ago. This one has proved very prolific and produces lovely big bulbs.

And another x barbarae with a double lipped flower. I have only ever noticed this phenomenon on this hybrid. It can happen two years in succession and then the flower returns to normal. Odd. ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 25, 2011, 04:50:13 PM
Pleione scopulorum (nice one from Jan Moors/Crustacare) and a wonderful, large-flowered clone of P. pleionoides/speciosa from the same source.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: arisaema on April 25, 2011, 05:25:00 PM
Pleione grandiflora, two different forms
Pleione x barbarae
Pleione limprichtii
Pleione yunnanensis
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 26, 2011, 01:56:27 PM
Don't know Pavlof - have you a pic?

I'm still hoping that a single flower of Pavlof will open completely but it might fade instead.  :-\ The flower is on the small side (Pln. limprichtii) with a frilly lip and brown spots on it.

Thomas  - I also meant to comment on your aurita.
Is yours pale or mine dark? Not sure what is the normal colour shade for it.

My aurita is somewhat paler than yours but I had darker clones as well. The flower shape can be different too.

Maren, Spot Nosed Monkey is a beauty and the flowers present themselves very well!
 :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on April 27, 2011, 09:51:03 PM
A few Pleiones today - P. coronaria and two P.scopulorum from Jan Moors (Crustacare) - beautiful coloured lip on these.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on April 28, 2011, 09:31:45 PM
Maren, S
Spot Nosed Monkey is a real stunner. Very nice.

Alex,
that scopulorum is a jewel. It is on my wants list for the season to come. How do you treat this species?

And a few more in flower from me. The pictures are not so good as I would want them( good lighting, proper back ground), but I made them in a haste before the warm weather made all my flowers disapear.
1) Pleione x barbarae 1
2) Pleione x barbarae 3
3) Pleione Fuego
4) Pleione Toff (a new addition but already a favorit)
5) Pleione aurita 3

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on April 30, 2011, 08:57:20 AM
A footnote on Pln Pavlov: this hybrid (Pln. limprichtii x Pln. forrestii) was registered by Ian Butterfield in 1991. I feel it may have fallen a bit by the wayside, as it is not shown in Paul Cumbleton's excellent Photo gallery on http://pleione.info/.  :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on April 30, 2011, 12:34:32 PM
http://www.koolplants.co.uk/Pleione-Pavlof.html (http://www.koolplants.co.uk/Pleione-Pavlof.html)

This cross was done again a few years ago but the other way (forrestii x limprichtii) as the gentleman in Germany did not realise the name would still be Pleione Pavlof despite the reverse cross after trying to register it as a new hybrid.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on April 30, 2011, 05:36:38 PM
A really colourful Pleione opened a flower here. I got is as grandiflora but highly suspect that it's another form of x barbarae - a nice one with orange tones on the lip.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on May 01, 2011, 09:01:47 AM
Very attractive, Thomas. But probably just a little disappointing since you expected something else and probably paid more than you would for a x barbarae?

My recent purchases of Pln albiflora and Pln grandiflora resulted in a glut of Pln aurita, very nice plants, mind you, but I now have rather more than I wanted and no albiflora or grandiflora, which is a pity, because the whites are what I really wanted.  :(

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Nick_the_grief on May 03, 2011, 06:57:52 PM
Hi All,

been a tad busy with other things of late but thought I ought to post these.. My first ever Pleiones  8)


Pln bulbacoides

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzBzyoWazH0/Tbx69antSxI/AAAAAAAAA-4/vTl7eGeOuVo/s1600/Vesuvius.jpg)

Pln vesuvius leopard

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRceLfEOTlE/Tbx7ElBsMyI/AAAAAAAAA-8/-8XGMPxpTNw/s1600/leopard.jpg)

Pln vicky

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Py4FG1tnVBo/Tbx7FWRbbxI/AAAAAAAAA_A/iXLbqqkysys/s1600/Vicky.jpg)

Apologies for the quality & background but they were done on my Android phone




Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on May 03, 2011, 07:29:21 PM
Maren, it was a bit disappointing as I already had several x barbarae and wanted to get another grandiflora. At least the bulbs weren't expensive.

Nick, your Vesuvius 'Leopard' is a beauty. I do like the lip!

A new one is flowering for me: Ganymede (Pln. yunnanensis x Pln. hookeriana)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: daveyp1970 on May 08, 2011, 09:26:23 PM
Can somebody put a name to what variety of shantung this please.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on May 10, 2011, 06:46:06 PM
Another x barbarae is flowering. This time a very pale one, almost white with just some stains of colour on the lip.

Also flowering is Kima (chunii x aurita) but I think I like both parents more than the cross.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on May 12, 2011, 08:45:04 PM
Hi,
just to let you know that Ian Butterfield got another Gold Medal for his display at the RHS Malvern Spring Gardening Show.  This is where he concentrates his efforts, having got tired of Chelsea Flower Show and the London Orchid Show.

The Malvern show goes on for another two days, well worth a visit.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: TC on May 18, 2011, 11:12:26 AM
does anyone know what this Pleione is.?  The flower is about 3cm. long and is tiny compared to all the other varieties I have.  I do not know where I got this from - probably a plant sale.  All the bulbils were about pea size when I got them and it has taken 3 years for the first flower to appear.  I hope that the rest in the pot come out the same size.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on May 18, 2011, 11:24:09 AM
Hi,
looks like Pleione Jorullo to me, but could be anything.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on May 22, 2011, 10:39:15 AM
The flowering season for Pleione is not yet over.  :D
A flower of the delicate Pleione chunii and Pleione Soufriere.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on May 25, 2011, 10:35:33 AM
My last two for this season, both delicate little gems, hookeriana and chunii.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: TC on May 25, 2011, 01:28:51 PM
Hi,
looks like Pleione Jorullo to me, but could be anything.
Thanks for that.
Last year I planted 10 Pleiones in the garden as an experiment.  I did not expect the worst and longest Winter for 30 years. The garden was frozen and had about 12cms. of snow until the thaw came in February.  Our lowest temperature was -7c.  When I looked where the Pleiones  were planted, (including several Shantung bulbs ), they were on the surface having been excavated by Blackbirds.

About 4 weeks ago I saw a Pleione flower stalk pushing up through the soil and then within a week I had a flower which was perfectly formed and healthy.
 I do not know the variety - the usual lilac/purple colour.  Then some more separate leaves have appeared which are labeled Clare.

The hardiness of these plants surprises me.  We are told to keep them dry in a frost free place in Winter. These have survived happily in the exact opposite conditions
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on May 29, 2011, 02:20:54 PM
it is the end of the line here. The last to flower for me this year:
- Pleione chunii
- Pleione Mawenzi

To show how small these flowers are, I placed a match stick in the pot (visible in the middle) to compare sizes.

Greetings
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 29, 2011, 08:55:24 PM
Klein maar dapper Pieter !  8)

Better late than never !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on May 30, 2011, 10:06:41 PM
That is right Luc. It toke me two years to get these to flower but I am a happy man now. :)

Greetings
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on May 31, 2011, 03:23:45 PM
Hi everybody.
Here I've updated several portraits of Pleiones from this year http://pleione.cz/fotopleionky.html
you can see there about 60% of my collection.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on June 02, 2011, 04:26:28 PM
Hi Karel

Nice collection you have there, can't wait to see the other 40% ;D

David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on June 09, 2011, 06:17:39 PM
Thanks David. Hope I'll add the next half during the coming summer.

Your updated photogallery looks also very nice.

Here is my last spring species - P. scopulorum.

K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on June 13, 2011, 05:51:47 PM
Last one for me, a double flowering P. hookeriana. Haven't seen that one before but it was not the first double flower in my collection. While resizing the picture I noticed the aphids also had a closer look. Needless to say, it was the last thing they saw.... >:(
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jean-Patrick AGIER on June 22, 2011, 09:50:09 PM
Hello,
This is my first experience with pleione. I bought some bulbs in France and in the UK
The first pics are of pleione shantung hybrids ( UK )
the third one was sold as pleione formosana ( France ) which I think it isn't. Can anybody help in identifying this one?
Many thanks
J-P
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on June 22, 2011, 11:48:08 PM
Hi Jean-Patrick,

I would like to try to identify your last pleione but it is a rather tricky one. Is the colour really like the picture or is it more towards purple?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jean-Patrick AGIER on June 23, 2011, 09:37:09 PM
Hi Maren,
In fact this is not a good picture and the background is quite bad, and maybe the pic was taken at the end of day so the light might have changed colours. If I remember well it was purple .
Does it help you enough?
J-P
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on July 13, 2011, 01:02:34 PM
Sorry to come back so late and without a result. I was unable to identify your plant from the photo. The flower is quite lovely. Maybe next year you'll manage a sharper picture and then we will have another go. :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on August 14, 2011, 06:59:07 PM
Pleione praecox are very early this year with many already in flower now. The one below is also very scented.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on August 14, 2011, 11:04:14 PM
Hi David,
Praecox in August? :o However they look very nice - congratulation.  ;)
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on August 15, 2011, 10:43:45 PM
Wow!! Praecox indeed.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on August 17, 2011, 07:48:39 PM
Hi David,

that's extraordinary.

My P. praecox are still on their summer holidays, growing nice big green leaves and new pseudobulbs. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on August 17, 2011, 07:58:13 PM
Hi Maren

Mine are all still in full leaf and the bulbs are getting bigger than ever before but flowering at the same time. They did come in to growth very early on my windowsill, maybe the very cold weather we had late last year triggered something? Far more scented than I've noticed before as well. A welcome sight in August anyway :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 17, 2011, 10:25:37 PM
Astonishing and beautiful at the same time David !  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on August 20, 2011, 02:59:28 PM
I also have unusually early flowers - one of my praecox started at the end of July and is still in flower. I also have x lagenaria in flower and saxicola with advanced buds. I think some unusually cold nights in July may have tricked them into thinking it was already autumn. I also have a couple of very late flowers on P. kaatiae. Thus so far, I have had pleiones in flower every month of the year!

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on August 22, 2011, 07:38:41 PM
Hmmm, lucky you!!! :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on August 23, 2011, 10:32:41 PM
First praecox in flower here too, a very pale form from Thailand.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on August 25, 2011, 10:37:22 AM
Pascal my Thai praecox are only just starting to show new shoots but one definatly has a flower bud. Others which are a mixed bunch of what I believe to be Chinese and Indian are all out with some going over.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on August 31, 2011, 11:46:30 AM
First saxicola of the year in flower here.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on August 31, 2011, 04:52:02 PM
Another early one Pascal, just made August. Mine are not even showing new buds yet. Is that the true colour or is it more pink?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on August 31, 2011, 06:40:00 PM
Another early one Pascal, just made August. Mine are not even showing new buds yet. Is that the true colour or is it more pink?

More pink. I used a ringflash to better view the lip but haven't corrected the color temperature enough I think..... Here it is again without flash and a bit closer in color to the actual flower.

PS. You are not at all picky aren't you.....?! Djeeezzz...... ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on August 31, 2011, 08:27:03 PM
Just thought you may have a clone with a different colour. If I was being picky I'd have suggested removing the cobweb before taking the picture ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on August 31, 2011, 09:30:36 PM
If I was being picky I'd have suggested removing the cobweb before taking the picture ;D ;D ;D

That would be a no-go as the spiders at this time of the year are EVERYWHERE. Each time I walk into the glasshouse I get a web in my face. But in all honesty I also feed some of them with freshly caught vine weevils that seem VERY present this year..... ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: t00lie on September 10, 2011, 01:41:28 AM
Currently flowering in the garden .

Sorry i don't know it's name :-\

Cheers Dave
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: sjusovare on September 10, 2011, 08:21:34 AM
hello all
on the chapter of early / unusual behavior, my pln aurita started to grow new shoots on the new forming bulbs which are not even mature yet :S
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Peter Maguire on September 10, 2011, 10:50:11 AM
Quote
Currently flowering in the garden .

Sorry i don't know it's name Undecided

Lovely colour there Dave, I assume it's probably a hybrid, but I've given up with Plieone hybrid names beyond classifiying them as a) nice plant, and b) nice plant.  ;D

I've only ever tried P. limprichtii outside in a peat block, but they eventually dwindled away and are now lost from the garden.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on September 10, 2011, 10:55:37 AM
Currently flowering in the garden .

Sorry i don't know it's name :-\

Cheers Dave

A very nice one Dave !!!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on September 16, 2011, 10:04:19 PM
My first  is this X lagenaria. Three flower on one of the shoots. Crammed, but quite pretty.

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/lagenaria3.jpg)

Kind regards

Lars
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on September 16, 2011, 11:35:10 PM
Terrific!!! :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on September 17, 2011, 12:25:40 AM
Does anyone know a reliable commercial source for true Pleione x lagenaria? So NOT Pleione x "Confirmation".....
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on September 17, 2011, 05:19:33 PM
My first  is this X lagenaria. Three flower on one of the shoots. Crammed, but quite pretty.

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/lagenaria3.jpg)

Kind regards

Lars

"Pretty" is an understatement Lars !! 
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on September 17, 2011, 11:15:11 PM
I've never seen it offered for sale, but my best bet would be a German seller. The guy i got mine from was, like me, not really aware of the debate, and rarety of X lagenaria. Later, when i realised that it was quite rare, i checked with him and he'd had his before Confirmation was created. So i'm pretty confident that it is actually X lagenaria.

When i first began growing orchids my father gave me a book. It was probably the only book you could find in a Danish bookshop 30 years ago, a transtaled book by a German called Rusy. There were a lot of beautiful pictures in that book, including one of X lageriana and it might just be the reason that i like it as the image stuck.  The flower is much more beutiful i real life. Looking akc it is strange that he used just that picture to illustrate Pleione.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on October 02, 2011, 02:50:40 PM
Nice x lagenaria Lars. I'll have mine in flower in several weeks  ;)
However, last week I've started this autumn flowering season with P. praecox .
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on October 02, 2011, 06:53:54 PM
Beautiful. i'm already looking forward to praecox, but the earliest one is still at least a week away. Fortunately i still have X lagenaria and saxicola to look at.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on October 09, 2011, 04:40:26 PM
Persistance has finally paid off. I have finally managed to get a Pleione maculata to flower.
It was certainly worth the wait particularly at this time of year.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on October 09, 2011, 04:45:47 PM
That's a pleione I really like... so distinctive.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sarmienta on October 09, 2011, 05:40:16 PM
Nice work Graham.......... mine did not flower this year :(

Wim ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on October 09, 2011, 05:41:38 PM
A couple from me: P. maculata, P. X lagenaria and a group picture showing how I grow them on a heated propagator tray. P. praecox in bud but a few weeks off, strange reversal in flowering times.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on October 10, 2011, 09:42:51 AM
I notice that most of the P. maculata and P. praecox flower while the leaves are still there. I recall that they normally flower after the leaves have shed..at least mine do. Can anyone comment on this?

BTW, very beautiful pictures this autumn! :)

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on October 10, 2011, 11:12:38 AM
Beautiful pictures, Graham and Alex. Seeing the pictures I look forward to maculata flowering.

My praecox has lost the leaves as it usually do before flowering. My maculatas still have their leaves, but are not as close to flowering as praecox. I suddenly can't remember if they have flowered without leaves every time, but i think they have. x lagenaria usually drop the leaves while flowering, adding to the display as the leaves turns red.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 10, 2011, 11:21:17 AM
Persistance has finally paid off. I have finally managed to get a Pleione maculata to flower.
It was certainly worth the wait particularly at this time of year.



Well done Graham and Alex !!  Excellent flowers !

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Slug Killer on October 10, 2011, 12:14:15 PM
I notice that most of the P. maculata and P. praecox flower while the leaves are still there. I recall that they normally flower after the leaves have shed..at least mine do. Can anyone comment on this?

BTW, very beautiful pictures this autumn! :)

Hans

They can flower before or after leaves have dropped but nine times out of ten it's after (with me at least). I think there were a couple of colder than normal nights during the summer which triggered them off. Only happened with my Chinese praecox though and not my Thai praecox.

Thai praecox

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 10, 2011, 06:29:37 PM
Wonderful praecox David !!!  Superb !  :o :o
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on October 10, 2011, 09:58:24 PM
David, I agree with Luc, they are really wonderful 8)
Graham
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on October 11, 2011, 10:55:33 AM
I notice that most of the P. maculata and P. praecox flower while the leaves are still there. I recall that they normally flower after the leaves have shed..at least mine do. Can anyone comment on this?

BTW, very beautiful pictures this autumn! :)

Hans

They can flower before or after leaves have dropped but nine times out of ten it's after (with me at least). I think there were a couple of colder than normal nights during the summer which triggered them off. Only happened with my Chinese praecox though and not my Thai praecox.

Thai praecox



David, that makes sense. My praecox started budding when still in leaf, which is ealier than normal. We had a very cold (and wet >:()summer here with temperatures dropping to 7C during July and August.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on October 11, 2011, 12:53:56 PM
David, that makes sense. My praecox started budding when still in leaf, which is ealier than normal. We had a very cold (and wet >:()summer here with temperatures dropping to 7C during July and August.

I guess, that is the problem of all us this year. I had the same conditions during the summer and now my praecoxes are flowering with leaves as well. They haven't done so far.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Alex on October 16, 2011, 11:35:03 PM
A bit more developed - P. maculata and P X lagenaria.

Alex
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on October 26, 2011, 07:53:29 PM
Here is my first flowering of Pleione Slender Loris, a new hybrid made by Paul Cumbleton.

The pseudobulb was phantastic. I think it likes me. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on October 26, 2011, 08:15:24 PM
Really nice Maren. I hope it will like me just as much  :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 26, 2011, 08:48:37 PM
Really.. really nice Maren !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: monocotman on October 27, 2011, 09:42:59 AM
Maren, that is just stunning!
David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: erf on October 29, 2011, 02:33:37 PM
Maren, thats a real good looking flower. Very beautiful.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on October 30, 2011, 06:25:44 PM
Two flowers opened today at my Pln. praecox. And it still has two buds developing. Last year it had only two flowers.

(http://www.ulrichbangert.de/tmp/2011-10_Pleione_praecox.jpg)
Title: pleione growth in 2011
Post by: monocotman on October 31, 2011, 06:41:55 PM
hi,
just to change tack- I was wondering whether anyone else feels that the wierd weather in 2011 has resulted in an excellent year for pleione growth?
Some years I struggle with them.
But this year the plants got away to an early start with the warm spring, had a long cool summers growth with little stress and a nice sunny autumn for ripening and finishing off the bulbs.
I've certainly got the biggest bulbils I've ever had this year, if not the biggest bulbs.
Overall it is the best I've known.
Comments?
David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on October 31, 2011, 07:17:46 PM
David,

the bulbs in this pot look great! And I was worrying about some of my bulbs being too compressed within their pots...  ;D

Most varieties of Pleione had a good year here too but some (Mawenzi, yunnanensis, Barcena, Tarawera, Sangay) unfortunately stayed very tiny.

Thomas
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on October 31, 2011, 07:31:37 PM
Hi,

agree, a very good year and nice big pseudobulbs. My biggest are Barcena, Tongariro and formosana. The Tongariro made the biggest bulbils I've ever seen on a pleione, I'll try to show a picture tomorrow. I am now convinced that pleiones grow best in bowls. They do like company and the bowls seems to make water available to all plants within, even if the watering is a bit uneven. I have also grown them in deep seedtrays, but the results were nowhere near as good as with bowls.

On the minus side, I lost a whole row of pleiones that were placed next to the vents. Clearly the ventilation dried them out and I didn't notice it because the foliage of the the plants in front was so tall. Must re-arrange next year.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 31, 2011, 08:42:03 PM
I agree folks : it was an excellent Pleione year here as well - good multiplication and excellent sized bulbs !  I'm a happy chappy !  ;D
I flowering next spring is up to the same standards, we should all have a ball !!  ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: monocotman on October 31, 2011, 08:59:15 PM
Maren,
I've come to the same conclusion about growth in bowls.
All my bulbs will go into clay pans next year.
Those in small plastic pots did nowhere near as well as those in pans.
It may be due to the more even water supply from a larger pot or the need to grow in a group like Ian's fritsseem to.
I don't really know or care - they just do better so I'll move what I can.
I have some bulbils from Britannia 'Doreen' that are twice the size of those of Piton shown in the photos. Just huge. Some could flower after just one more years growth.
Thomas - I don't worry too much about new bulbs being overcrowded - they find their own space as they grow. They just end up a bit mis-shapen.
David
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on October 31, 2011, 09:33:09 PM
I can only agree with you all.
I can't believe the size of some of mine and the amount of additional ones is amazing. Photos tomorrow. P. pleionoides and 'Fuego' have done especially well.

Mine are all in clay pans and all have been outside since the threat of frost was over. No feeding this year either. Several not looking like going dormant yet.

Graham
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on November 01, 2011, 07:42:07 PM
These photos are of P. 'Fuego' bulbs that I decanted at the weekend.
Don't know if they are what some may call normal sized for 'Fuego' but they are undoubtedly the largest I have ever had.
The increase in bulbs has also amazed me. It took me ages to sort this lot.
Now they just need packing and into the fridge they go.

Photos
The parents in flower in May in a 30cm clay bowl.
The resulting produce.
Size comparison.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on November 01, 2011, 07:47:25 PM
Isn't it rewarding to have a nice harvest like that? you have done very well, and the pseudobulbs look very healthy. :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on November 05, 2011, 02:51:45 PM
Hi everybody.
Maren, Alex, Sempervivum - very nice flowers.
Graham, really good harvest ;)
I add P. x lagenaria.
More of my just flowering plants you can see on my websites.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on November 05, 2011, 03:40:12 PM
Hi Karel,
Very nice P. x lagenaria. One of the remaining few species/natural hybrids on my wish list. I bought P. 'Confirmation' as a consolation as the true x lagenaria never seems to be on the market.

I like your Home page on your web-site but for some reason can't get into any of the other pages. The only tabs that work are the 'forum' and the 'contact' ones.

Graham
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on November 05, 2011, 05:25:53 PM
I bought P. 'Confirmation' as a consolation as the true x lagenaria never seems to be on the market.

The question is, how to tell the difference.... I know at least one nursery that sells P. x "Confirmation"  as P. x lagenaria because "the parents are the same".... Thusfar I have not found a single source that has a traceable line directly to the wild of this natural hybrid. I made an earlier post about the natural Pleione hybrids for reliable sources and none came up..... Pleione praecox occurs in NE India, China and Thailand. P. maculata the same. 3 possible origins of both parents makes 9 different outcomes for an artificial hybrid...., but only the wild hybrids resulting from the same regions can officially be called P. x lagenaria. For some people the natural hybrid and the man made hybrid are the same but taxonomically they definitely are not.

Edit: Maren posted some pictures of what Ian Butterfield grows under the names P. x lagenaria and P. x "Confirmation" here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5994.15

At least for the "Confirmation" I know Ian has the right one as he got plants directly from the widow of Jan Berg (who made the hybrid). Maren, do you know if Ian's x lagenaria has a documented wild origin?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on November 05, 2011, 09:37:00 PM
Quote
Maren, do you know if Ian's x lagenaria has a documented wild origin?

That's like looking for raindrops in the sand. But I'll ask him tomorrow.

I was going to see him anyway about a plant I bought from Wubben Orchids in Holland. This came from Jan Berg. It was labelled P x lagenaria, but knowing that Jan Berg made the cross, I guess its Confirmation.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on November 05, 2011, 09:48:04 PM
Quote
Maren, do you know if Ian's x lagenaria has a documented wild origin?

That's like looking for raindrops in the sand. But I'll ask him tomorrow.

I was going to see him anyway about a plant I bought from Wubben Orchids in Holland. This came from Jan Berg. It was labelled P x lagenaria, but knowing that Jan Berg made the cross, I guess its Confirmation.

To me it's all the same, I just like the cross. I daresay a genuine P x lagenaria would probably be worth a bit more money, but it's unlikely that anyone could prove or disprove its authenticity.  :) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on November 05, 2011, 09:55:55 PM
Maren, I know..., it was a long shot but I was hoping you could ask (sneaky I admit....)

Regarding the Wubben plant, no need to consult Ian because I was talking about that nursery in my earlier reply. I have had a rather "energetic" discussion about that name while I was there but the owner is a bit stubborn.... In his online pricelist he already notes P. x lagenaria = Conformation (so "Confirmation" mispelled). The plant you bought is pedigree P. x "Confirmation", not the wild hybrid. The owner of Wubben Orchids and the Berg family know each other very well. Unfortunately I don't know what the name "Confirmation" was applied to, a grex? Or a single clone/selection? And where the parents came from or how uniform the original cross was. I know for certain that the widow of Jan Berg send several P. x "Confirmation" to Ian because she told me herself.

Regarding genuine x lagenaria, I am just curious to know its history and introduction and would like to know if it actually is in cultivation or that people make a wild guess. And if introduced, what it exactly looks like. Sometimes in history plants are labeled with a specific name and then suddenly the real things pops up and is different (in this case I can't imagine much different). Lagenaria was originally described from Assam and I know the praecox from Assam are dark pink so I would expect any lagenaria from that area to have dark pink petals if the original introduction was done by the British shortly after its discovery. But because the natural hybrid can occur at any location where both parents grow side by side, a Chinese x lagenaria might look different to a Thai x lagenaria. So it is just curiosity, I am not really that keen on it to be honest.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on November 06, 2011, 05:52:52 PM
Searching the RHS Orchid registration database shows that Jan Berg registered the name Confirmation as a grex name on 29 September 2003. The name therefore applies to the whole grex. He used maculata as the seed parent and praecox as the pollen parent. We know that he named at least one selection from the grex as the cultivar 'Tanned Beauty' which is a fabulous plant.

I think some nurserymen would use the name lagenaria rather than Confirmation simply because they know they are more likely to sell them that way. Either that, or they do not understand or care about the rules for nomenclature.

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on November 06, 2011, 06:13:41 PM
Thanx Paul. Maybe I can find out which country the parents of Confirmation came from but I guess Maren is right, if a seller (whether nursery or grower on E-bay) can't show a clear link to wild origin  it is terribly difficult to know which is which. Which basically means most of the wild hybrids on offer can't be trusted to be true, with the exception of perhaps most P. x barbarae..... For some it doesn't matter as long as it looks good but those that do care (like me) are at a loss here. Saves me money though.... ;D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on November 06, 2011, 06:38:46 PM
I hope to have some flowers on this Pleione praecox within a few days . This pictures was from previous weekend and this weekend the buds already are much bigger.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on November 06, 2011, 10:25:07 PM
Pleione Praecox has opened. It's fragrant:

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/Pleionepraecox1a.jpg)

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/Pleionepraecox2a.jpg)

And Pleione Barcena:

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/PleioneBarcena1-1.jpg)

Pleione Sangay's flower is a little dull

(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/larsdane/pleione/PleioneSangay1-1.jpg)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on November 07, 2011, 08:00:56 AM
Lars, lovely show. Such a good idea to hang up the Barcena, it displays them to their advantage. The Sangay has a nice flower, but I understand your comment.

Mine are a little behind but I don't mind, more for later when there is nothing else to look at. :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on November 08, 2011, 11:46:18 AM
Lars, that is the stunning band of autumn flowering plants. My maculatas and hybrids just develop the buds.
I add my P. Confirmations from Wubben nursery.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on November 09, 2011, 10:49:13 PM
Beautiful Confirmation, Karel. There should be more maculata in the breeding of autumn flowering hybrids.

I love to have my plants hanging, both to get more space, but also to display them better.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on November 10, 2011, 12:58:46 PM
Hi Lars,
It would indeed be nice to see maculata expressed more in hybrids. The problem is that it seems very reluctant to hybridize with other Pleiones. I wonder if it is a bit more genetically different than other Pleione?? I have tried well over 100 times to make crosses with it, but only 2 of these have been successful (maculata x grandiflora = Pleione Gelada and Piton x maculata = Pleione Marmoset).

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on November 10, 2011, 05:44:43 PM
Hi Paul.
May I ask you how were the result of your unsuccessful attempts to cross P. maculata? They didn't develop seedpods or yes but with chaffs only?
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on November 10, 2011, 06:23:33 PM
Pleione praecox 'Berggarten' (named after a botanical garden in Hannover) is flowering here.  :D
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on November 11, 2011, 10:52:20 AM
Hi Paul,

No wonder i haven't succeeded with my few attempts to use maculata :) I'll keep a lookout for the two. I haven't been able to find a picture of P. Marmoset. Can you post one?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on November 11, 2011, 02:44:21 PM
The RHS lists just a few Pleione crosses with Pln. maculata as a parent. There are:

Pln. x lagenaria (Confirmation) = Pln. praecox x Pln. maculata
Pln. Riah Shan = Pln. bulbocodioides x Pln. maculata
Pln. Gelada = Pln. grandiflora x Pln. maculata
Pln. Marmoset = Pln. Piton x Pln. maculata

Pln. x lagenaria was further used as a parent to cross

Lassen Peak = Pln. x lagenaria x Pln. praecox
and
Liz Shan = Pln. x lagenaria x Pln. maculata

The cross of Lassen Peak with Hekla is Pln. Wharfedale. I never read about further crosses with any influence of Pln. maculata.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: ThomasB on November 11, 2011, 04:14:51 PM
Some thoughts about maculata crosses.
Maybe crosses with Pln. x lagenaria or Liz Shan could be more successful to produce some offspring with maculata blood in them? Pleione praecox seems to be way easier to grow than maculata and already produced a number of crosses. A hybrid with praecox genes in it might help to pass also some maculata genes to the offspring.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on November 11, 2011, 07:24:35 PM
You are right Thomas. I have in flasks and just after deflasking several my own crosses with P. x lagenaria and P. Confirmation as pollen parents. Unfortunately, P. x lagenaria as seed parent always was unsuccessful  :(.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on November 11, 2011, 10:56:29 PM
Hi,
I finally managed to have a chat with Ian Butterfield about his Pleione x lagenaria. Apparently, he has had his for 30 years, long before anyone attempted an artificial cross. He does not wish to divulge the source but goes as far as to say that it was given to him by a foreign botanical institution. He has since made the cross himself, which, of course, is called Confirmation. Apparently, the true P. x lagenaria is rather a poor grower. He does not sell them.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pascal B on November 12, 2011, 08:57:40 AM
Hi Maren, thanx for asking. Good news to hear at least some genuine material is in cultivation. Too bad the material is not for sale because the material is important but the difference in growth might be an indication the artificial Jan Berg hybrid is not exactly the same. Exact source of course is not necessary but it would have been interesting to know if it is Thai, Chinese or Indian.

Your remark about the remake of the cross is strictly speaking not always true, the rules regarding this are rather complicated. If the cross is exactly the same (same parents, same pollen donor, same outcome) than yes, the remake name is the same as the original grexname. If the resulting offspring is different, something that can always happen, even with the exact same parent plants as the original hybrid(!), the remake usually is denoted as a group within the old grex name with the letters "Gp" in front of them. As P. x Confirmation is a primary hybrid between 2 species in all likeliness the offspring should be reasonably uniform but I just wanted to mention it is not self-evident a remake has the same grex name.

For instance, with the more complicated secondary hybrids the results are often far less uniform and thus the group names within the original grex name should be applied after a remake. And if the used grex is from a secondary hybrid and rather variable, the selected cultivars used in the hybrid also become important. Remake of "grex A x grex B" therefore does not always have the same name as the original hybrid. Different selections within the grex for parents could mean the remake gets a new grex name.... Headache stuff....

The RHS as registrating agency for Pleione hybrids will closely monitor all the new hybrids and filter out similar parentage and apply these rules but those interested in growing hybrids should be carefull if a hybrid is on the market that is not registered. Too often individuals hybridize whatever they can, sow them with the DIY sets, name them en sell them as something new without registering, it could be it is something already done.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on November 12, 2011, 06:32:01 PM
Stil wait on my Pleione praecox to open his buds ...
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: karel_t on November 14, 2011, 08:02:41 PM
A few of my P. maculata are in flower.
K.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jan Methorst on November 16, 2011, 12:05:45 PM
And here some  P. maculata from Cornwall


Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on November 16, 2011, 12:19:29 PM
All these pleione are looking good - thanks for sharing Folks!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jan Methorst on November 25, 2011, 09:27:35 PM
Some more to cheer up these dark days
P. Wharfdale 'Pine Warbler' from Ian and P. Barcena from Maren
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jan Methorst on November 25, 2011, 09:31:20 PM
something went wrong, here is the 'Pine Warbler'
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on November 30, 2011, 02:45:23 PM
Now flowering. Three different clones of P. praecox
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 30, 2011, 04:59:24 PM
Beautiful flowers Hans !
Pic 3 looks quite special to me !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Neil on November 30, 2011, 07:19:47 PM
Just a quick question, is Pleione limprichtii the one that is hardy down to -20C in the wild?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 01, 2011, 07:57:13 AM
Just a quick question, is Pleione limprichtii the one that is hardy down to -20C in the wild?

Hi Neil,
From 'The Genus Pleione' by Philip Cribb and Ian Butterfield the answer to your question is yes. 'In its natural habitat, the winters can be severe and the pseudobulbs may be covered by snow for periods....... In DRY conditions Johnson reports that mature pseudobulbs can survive -20C'
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 01, 2011, 04:50:13 PM
In my opinion, P. limprichtii definitely is the best Pleione for outside !!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Neil on December 01, 2011, 06:23:11 PM
Thank you, does anyone know a source for this one?  Luc it will be going outside, into a crevice bed that is being built.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Michael J Campbell on December 01, 2011, 07:10:02 PM
  Gerd Stoop is selling them for €1 each.
   
GERD STOPP
Address :
Shakespearestr. 10 09127 Chemnitz  -GERMANY
Phone :
+49 (371) 77 20 07
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 01, 2011, 07:10:58 PM
Thank you, does anyone know a source for this one?  Luc it will be going outside, into a crevice bed that is being built.

Hi Neil,
I have had a lot of good - no! excellent -  quality pleiones from http://www.koolplants.co.uk/ and there are limprichtii listed.

Although my limprichtii came from this ebay seller who has for several years been selling them in these quantities. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-5-pleione-limprichtii-orchid-bulbs-flowering-size-/170731114314?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item27c05e0f4a

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: arisaema on December 01, 2011, 07:35:20 PM
Although my limprichtii came from this ebay seller who has for several years been selling them in these quantities. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-5-pleione-limprichtii-orchid-bulbs-flowering-size-/170731114314?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item27c05e0f4a

So did mine, a lovely little clone, trying it outside for the first time this winter. P. bulbocodioides and the newly described species given the invalid name of P. bilamellata should also be fairly hardy, the latter should tolerate winter wet as well.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 01, 2011, 07:50:28 PM
Although my limprichtii came from this ebay seller who has for several years been selling them in these quantities. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-5-pleione-limprichtii-orchid-bulbs-flowering-size-/170731114314?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item27c05e0f4a

So did mine, a lovely little clone, trying it outside for the first time this winter. P. bulbocodioides and the newly described species given the invalid name of P. bilamellata should also be fairly hardy, the latter should tolerate winter wet as well.

I had bulbocodiodes outside for several years (before I knew what I was supposed to do ???). I used to cover it with a thick layer of dried fern leaves and crocosmia leaves to try to keep it warm and dry. It did well! Then I read that they were supposed to be lifted and dried so I started to do that and have been unable to reestablish them. Theres something to be said for blind ignorance ;). Not sure if they would have survived the last two winters though.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 01, 2011, 11:59:06 PM
If you can get some from the above email address, I suggest you go for it. The price is much better than anybody else's, including mine. I have a few P. limprichtii, not many hence not listed in my catalogue. If you're interested, send me a PM. :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 02, 2011, 08:18:04 AM
Yesterday I have received some bulbils of Plei. saxicola ...so I would like to ask some questions to the specialists here :

Should I water it now ? ( so far I know is this a autumn flowering species )

Where should I store it ? ( I could place it in my greenhouse with a minimum of 5° - there are also my other Pleiones - or is it better here on a window sill - maybe 20° )

Thank you in advance for your answers
Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on December 02, 2011, 08:29:54 AM
Both the Torelli and the Cribb/Butterfield books state that all P. limprichtii's come from a few clones collected long ago. I wonder if that is still the case???? Can anyone comment on it?

For me, limprichtii is not one of the easiest species in pot culture :-[ But I have some plants from Rob Potterton and they are very good and not too expensive. I never ordered limprichtii from KoolPlants, but anything else I ordered from David was of excellent quality.

While P. limprichtii is not a very "exclusive" species, it is one of my favorites. Those pictured in the post of Arisaema are beautiful!!!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Neil on December 02, 2011, 11:39:21 AM
Thanks for all you replies
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 02, 2011, 08:10:53 PM
Both the Torelli and the Cribb/Butterfield books state that all P. limprichtii's come from a few clones collected long ago. I wonder if that is still the case???? Can anyone comment on it?

For me, limprichtii is not one of the easiest species in pot culture :-[ But I have some plants from Rob Potterton and they are very good and not too expensive. I never ordered limprichtii from KoolPlants, but anything else I ordered from David was of excellent quality.

While P. limprichtii is not a very "exclusive" species, it is one of my favorites. Those pictured in the post of Arisaema are beautiful!!!

P. limprichtii is also one of my favourites. I find it quite easy and it seems to require little attention. I suspect most people will know that this species P. bulbocodioides, and P. yunnanensis should be buried in the compost, and not grown near the surface.

Photo of mine from this year which is the third year in this pan without being disturbed. I have taken them out now to replenish the compost for next year.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 02, 2011, 08:26:42 PM
Nice pot Graham !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 02, 2011, 08:32:38 PM
Nice pot Graham !

Thanks Luc
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: kuni99 on December 02, 2011, 08:46:45 PM
I'm growing Gerd Stopp's P. limprichtii clone. It is shown in the first picture. This is one of the clones that have been cultivated for a while. Recently new collections from Burma have been introduced as long stem variety. These are very different being much larger than the old P. limprichtii clones. The second picture shows left a bulb of Gerd Stopp's clone and on the right side a bulb from Jan Moors' P. limprichtii 'Long Stem' variety. The flower stem of the latter exceeds 25 cm and the leaf was 48 cm long! The flower of the long stem variety is also very pretty.

Kai
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 02, 2011, 08:53:44 PM
Yesterday I have received some bulbils of Plei. saxicola ...so I would like to ask some questions to the specialists here :

Should I water it now ? ( so far I know is this a autumn flowering species )

Where should I store it ? ( I could place it in my greenhouse with a minimum of 5° - there are also my other Pleiones - or is it better here on a window sill - maybe 20° )

Thank you in advance for your answers
Hans

Can I ask again for a answer please ???

Thank you
Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on December 02, 2011, 09:05:30 PM
I would like to join in the question of Hans. I'm always unsure if I should keep the autumn flowering (and the winter flowering) ones dry during winter or not. One source says they should be kept moderately moist in order to keep the roots alive. On the other hand in an article in a german orchid magazine the authors recommend to keep them completely dry. Which advice is true?
Regards - Ulrich
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 02, 2011, 09:13:56 PM
The only Winter flowering Pleione I grow is P. Wharfdale "Pine Warbler" and I keep it VERY moderately moist - just watering very sparsely every 3 to 4 weeks.

I think P. saxicola will benifit from being kept a little warmer than 5°C Hans, but as I said, I have no experience with it - a lot of other people here do !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 02, 2011, 09:39:29 PM
Thank you Ulrich and Luc !

OK- I think I will put the pot inside and give them a little water ....the bulbils are not very big so they shure benefit from a little water .

A general question :
Do you water your Pleiones after repotting ....or is it better to keep it totally dry until February / March ?

I have not so long expierience with growing Pleiones ...and I will not loose it !

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on December 02, 2011, 10:00:12 PM
Yesterday I have received some bulbils of Plei. saxicola ...so I would like to ask some questions to the specialists here :

Should I water it now ? ( so far I know is this a autumn flowering species )

Where should I store it ? ( I could place it in my greenhouse with a minimum of 5° - there are also my other Pleiones - or is it better here on a window sill - maybe 20° )

Thank you in advance for your answers
Hans

I keep mine slightly damp and grow them with my cooldgrowing orchids down to 8°. They seems to be growwing well uder these conditions. I don't thjink you shoulod go for the windowsill. 20° will be too high a temperature.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 02, 2011, 10:03:33 PM
Thank you Ulrich and Luc !

OK- I think I will put the pot inside and give them a little water ....the bulbils are not very big so they shure benefit from a little water .

A general question :
Do you water your Pleiones after repotting ....or is it better to keep it totally dry until February / March ?

I have not so long expierience with growing Pleiones ...and I will not loose it !

Hans

No watering here until late february/ early March when roots are starting to grow Hans !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 02, 2011, 10:12:53 PM
Thank you Lars for telling me your expierience - OK- I will let it in my greenhouse !

Thank you Luc ...OK...dry for all the others !

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 03, 2011, 12:31:05 AM
Question: What is the collective noun for a nice bunch of Pleione praecox? Answer: A "Delight".
P. Tsingtau still doing its stuff.
And P. praecox v. reichenbachiana (maybe ???) still good after one month in flower.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 03, 2011, 07:58:30 AM
Answer: A "Delight".

Couldn't agree more Maren !  Superb !
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 03, 2011, 10:51:43 AM
Very nice Maren. A delight indeed!
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 03, 2011, 11:07:27 AM
Thank you Luc and Graham.

Sorry I didn't reply to the saxicola question. I have never grown it and would not like to offer advice based on zero experience.

Regarding the watering of autumn flowering pleiones, I agree, they should not be bone dry because new roots form in the autumn and they want a little moisture. It is sometimes difficult to see the new roots when you knock the plant out of its pot after flowering. Usually there is a thick and dense rootball, the roots are dirty/white in colour, quite stiff and curly and look as if they are still alive. If you are brave enough to pull this apart, you can often see new white roots appearing out of the bottom of the pseudobulb.

I'm in two minds about whether to cut off the old roots or not. Where I have just dropped the plants on into larger containers together with their old rootballs, they seemed to have made larger replacement bulbs. Maybe there is life left in the old roots. They shrivel and die during the summer and a new dense rootball develops. Have other people had similar experiences?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 03, 2011, 11:25:14 AM
Hello Maren ,

thank you for your information .

The bulbs of my P.saxicola had more or less no roots so I have thought they need a little moisture ...it seems it was the right idea.
I have just looked in my greenhouse - the temperatur is near this pot 10 ° ...so I think this is fine .

Do you have all your autumn/ winter flowering plants inside your home ( on a windowsill ) ?
They look all fantastic- my compliments !!!

I have to confess it is very danger to read all this topics about Pleiones and look this pics ....a infection can happens very quick !!!

Before some years I have received from a very nice lady from England some bulbs of Pleione 'Rakata' together with some growing informations ....they are still alive and flowers each spring.
With help of the great informatons from Paul Cumbleton understand I now a bit more of this wonderful plants

Many thanks to all
Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on December 03, 2011, 12:50:14 PM
Hans, I keep maculata and praecox warmer than most advises in books/websites. Until flowering in my living room 15-18C and after in my sleeping room 10-15C. Maculata is very late so maybe i kept it too warm ??? Only now they start to shed their leaves and the (flowering) busd ar visible...

Maren, your cf reichenbachiana is beautiful! Mine is quite a bit like yours and very long lasting too. Very fragrant flowers too.
I wonder if some experts (f.i. Paul C.?) could comment on the 'reichenbachiana' status of our plants? They look quite different from the regular praecox. It has only three callus ridges below and two more higher up the throat....

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 03, 2011, 01:14:59 PM
Thank you Hans for your informations !

It seems I'm not the only person who hold plants in his living / sleeping room  ::) ::) ::)

Good to know ....if I one day have P.maculata + praecox  :-\

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on December 03, 2011, 03:36:37 PM
Hi Hans,
The "reichenbachiana" type of praecox have a white lip with purple spots and no yellow marks, and have 3 callus ridges. I show a picture below. Pleione praecox is a quite variable species across its large range and intermediates are known between the "normal" types through to the "reichenbachiana" types through to the alba forms. (Maren's lovely form is just one such variant. ). This is why most botanists treat them all as simply Pleione praecox (so Pleione reichenbachiana is a synonym of P. praecox).

Paul

Below: Pleione praecox "reichenbachiana" form:
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 03, 2011, 03:55:42 PM
Hi Paul,
thanks for clearing that up. I was wondering when I discussed one of Ian B.'s plants with him, which looked very similar to mine and he told me it was 'just' a Pleione praecox. There is a bit of history why I ended up with the name "P. praecox v. reichenbachiana" for my plant:

1. I bought it from a German supplier as Pleione reichenbachiana at an exorbitant price, so I thought it must be the real thing.
2. I showed it to Ian and he had his doubts, so I downgraded the label to P. praecox v. reichenbachiana.
3. I then showed it to Phil Cribb, and he said that was OK, but maybe he was in a hurry and it was a bit dark.

Following your explanation, I shall go and change the label to P. praecox "Spotty". Then I know not to put it together in a bowl with the normal unspotted P. praecox.

If at any stage you have some or just one spare of your v. reichenbachiana, I would love to have it. :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Hans J on December 03, 2011, 04:57:55 PM
After some reading about fighting against Brevipalpus I have found that Bifenthrin is not longer aviable here in Germany ...
Neem oil is not a probem ...and as horticultual Spray I have Promanal ...

What use other german Pleione growers ?

Any suggstions ?

Thank you
Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on December 04, 2011, 10:00:04 AM
Paul, thanks for the explanation. I wonder what the taxonomic status of "reichenbachana" would be if there would be no intermediate forms. One would possibly raise it to the subspecies level, possible higher? But given the clinal pattern that's impossible.

I am second in line after Maren if you happen to have some spare material of your very nice "reichenbachiana"! :)

Hans
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Paul Cumbleton on December 04, 2011, 01:27:25 PM
Hi Maren & Hans,
Sadly I won't be able to share the reichenbachiana anytime soon. I have just 2 bulbs of this - and it has taken 4 years to go from the original one bulb to the current two. I find this with all my forms of praecox - they multply very slowly. The best I have ever done is for one bulb to go to 5 bulbs - but it took 10 years to do this. Is this everyone else's experience, or are my praecox simply not growing very well?? I don't have the same problem with maculata which multiplies moderately well.

Paul
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 04, 2011, 09:35:43 PM
Hi Paul,

that's not my experience at all. My ordinary ones grow like the proverbial clappers. They're in my office in the winter, which is heated to just 5 degrees C, although the sun heats it up a bit more when it shines. And they go out in the garden in summer, where I tend to forget them. I grow them in bowls where they double and treble every year. They don't seem to like it in a pot on their own, nor do they make a lot of progress in seed trays; I don't know why. Bowls is the answer for me. ;D ;D ;D

I have to admit that the 'spotty' ones are much slower.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: JPB on December 05, 2011, 10:30:33 AM
Paul, all my praecox clones are multiplying steadily. This year most pseudobulbs have two new shoots and some even three! Last year mostly they had one (and some two) shoots and I can't explain why it differs from year to year. I see the same in maculata, last year most bulbs had only one new shoot. This year all my three clones have at least two new ones and some even three of four! The same for P. saxicola...I don't see this yearly differences in my other (spring-blooming) Pleiones...go figure ???

Hans

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Tomas on December 05, 2011, 07:28:08 PM
And here some  P. maculata from Cornwall
And here some more Pln. maculata from Czech Republic ;).
T.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 05, 2011, 11:20:08 PM
Tomas, well done. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on December 06, 2011, 12:11:32 PM
Really beautiful pictures, Tomas.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maggi Young on December 06, 2011, 07:43:25 PM
« Reply #370 on: November 14, 2011, 08:02:41 PM » Karel T

« Reply #371 on: November 16, 2011, 12:05:45 PM » Jan Methorst

« Reply #414 on: December 05, 2011, 07:28:08 PM » Tomas

 All these P. maculata photos are quite delightful! Thank you for sharing  8)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Tomas on December 06, 2011, 08:12:55 PM
Maren, Lars, Maggi - thank you... :)
T.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Pieter on December 14, 2011, 09:11:21 PM
Hello all

It is wonderfull to see al these Pleione in bloom. It is a real treat in these days with few light and stormy weather. Good job to you all.
I am very pleased with my first flower on Pleione Warfedale 'Pine Warbler'. I do find that the petals are more slender than with ohters that I have seen.

Greetings

Pieter
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: erf on December 15, 2011, 04:51:24 PM
Pleione Wharfedale is so much Christmas. Even my vife enjoy the Christmas colors, and she is not an orchid lover.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 26, 2011, 04:47:07 PM
That's very nice.
Mine are nearly over, but the Barcena bonanza continues.

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Sempervivum on December 26, 2011, 05:26:22 PM
Hallo Maren,
nice clone of Barcena that you are showing. Mine unfortunately didn't open completely in this season:
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 26, 2011, 06:17:07 PM
Ulrich,

give it time, they may open yet.
Maybe you need some different clones. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: erf on December 27, 2011, 04:47:06 PM
Happy New Year to all of you.
Very nice clone of P Barcena you got there Maren
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: SteveC2 on December 27, 2011, 04:58:04 PM
I also find P. Barcena a little problematical.  My one clone grows well and has bulked up well, but flowering is hit and miss.  In appearance this clone is much like its praecox parent, but the flowers do not open very far and often go brown before opening.  Too cold I suspect (4/5 degrees minimum) .  Next year I think that the bulbs will find themselves in a better class of accommodation when it goes cold, that is in the house!
Any thoughts?
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 27, 2011, 05:23:53 PM
Hi SteveC2,

mine grow in the conditions you describe (4/5 degrees C minimum). I must admit I never paid much attention to them as they didn't flower much. So this year I put them out in the garden during the summer, just a semi shaded place with very little attention. This year they flowered like there's no tomorrow. Do they know something that I don't know?

I have several clones, and some of them just grow bulbs and leaves and more bulbs. Maybe they have to reach a certain age before they are at their best - just like me - oops, that was a lovely glass of wine. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 30, 2011, 12:14:18 PM
The day after, here are my last pleiones to see out the old year:

Pln Sangay
Pln Tarawera
Pln Tsingtau

Champagne tomorrow. ;) ;) ;)
Title: Pleione
Post by: jon on December 30, 2011, 03:57:06 PM
Simple question, what is the best way to store these bulbs ?
All I know is that they should be dry and cold, but how should they be stored individually,
in paper bags or poly, should the bags have holes in and are they then kept in an airtight
tin or plastic container,  which system do you use.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Graham Catlow on December 30, 2011, 04:37:49 PM
Hi Jon,
I think you will find there are many ways people store their pleione's during dormancy. In simple terms - dry and cold but above freezing.

Here is a link to a thread in the forum which shows what I mean by many ways.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6607.0

Hope this helps.
Graham
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 30, 2011, 06:13:07 PM
Hi Jon,

it all depends on where you are (hint - please put your approximate whereabouts on your signature, it helps us help you).

Let me tell you what I do:

1) I take the pleione pseudobulbs out of their pots after all the leaves have dropped off.
2) All compost is removed and the roots trimmed to about 2cm.
3) The bulbs are laid in seedtrays on a bed of newpaper (2 sheets).
4) They get sprayed with spraying oil (neem or similar) until quite wet. This protects them from pest attack during dormancy.
5) Then they go onto shelves in my office, which is heated to 4/5 degrees C. There I shuffle and turn them daily to ensure they are evenly covered and able to dry.
6) The humidity rises quite steeply during this time, especially if it is cold. I keep a de-humidifier on the go in the early stages to remove excess water from the atmosphere.      This is a temporary measure and after Christmas I stop the humidifier so that the bulbs don't dry out too much.
7) I start potting up in the second week of January into compost that is just moist i.e. not powder dry. This is maintained until the plants have flowered and start growing.       Then watering is increased and feeding starts.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: erf on December 30, 2011, 07:44:55 PM
Hello
Maren, your P Tsingtau is real nice. Any chance you have some to spare.
Kind regards
Erling
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Jan Methorst on December 30, 2011, 08:53:11 PM
Hello

I have bought several P barcena from Maren and they all flowered brilliantly.
They are now making leaves and some are showing a second flower.
jan
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on December 30, 2011, 11:25:29 PM
Jan,
I'm glad the P. Barcena are doing well for you, too. I was quite surprised at their performance this year. I haven't done anything special to them but all of the sudden there were so many, and this is the first year I am selling them.

Erling,
sorry no, I love the P. Tsingtau too but I only have about half a dozen bulbs and that's too few to sell them. When I have 20, I'll let you know. I believe Ian Butterfield sells them. I got my original bulb from him.
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: enrico on January 03, 2012, 10:48:53 AM
Pleione tarawera

The photo was taken on December 23rd... I'm a bit late in posting  ;)

Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: Maren on January 03, 2012, 06:11:50 PM
Hello Enrico, very nice Pln Tarawera. Such a pleasure to have a pleione in flower in December. I hope we'll hear more from you in the New Year. :) :) :)
Title: Re: PLEIONE 2011
Post by: LarsB on January 03, 2012, 06:42:17 PM
I have no problems with the flowering of P. Barcena, but i grow it slightly warmer in the winter, 8 to 19 degrees Celsius. Maybe it jsut needs a few degrees more?
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