When are Pleione roots dead?

[Mark Griffiths]

I lift my Pleiones in the greenhouse and put them in paper bags for the winter. I've done this now for several years - the advatage is it keeps them away from mice/ slugs and saves greenhouse space. Most years I've waited until mid winter but I'd like to start earlier this year.

So I assume they can be lifted as soon as the roots are dead? Is that as soon as the leaves go brown and fall off?

[alant]

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for the roots to die off after the leaves fall off.  Stop watering after leaf fall.

[Mark Griffiths]

thanks Alant!

[Maren]

Hi,
agreed, stop watering when the leaves turn yellow.

Spring flowering pleiones: after the leaves have fallen, you can take your pleiones out of their pots and remove all remaining compost gently so that you don't damage the flower bud for the next year. Then you can trim the roots to about an inch. It doesn't matter if they are still a little bit alive, they will soon die. New roots appear in February/March.

For winter flowering pleiones you have to take a little more care. Some of them eg. praecox and maculata, don't seem to die off at all. There it is best to remove what you can of the old compost and just pot them on into fresh compost, taking care that it is damp but not wet and not to water until growth commences in the spring. Keeping them in the old compost is tempting, but it will have turned sour (just sniff it and you will notice). that means the compost has turned acidic and is no longer beneficial for your pleiones. Don't be tempted to put lime on it - it won't work.

[Mark Griffiths]

excellent, thanks Maren