PLEIONES -2008 (New Forum section)

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice Hans !!

[TC]

Advice needed.  When I was cleaning up my Pleione collection by removing the dead leaves, I discovered two large seed pods.  How does one go about planting these?  I have always assumed that this requires specialist knowledge and treatment.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Hi Tom !

You're absolutely right, it is specialist work.
Please have a look at Paul Cumbleton's site - he has some pages explaining about growing Pleione from seed.

http://www.pleione.info/

Good luck !

[TC]

I had a look at the site but this is not for me !  Any seeds that I plant are on their own - if they germinate good and well, but they have to do it without my help.  Growing Pleiones from seed looks as easy as stem cell research and requires almost the same laboratory conditions.  I will just buy more bulbs - these I can handle !

[Maggi Young]

Tom, nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say..... you have the seed pods...why not have a try ..... my suggestion is to have a look around your frames/garden for an old seedpot ( that is  to say, a pot that has had seed sown in it, but the seed has not germinated)........
 if you find such a pot, and the original occupants don't look to be willing to sprout AND that pot has got some nice moss growing on it ( now, you may be too clean and tidy a gardener for this, but I know we could find quite a few pots answering that description around here!!)........... take out any weed seedlings that are going to grow large ( if there is, for example,a viola seedling, leave it, if there's a Papaver rupifragum, pull it!)(These two are common weeds here!)   then sow the pods on the surface of the moss and stow away somewhere under a bench in the greenhouse, or at the back of a cold frame (covered) and wait........who knows, it may work.....  this unlikely method works with a few thins with tiny seed.... some of the ericaceaous stuff etc. We used to sow that seed in pots of fresh chopped moss, but the birds went into the (open) frames and threw everything around too much. I think the pleione seed would just appreciate the extra protection from being under cover, too... but the point of using an old seed pot is that even if a bird gets into the glass house, they don't pick the same way at the firmer surface of  a pot  with just a moss layer growing on top.  I'd give it a go!

[Joakim B]

Far from even being an expert I have heard/read that it would be possible to grow pleione seeds on top of moss.
I think Maggi's suggestion is even better and most garden soil do have fungi in it so the idea is solid on a theoretical point I think.
Good luck
Kind regards
Joakim

[Luc Gilgemyn]

And now for something completely different....

Just as a matter of interest, I've been looking at some Pleione on e-bay lately -
What goes on there is totally and utterly insane - a point that was discussed last year on the subject of Galanthus.

To my immense surprise people are bidding up to 2 or 3 times the price for hybrids that are readilly available in the normal professional trade from people like Ian Butterfield, Rob Potterton, etc...  Does anybody have an idea why on earth people do that ??   

Selling bulbils also seems to have become very popular...

[Eric Locke]

Hi Luc

It may come as a surprise to you that the ebay prices for Pleione this year have settled generally to a more reasonable level !!! In past years they have been "insane" as the prices were for snowdrops early in the year . Prices are still above commercial ones but the thrill of bidding and receiving a package in the post are all factors for this . Also the ease of payment using Pay - Pal must affect bidding ,combined with the fact that many bidders are from the continent where few sources are easily available to them.
From a sellers point of view (As a frequent seller over the past few years ) - It is great fun selling on ebay where one can easily finance the purchasing of new stock . Make many new friends / contacts for exchanges of plants, sources and ideas . Sell spare bulbs and bulbils.

Eric

[Maggi Young]

I think the reason that ebay prices can be very high is that lots of people, who may not be specialist gardeners but who "discover", probably via a TV programme, that galanthus or pleiones are beautiful and collectable, are intrigued by these plants and want to have them... but... these plants are not readily available, even from specialist nurseries( which these non-gardeners wouldn't know about, anyhow)so..... they find some on Ebay... and bingo! There are plants to be "fought" over in the fun of an auction, easy method of sending payment, via paypal, as Eric says, and what could be more attractive for a shopping frenzy?  Also there is the attraction of ebay for distant buyers, again as Eric says.... it's a very convenient way to buy and sell.... when the transaction goes well, that is! 

[Paul Cumbleton]

I think Maggie, Eric and Rob have given good explanations of ebay prices. For anyone reading this who may not be familiar with what they "ought" to be paying for Pleiones, assuming they buy from a specialist nursery, here are some guidelines (prices for a single flowering size bulb):

Common species, or hybrids £3 to £6 (The hybrids may well not be named cultivars; where they are they will be ones that have been available for many years)

Less common species or hybrids, including named cultivars that have been around for just a few years £10 to £15

Newer species or hybrids that have been available for only 2 or three years £15 to £20

New or rare species, and hybrids being released for the first time: £25 to £30, or even more if they are something really special.

Having been raising my own pleiones from seed for 10 years now, I appreciate the amount of work and time that goes into making new hybrids and getting them to the point where there is enough stock to release for sale. Knowing this, I think the prices that the specialist nurseries charge are very reasonable, especially when you compare them to the prices you would pay for a new release of almost any other kind of orchid!

Paul

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I guess this just about sums it all up !

Thanks for the input everyone !

[Slug Killer]

My first winter Pleione hybrid ever. Pleione wharfdale

[Slug Killer]

Hi Rob

No this is a winter flowering hybrid. Sorry if I worded that wrong as I meant its the first winter flowering Pleione I've ever had in my collection.

David

e-mail me Rob if you are still after some pumice.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great flower Dave !

I've got the same, but it's not even showing a bud yet... 

[LarsB]

Just a few comments on Pleione prices. I've seen Pleione forrestii alba from a couple of commecial outlets advertised at £150 a couple of years ago. You can still finde some trying to sell Pleione and hardy orchids at insane prices. I'd be very wealthy if i could sell Dactylorhiza majalis at £30 

ANyway, the excitment of receiving a package is even better if oy uhave paid a fair prices or traded with others.