Pans of Pleiones

[Tim Harberd]

Hi Folks,
   I was interestred in last years crop of 'solo' flowers BUT since I have cultivars that will produce one fine flower in four, I'd be much more interested to hear what other folk grow that reliably produces a decent pan. My criteria are a fair number of good sized flowers,  (with few deformities) on good stems in interesting colours. (I'm not interested in artificial 'Show crammed' pots!)
     As an opener here is a 14cm pot of a (P.Soufriere x P.Shepherd's Warning) cross. The flowers are up to 95mm across.

Happy Christmas

Tim DH

[Paul T]

Beautiful, Tim.  What a lovely display.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice potful Tim !!!!  Beautiful flowers !

[Slug Killer]

Hi Tim

Here are some pans of Pleione which are all easy ones and grow well. The last picture of Vesuvius is not mine, it was taken by a friend in Germany.

Dave

 Pleione formosana.jpg
 Pleione  hekla bowl.JPG
 PleioneGerry Mundey.jpg
 Pleionefuego.jpg
  Pleione Vesuvius.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Well done Dave ! Beautiful show !!

[Tim Harberd]

Hi Dave,
       Thanks for the pictures. Your Fuego looks a good form. For comparison, do you know how wide the flowers are? My best Fuego has rather small flowers, only about 75mm across. Does yours have a cultivar name/number?

[Tim Harberd]

Ooops my computer posted before I'd finished again.

My favourite vesuvius, 'Ember' (67.11) does a bit better for size (84mm), which is quite a bit smaller than v 'Leopard' (95mm) but I prefer the colour.

Tim DH

[Slug Killer]

Hi Dave,
       Thanks for the pictures. Your Fuego looks a good form. For comparison, do you know how wide the flowers are? My best Fuego has rather small flowers, only about 75mm across. Does yours have a cultivar name/number?

Sorry Tim I have no idea on flower size or cultivar name/number. I've had these for the last 10yrs at least and they were just given to me as Pln. fuego. I'll have to wait until they next flower to measure them.

David

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree Tim, that's a very nice P. vesuvius form !!!

[Tim Harberd]

Hi Dave,
   I think maximium flower width is an interesting thing to record, even tho’ it is somewhat variable. Most flowers continue to grow for some days after first opening, and cultivars vary from year to year as well. Recently I was asked about the difference between P confusa and P Shantung Ducat. The colour/marking of both is variable, mostly it seems due to temperature whilst the bud is developing. My range for confusa is 78 - 81mm and for Ducat its 93 - 105mm.
   I only record the biggest flower in a pan, so it’s a fairly rough measure. But since it’s the same rough measure across all my cultivars it does help sort things out.

Tim DH


Hi Luc,
   I’m glad you approve of it! It is now the only Vesuvius I grow, having dropped three others. I particularly like the clean colour separation in the lip. Here's a close up.

Tim DH

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Absolutely beautiful !!! 

[Tim Harberd]

Hi All,
   Here are pickies of the plants I took to Harrogate Show today.
All 14cm pots. All shot at dawn, so apologies for the extra flash!!

Class 35 1 rock plant in flower. P. Marco Polo '168.2' unplaced.
This cultivar usually only gives me 2/3 flowers per pan. Flowers up to 95mm across.

Class 49 1 pan Pleione. P. Starbotton '213.1' 2nd prize
I'd forgive anyone who called this grex a poor relation of Vesuvius!
It does however regularly put up 9 flowers in this size pot. Up to 95mm across

Class 58 1 pan rock plant native to Asia. P. x taliensis 'Lushan 2' unplaced
Not a good show plant because the bulbs never flower together.
Can produce a dozen flowers in a pan, up to 75mm across

Class 60 1 pan rock plant native to Japan or China. P. bulbocodioides 'SBEC 205.2' 3rd prize
Collected on the 1981 Sino/British Exp to Cangshan, hence all the letters. It also has an RBGE aquisition number in your interested!
Not quite in full flower so you can't see its unusual fault. Overlong stalks!
Averages 10 flowers per pan, up to 85mm across

Class 77 1 pan rock plant in flower. P. Ueli Wackernagel '169.7' 3rd prize
Oops, missed this one out, here's an evening shot.
It usually stands better than this. Can do a dozen flowers up to 105mm across

Class 83 1 pan Orchidaceae. P. Soufriere x P. Shepherds Warning '183.1' 3rd prize
Looking a bit ragged this year Can do 8 flowers a pan up to 95mm across

Class 86 1 pan rock plant native to Asia. P. bulbocodioides 'K41' 1st prize
My favourite bulbocodioides, tho' not the most floriferous
Normally only 5 flowers a pan, but usually better held than these. Up to 95mm across

Class 99 1 pan rock plant in flower P. Soufriere 'Sunrise' unplaced
Not a well balanced show. Can do 10 flowers a pan up to 110mm across

Class 113 1 pan rock plant in flower P. Stromboli '93.1' 3rd
Not up to standard this year. Will do a dozen flowers up to 95mm across

That's probably me done with (non electronic) showing till next year

Tim DH

[Tim Harberd]

As a post script:
Here's that bulbocodiodes cultivar (SBEC205.02) at full stretch.
The stems are up to 16cm long, measured from ground level to start of seed pod.
(The seed pod itself carries on about another 5cm.)
These aren't actually the longest stems in my collection (a Stromboli beats it) but they are disproportionate to the flower (max 85mm)

Tim DH

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree with you Tim, the stem is really out of proportion - not a very nich show plant.

Somehow I had missed your previous post 
Nice group of pots and congratulations with the prizes.
My vote goes to the pot of U. wackernagel !

[Tim Harberd]

Hi There,
   This is just about my first pan of pleiones since the big freeze! (2010/11, see Ken Redshaw thread below) Its P. follifoot ‘Princess Tiger’. Not my favourite! Quite small (up to 75mm across) and I don’t care for hooded top petals. But it’s a ‘good doer’.
   Following the big freeze I really feel I ought to get the best of my father’s cultivars into other hands! Sort of an insurance policy for the poor things!! I might get my act together and produce a catalogue this summer. If you’d be interested in seeing it drop me an email.

Tim DH