Pleione early 2009.

[karel_t]

A few next flowers.
In Czech is still too cold, so I still wait for a main season. 

 Pln. Katmai 'Crossbill'
 Pln. limprichtii
 Pln. Piton
 Pln. Santorini
 Pln. Rakaka 'Shot-Silk'

[Eric Locke]

Karel - Nice photos.."Crossbill" looks nice ,have not seen this clone of Katmai before.

Luc - Glad youself and other forumists have enjoyed my photos.
  I have over many years added more and more Pleione to my collection ,which now extends to over 150 different species and hybrids. This year I decided I wanted to update and improve on the images of the plants that I grow and am taking new photos of most as they come into flower. I thought it would be nice at the same time to put a selection on the forum for others to see . I still have a fair amount to go and will continue to post these as and when they are taken . In the past I have often purchased new varieties with only a description to go by as finding photos of most is at best difficult and thought these photos might help others to have an idea what each variety should look like before deciding to purchase.
Shantung "Pink Panther" is very new to me also and I only saw it for the first time yesterday when I made the purchase.   I understand this clone was originally rejected , as it was thought to be "too girly".
I thought this clone had a nice amount of (soft) pink on the petals, unlike most "Pink" Shantung that only have a pink flush to them. I would think this clone will look super as a decent pan of plants  and look forward to this in the future.

Happy Growing to you all.

Eric

Fiona Hall  - which is amongst my favourites ,opened today (although this is last years photo).

[Maggi Young]

You are quite correct to think that your photos  are of both interest and information, Eric. thanks for sharing.

[johanneshoeller]

Now the Pleione season has started!
Pleione yunnanensis (different forms)
Pleione Adams
Pleione Berapi Purple Sandpiper
Pleione formosana Avalanche
Pleione spec.?
Pleione Paricutin
Pleione spec.?
Pleione Surstey

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Luc - Glad youself and other forumists have enjoyed my photos.
  I have over many years added more and more Pleione to my collection ,which now extends to over 150 different species and hybrids. This year I decided I wanted to update and improve on the images of the plants that I grow and am taking new photos of most as they come into flower. I thought it would be nice at the same time to put a selection on the forum for others to see . I still have a fair amount to go and will continue to post these as and when they are taken . In the past I have often purchased new varieties with only a description to go by as finding photos of most is at best difficult and thought these photos might help others to have an idea what each variety should look like before deciding to purchase.
Happy Growing to you all.

Eric

Fiona Hall  - which is amongst my favourites ,opened today (although this is last years photo).

150 different Pleione 
Well, that beats my 50 or so... 
As you have these different unnamed Santorini clones, I think you must be a regular visitor of Ian Butterfield so that you can make your choice "on the spot".
Most of the time I've also been buying from descriptions in the past but with these hybrids (ex. Leda) that can be so variable, that can prove to be succesful as well as disapointing...    so it's great to see as many pictures as possible ! 
I hope to post some more of mine tonight.


Hans,
Another very fine batch !  I love P. adams - very vibrant colours !

Karel,
Don't be disapointed with your late season - we'll be patiently waiting for your pictures !!
Your very nice santorini has a very different colour from what Eric showed !

[Mark Griffiths]

A question for you all.

For the past few years I've noticed that the smaller darker Pleiones, P. Tolima, P. el pico etc don't seem to be opening fully. Any ideas why? The Shantungs, vesuvius, Rakata's open fully. Might it be they are too dry (I don't water at all until the leaves start to grow)..some temperature issue?

[johanneshoeller]

Mark,

I have the same problems! Too dry?

[Mark Griffiths]

Perhaps..if the pseudobulbs are smaller maybe they need more moisture, but then there isn't that much root. Maybe misting is the answer. Or perhaps they need more light? I know they weren't always like this.

[karel_t]

Mark,
I have same experience with P. pleionoides this year. In one pot half of them have opened fully, but half not. So I think it isn't problem of watering or temperature.

Erik,
the Katmai 'Crossbill' is very nice Ian's selection.

Karel.

[Eric Locke]

Rob - Rakata Redwing and Skylark are far from looking similar .
Perhaps you have them labelled wrongly ?  
Rakata "Keith Rattray" is also very different to the more usuall clones. Your photo looks wrong to me, but it is very pale !!

Photos for you to compare with your plants.

Eric

[Tim Harberd]

Hi Eric,
   I've been away a few days, and I've come back to a feast of photos!

   On the subect of numbers, I'm trying to reduce my collection (from 85 cultivars) and your photo's aren't helping!

   On the subject of Shantungs, 'Silver Wedding'(R6.34) is very pale.
   Dad actually catalogued it as white, but its not quite.
   I stopped growing it a couple of years ago in favour of 'Natasha'(R6.40)
   (My parents have now passed their Golden Wedding, so I think dropping R6.34 is forgiveable!)

   On the subject of Pl. V. 'Ember' I finally got round to taking a flash free shot for you.
   The confinement of yellow to the lip ribs is one of the things I like about this cultivar.
   (I've decided I quite like grass as a background!)

Tim DH

[Luc Gilgemyn]

P. shantung 'Natasha' looks very nice Tim - I love the colourful lip !
V. ember has become a favourite of mine since you first posted it and it looks even better in natural light !

Here's some flowering for me at the moment :

1 and 2) P. asama - we talked about crowded pots earlier on.
These are 11 bulbs giving 15 flowers.

3) P. orizaba 'Fisheagle'
4) P. deriba
5) P. pleionoïdes - ex Mt Omei
6) P. x barbarae

[Eric Locke]

Hi Tim

Hope the photos have changed your mind on down-sizing your collection ,if not I know of a nice home for them.
Thanks for the "Ember" photo . In natural light it now looks like the plant I have. I did try to take one with flash and the results were very similar to yours .Nice but not quite correct ,I feel.
Thanks for your comments on "Silver Wedding".I have always thought this had more pink on the petals.My photo still looks a different plant though to yours,so whats mine I wonder.
I assume both your photos are of SW as the lovely "Natasha" I know is very much pinker.I do not have this now, although not for the want of trying.
I have added the plant I know as Natasha as an attachment, but this photo is a copy from an old Craven list.(sadly now not trading).

Luc  - An unusuall clone of "Deriba", with no sign of any yellow.

Eric

[Eric Locke]

A few more.

Asama "Bittern"
El pico "Goldcrest"
Pleionoides
Pavlof - which is an unusuall clone that used a White Forrestii in the cross.

Eric

[Eric Locke]

Rob -  Sorry   ,I forgot to include a photo of Rakata "Keith Rattray".
          Here it is. Hope it helps.

Eric