Pleione Spring 2010..... to July!

[Sam]

Hello Sam, welcome to the Forum!
Nice pleiones.

We just had another new French member, JP, in Normandy, (see here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5090.msg142243#new    )

saying that there do not seem to  be many French snowdrop specialists.... do you grow them?!!

i grow "normal" Galanthus in my garden but i'm not a specialist

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I like the cream Eiger Pete !  Lovely !

Welcome to the Forum Sam !  Great start !
I think I see you' re using a system to tie the flowers up somewhat...     haven't seen that on Pleione before !
Hope you'll be showing lots more !

[Slug Killer]

After recent discussions on this forum about problems with Pleione forrestii, I thought this picture may be of interest. I've not gone for any arty quality pictures but just to show how many in flower. This is just one of my trays and this year I am getting 99% flower success. 50% of shoots had double flowers but I cut the extra off as I think it ruins the overall flower image and puts extra strain on the bulb.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Ok Dave.... what are you trying to do to us poor mortal Pleione growers    

A tremendous looking tray !! 

[luis]

No bulb of forrestii have flowerd to me... i don't know why because they have the same conditions of the other pleione bulbs.

[Hristo]

Dave, how does this compare to previous years, any cultural insights welcomed I suspect!

[Slug Killer]

The only difference this year is they had a far longer and colder dormant period over the winter boxed in the garage (like many in the UK I should imagine). Last year my forrestii started staggered flowering four weeks earlier but all seem to have started the same time this year. They are in the greenhouse but never in direct sunlight and well ventilated during the day. Far more have double shoots this year as well.

[Hristo]

Cheers Dave, confirms my approach for next year, I've had staggred flowering attempts but only the final forrestii has made it into flower, the first tried it in January, the second in February, each aborted their flower when the night temps dropped below +10c.I think I will store them in the fridge this autumn/winter and take them out the start of March.

[Slug Killer]

Just make sure you have a reliable fridge and don't ram it full of stuff over the Christmas period. I kept some in the bottom of the fridge a couple of years ago and when full at Christmas the bottom froze as the machine was working overtime. Killed about 25 bulbs, they came out all soft and going black. 

[Hristo]

Fair warning, cheers Dave, no room for food, full of seed!

[Sam]

Eric, your Warfdale is beautiful, i put it on my wish list

Hello Luc, we are neighbor (i live 60 Km from Harelbeke)

I think I see you' re using a system to tie the flowers up somewhat...     haven't seen that on Pleione before !
Hope you'll be showing lots more !

the flowers are more visible like that and the bulbs don't move(to prevent broken roots...)
i've about twenty Pleiones to bloom

[Hristo]

Not the most spectacular hybrid but kind of cute thanks to hookeriana;
Pleione Captain Hook

[Luc Gilgemyn]

One could get hooked to Cpt Hook, Chris ! 
A nice Pleione, spectacular or not !

[Hristo]

LOL, indeed Luc, I'd been wondering about it's name, most obvious I guess Hook from hookeriana, but I wondered if the curved leaf was reminiscent of Captain Hook from Peter Pan. Sure somebody must know.....answers on the back of a postcard,BP badge for the winner!!

[Eric Locke]

Eric, your Warfdale is beautiful, i put it on my wish list

Hello Luc, we are neighbor (i live 60 Km from Harelbeke)

I think I see you' re using a system to tie the flowers up somewhat...    haven't seen that on Pleione before !
Hope you'll be showing lots more !

the flowers are more visible like that and the bulbs don't move(to prevent broken roots...)
i've about twenty Pleiones to bloom

Sam -
Wharfedale "Pine Warbler" is indeed a fine hybrid that should be in everyones collection. An easy, reliable clone that makes huge bulbs and multiplies quickly . Major point with Pine Warbler is it"s very long flowering period which starts in November and this year is still going strong mid March. No other Pleione to my knowledge gets even close.

Eric