PLEIONE 2011

[karel_t]

David, that makes sense. My praecox started budding when still in leaf, which is ealier than normal. We had a very cold (and wet )summer here with temperatures dropping to 7C during July and August.

I guess, that is the problem of all us this year. I had the same conditions during the summer and now my praecoxes are flowering with leaves as well. They haven't done so far.
K.

[Alex]

A bit more developed - P. maculata and P X lagenaria.

Alex

[Maren]

Here is my first flowering of Pleione Slender Loris, a new hybrid made by Paul Cumbleton.

The pseudobulb was phantastic. I think it likes me.

[LarsB]

Really nice Maren. I hope it will like me just as much 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Really.. really nice Maren !!

[monocotman]

Maren, that is just stunning!
David

[erf]

Maren, thats a real good looking flower. Very beautiful.

[Sempervivum]

Two flowers opened today at my Pln. praecox. And it still has two buds developing. Last year it had only two flowers.

[monocotman]

hi,
just to change tack- I was wondering whether anyone else feels that the wierd weather in 2011 has resulted in an excellent year for pleione growth?
Some years I struggle with them.
But this year the plants got away to an early start with the warm spring, had a long cool summers growth with little stress and a nice sunny autumn for ripening and finishing off the bulbs.
I've certainly got the biggest bulbils I've ever had this year, if not the biggest bulbs.
Overall it is the best I've known.
Comments?
David

[ThomasB]

David,

the bulbs in this pot look great! And I was worrying about some of my bulbs being too compressed within their pots... 

Most varieties of Pleione had a good year here too but some (Mawenzi, yunnanensis, Barcena, Tarawera, Sangay) unfortunately stayed very tiny.

Thomas

[Maren]

Hi,

agree, a very good year and nice big pseudobulbs. My biggest are Barcena, Tongariro and formosana. The Tongariro made the biggest bulbils I've ever seen on a pleione, I'll try to show a picture tomorrow. I am now convinced that pleiones grow best in bowls. They do like company and the bowls seems to make water available to all plants within, even if the watering is a bit uneven. I have also grown them in deep seedtrays, but the results were nowhere near as good as with bowls.

On the minus side, I lost a whole row of pleiones that were placed next to the vents. Clearly the ventilation dried them out and I didn't notice it because the foliage of the the plants in front was so tall. Must re-arrange next year.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree folks : it was an excellent Pleione year here as well - good multiplication and excellent sized bulbs !  I'm a happy chappy ! 
I flowering next spring is up to the same standards, we should all have a ball !! 

[monocotman]

Maren,
I've come to the same conclusion about growth in bowls.
All my bulbs will go into clay pans next year.
Those in small plastic pots did nowhere near as well as those in pans.
It may be due to the more even water supply from a larger pot or the need to grow in a group like Ian's fritsseem to.
I don't really know or care - they just do better so I'll move what I can.
I have some bulbils from Britannia 'Doreen' that are twice the size of those of Piton shown in the photos. Just huge. Some could flower after just one more years growth.
Thomas - I don't worry too much about new bulbs being overcrowded - they find their own space as they grow. They just end up a bit mis-shapen.
David

[Graham Catlow]

I can only agree with you all.
I can't believe the size of some of mine and the amount of additional ones is amazing. Photos tomorrow. P. pleionoides and 'Fuego' have done especially well.

Mine are all in clay pans and all have been outside since the threat of frost was over. No feeding this year either. Several not looking like going dormant yet.

Graham

[Graham Catlow]

These photos are of P. 'Fuego' bulbs that I decanted at the weekend.
Don't know if they are what some may call normal sized for 'Fuego' but they are undoubtedly the largest I have ever had.
The increase in bulbs has also amazed me. It took me ages to sort this lot.
Now they just need packing and into the fridge they go.

Photos
The parents in flower in May in a 30cm clay bowl.
The resulting produce.
Size comparison.