PLEIONE 2011

[ThomasB]

Thomas, I don't recall Potterton's listing Cairngorm this year.  If like me you purchased W2 then you might be interested to know that I spoke to Rob and he was adamant that this is not Cairngorm.  I've just purchased some Cairngorm from another source so that I can play spot the difference.

Thank you for pointing this out.
I purchased the bulb as Pln. formosana W2 but because of the thread about formosana clones here I thought that W2, Cairngorm and Red Spot are the same cultivar. Will be interesting to spot the difference once your bulbs flower.

[Slug Killer]

Thank you for pointing this out.
I purchased the bulb as Pln. formosana W2 but because of the thread about formosana clones here I thought that W2, Cairngorm and Red Spot are the same cultivar. Will be interesting to spot the difference once your bulbs flower.

Thomas I hope you don't mind but I took your picture and put it next to one of P. formosana Cairngorm that flowered for me last year to see the difference.

[Maren]

David,

that' really cool, seeing the two plants next to each other. How did you do it?

[Slug Killer]

David,

that' really cool, seeing the two plants next to each other. How did you do it?

Photoshop. Created a new blank document (twice as long) and then added the pictures after making them the same size.

[Alex]

A wonderful form of P. forrestii from Crustacare and P. humilis again, more flowers this time.

Alex

[Sam]

two beautiful species Alex, thanks for sharing

[Pascal B]

The first of my Pleione forrestii is also in flower, a rather closed but rich buttercup yellow form with good red markings. Maybe it opens a bit more when the light turns brighter after the rains have ceased in Holland....

[Maren]

That's a fine P forrestii, Pascal, and so are yours, Alex.

[mark smyth]

My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.

[Maren]

Oh Mark, that's so sad. Which pleiones do you grow in your peat beds? perhaps they got a little sodden? it's usually the cold-wet that kills, not the cold-dry. Commiserations.

[Slug Killer]

My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.

Funnily enough I thought the other day that there was no way your Pleione would have survived outside with the weather we had after coming across the picture you posted before.

[mark smyth]

Maren they were growing in moss that covered peat blocks. I'll buy now ones somewhere this year and do it again

[mark smyth]

My Pleiones outside in the peat bed were killed in the hard frosts in December. They were looking OK after the thaw but today they are collapsed.

Where can I buy some?

[Maren]

Mark,

I think you are very brave. Was it P limprichtii you were growing there? I can't think of any others that might survive outdoors in our climes, except perhaps humilis , but I would never take the risk with either, I have to admit. 

Having said that, I often have pleiones coming up between my vegetables, as all the old pleione compost goes onto the allotment and with it many of the cast offs. But they usually look tattered, slug nibbled and weather beaten and I feel like saying "Sorry, Darling, you deserved better!" when I see one.

There will be lots of shows on this side of the Irish sea where you can buy pleiones in pots, maybe also on your side? Good luck.

[Darren]

Sorry to hear of your losses Mark.

I have a few strays that live in my cypripedium pots (covered by a frame light in winter but no temperature protection). They are assorted unidentified ones, including hybrids. One of those visible at the surface is mush but another looks OK. I'm reasonably confident that the buried ones might be OK - they survived the previous winter. Our min temp in both winters was probably about -9C.