Pleione 2013

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I have Pleione mandelay "Strawberry Fields" in flower at the moment   

[Maren]

Hello Gregork,

welcome to the forum. I hope you will find all you need to know to improve your success with pleiones. Once you have mastered a few basic things eg. temperature and watering, you should find growing them quite easy.

The plant in your picture looks like Pleione formosana to me.

Regarding The Genus Pleione by Cribb and Butterfield, 2nd Edition, I have found a website that will ship internationally. I shall also ask around and will let you know what I have found.

[gregork]

Hello Maren

Thank you a lot! yesterday i found that site too. since i'm a student , i was hoping to get it less expensive. but if there is no other option I'm going with that one. i must have this book :)If you find any cheeper options would be great. So let me know

and yes i think its P. formosana too thank you for the confirmation

[erf]

Hello

How do you mannage the temperature this time a year. Some days it is very cold and cloudy, and other days the sun is burning. I find it difficult to keep and even temperature, without opening and closing windows all the time. My problem is, that the room where I keep the pleiones is turning to the south, so though I keep the windows covered with a white curtain, the temperatur rices from time to time and that make some of the plants abort their flower. 

Erling

[Mark Griffiths]

wow, lovely plants everyone - none of mine are anywhere near flowering yet.

[Maren]

Erling,
at this time of year, temperature fluctuation is the greatest problem for me also. In my 'home' greenhouse, I manage this with automatic vent openers and shade cloth.  I have also invested in a film that goes on the inside of the window glass and inhibits sunburn on plants. It also has a cooling effect. The film is applied like a wallpaper and once it's there you don't notice it.

My proper pleione houses are located more than 16km away from home and they are of Victorian construction with solid timber and manually operated vents. That means I have to go there at 10:00h in the morning to open the vents and again at 15:00h to close them. I paint the glass white to reflect the sun. In the summer I take the glass out of the doors and cover the holes with shade cloth to increase ventilation.

If you are growing them in a room, net curtains are a good idea. Leave the door open to increase ventilation. You could even run a small fan on a timer/thermostat to cool the place. Hope this helps.

[monocotman]

I fully agree that keeping the greenhouse temperature suitable for pleiones at this time of year when they are trying to flower is a real bugbear, if you don't have an alpine house.
They can abort the flower really easily if it gets too hot.
I follow Maren and put up some coolglass shading really early in the year.
Plus keep the doors open all the time unless frost is forecast.
It's another reason to bring the chosen few into the house for flowering.
We have a north facing kitchen diner so the temperature is fairly even with little sun.
The plants stay on the floor so are as cool as possible.
The pan is Shantung 'Ducat' in full flower.
Seems to do Ok indoors.
The pan of Britannia 'Doreen' went over very quickly
David.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Another exquisite pan, David ! 

[Maren]

Very lovely, David, it's quite an achievement to have them all out at the same time and for the flowers to be so well spaced and balanced. You've done well.

[erf]

Hello Maren
Thank you for the advice. I have just put up a ventilator to circulate the air in the room. The curtains (a white bed sheet) helps a great deal, but since it is double-glazed windows the heat is inside as soon as it has passed the glazing. I was thinking on putting some film outside on the windows to prevent the heat from passing the glass.
But as it is now, I open the windows before going to work in the morning and close them again when I come home. Then in about a month time hopefully, they all have to go outside in the garden, and this problem is solved until next year.
How about you, will you get ready London Show, I will keep my finger crossed.

David - what a beautiful pan of Shantung Ducat, very lovely.

Regards Erling

[monocotman]

Thanks all for the comments.
Maren - I find that the plants flower 'together' when they're in the house.
Maybe something to do with the warmer temperatures.
I've had the same problem as yourself in a cold glasshouse - the flowering in a pan is staggered.
Fine if you want a prolonged display but no good if you're off to a show.
David

[monocotman]

Hi,

a couple more.
Burnsall 'China Doll' -nice upright flowers. One stem has two flowers.
Muriel from Paul Cumbleton. One of his best.
I've tried to alter this photo as it is a lovely light pink as well as being a very well presented flower.
Not sure if it entirely successful,

David

[Maren]

Hi David,

you've managed the colour of Muriel very well, however, the rosy tone of the background gives it away. Tricky, this, one can spend hours.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Hi,

a couple more.
Burnsall 'China Doll' -nice upright flowers. One stem has two flowers.
Muriel from Paul Cumbleton. One of his best.
I've tried to alter this photo as it is a lovely light pink as well as being a very well presented flower.
Not sure if it entirely successful,

David

Both exquisite, David !

[Claire Cockcroft]

Here are a few more pleiones:
--  Pleione x confusa
--  Pleione formosanum
--  'Vesuvius'
--  A nice pot full of 'Tongariro' -- the easiest for me to grow and the most floriferous