Pleione 2013

[Maggi Young]

I don't think you crazy at all , Lars. It is precisely by such observation and attention to these details of our plants that we learn most about them and so improve our chances of growing them well.

[gregork]

Hello all

so i have a few questions since i noticed some problems on my Pleione.
i noticed that leaf tips are turning brown. what could be the reason for that? to much fertilizer? Direct sun? they do get some  of it in the afternoon. I also noticed some borwn spots.

also few of the leaves just roten off completely. what could be the reason? i did watered them from the top in the late afternon the day before that happened. i dont know what else culd be wrong.

i am also wondering about the size of the leaves. i remember last year, they were so big. At least 20 cm . And now theye are half of the size or even less. I did have them in complete shadow last year and now they get a lot of light since they are on my balcony. what is normal and what is not? what should be the size of leaves by now?

any info would be very much appriciated.
I have included some photos so that you will know what i am talking about

Best regards
Gregor

[LarsB]

Hi Gregor,

The dots in the last picture could be insect damage at an earlier stage in the leaf's life. The brown leaf is likely to be caused by water in the shot due to the late watering as you pointed out yourself. I've done that a few times. The brown leaftips is something i get every year on some plants like maculata. I don't think it has anything to do with fertiliser, but i haven't got any better explanation to offer. I've suspected the low humidity i have most of the time to be the culprit, but it's only a theory.

Best regards

Lars

[gregork]

 Thank you Lars for all the answers.
do you think the bulb will survive without the leaf? I pulled it out. the roots look fine
Any idea about the leaf size?

[LarsB]

In my experience, the bulb can survive, although it will not grow much more without the leaf. What do you mean about the leaf size?

[gregork]

I am also wondering about the size of the leaves. i remember last year, they were so big. At least 20 cm . And now theye are half of the size or even less. I did have them in complete shadow last year and now they get a lot of light since they are on my balcony. what is normal and what is not? what should be the size of leaves by now?

[LarsB]

Leafsize seems to vary depending on the conditions, so it miight be that growing under dark conditions will promote bigger leaves, although normally i would expect darker leafs with more clorophyl instead.

[gregork]

Makes sense!
Thank you Lars

regards
Gregor

[Pete Clarke]

Interesting discussion about leaf size.
I have smaller leaves to, but I have put mine outside this year and they have had a lot of sun, fortunately no scorch damage.
The pseudobulbs also seem to be developing bigger and earlier, so I am pleased.

[karel_t]

I have a good size of pleione leaves this year. I don't see any difference between plants in shade or full sun in my greenhouse.
K.

[gregork]

Yes Pete i find it interesting too I wouldn't bother too much if it wasn't such a huge difference

I remember last year... well they were very large!  i would say at least 30-40 cm. Probably a bit smaller than the ones from Karel. Karel you have some serious growth going on i have to say
I had them in normal soil, in ful shade, no fertilizer and they were watered with rain water.

This year, they are in pleione potting mix, lots of light, regular fertilizer, watered with tap watter
But its true that the pbulbs were very small when i potted them.

I am still new at growing these so I'll have to order some more and observe. I hope i will come to some conclusion about that .
Now I'll just have my fingers crossed for my pbulbs to get fatter  and will bloom next year

Regards
Gregor

[Danshi]

Hi!

I bought some bulbils this year and many of them are now actually growing their own bulbils. Is it normal for such tiny bulbs to produce bulbils?



Also I noticed these lesions/spots on the tips of some leafs. Is this a fungal problem or could it be a deficiency?



Greetings
Daniel

[LarsB]

Hi Daniel,

Bulbils can often set bulbils themselves. These are often too small to grow on, unless it is something very special. As for the spots on the leafs, i think it is cause earlier in the season by sucking insects.

Lars

[Danshi]

Thanks, Lars.
Not too sure about the insect damage, but as long as it's not getting worse, I'm not too worried.

[LarsB]

Look at it from the bright side: the leafs will die soon anyway