Query: Pleione orchid potting up - how-to please?
 

Pretty l'il pale pink pleione, bought as a single bulb years ago.
Flowered two seasons. Since has grown more new bulbs. Currently has
five bulbs in a 2" x2" pot of pine needles. No flowers for last few
years. No insect traces or troubles.

Queries:
Should it be repotted before it gets too crowded (or do they like to be
crowded to flower)?
Should it be repotted into a shallow dish?
Best growing medium - is it really pine needles?
Do pine needles have to be a specific species? (If not, source is no
problem, just a ten minute walk up to a formal garden with pine needles
everywhere)

So glad to be back among friendly experts! Thank in advance

Query: Pleione orchid potting up - how-to please?
 

I just checked the Pacific Central web page
(http://www.aospacificcentral.org) because we've given a few awards to
Pleiones over the years. In looking at the photos sometimes you can see
what the exhibitor grew theirs in. For the most part is seems to be a very
small mix with a lot of perlite in plastic pots. You can search the 'Index'
by year (scrolling across and down) and check it for yourself. Otherwise, I
have no other input. Sorry to be of no other help.

K Barrett

"Orchidoofus" wrote in message
ups.com...
Pretty l'il pale pink pleione, bought as a single bulb years ago.
Flowered two seasons. Since has grown more new bulbs. Currently has
five bulbs in a 2" x2" pot of pine needles. No flowers for last few
years. No insect traces or troubles.

Queries:
Should it be repotted before it gets too crowded (or do they like to be
crowded to flower)?
Should it be repotted into a shallow dish?
Best growing medium - is it really pine needles?
Do pine needles have to be a specific species? (If not, source is no
problem, just a ten minute walk up to a formal garden with pine needles
everywhere)

So glad to be back among friendly experts! Thank in advance

While I have read that pine needles are good, I have always grown mine in equal parts of perlite, farmyard compost & composted bark. They flower every year without fail. Replanted in Dec & Jan, single mature bulbs will flower in Spring without problems. Certainly no need for crowding.

I wonder if you are protecting them from the cold? I did that when I first started, and they won't flower.

Weng

Query: Pleione orchid potting up - how-to please?
 

On Jan 7, 9:59 pm, Weng wrote:

I wonder if you are protecting them from the cold? I did that when I
first started, and they won't flower.

Weng


Thank you !!! Yes, I've had them inside, on the windowsill above the
stove! Well, "d'uh, me!" - I Knew about them being able to take the
cold - and completely omitted that from the brain!!!!