Pleione Culture cont.

Pleione culture, as indeed with all orchids, is really a matter of simulating their natural habitat. There are seven areas of cultural requirements that must be considered & these are Potting Medium, Light, Fertiliser, Watering, Humidity, Temperature & Air. These things all go hand in hand, so if one of these is altered, so will another, i.e if the temperature rises, the humidity will fall & therefore you must increase the watering. Potting Medium.     Pleiones, being only shallow rooted, should be planted in pots that do not exceed 200mm in depth. Most any product can be used as potting mix as long as it will retain moisture but remain free draining. The pot should be filled to within 30mm of the top with a coarse mix & the bulbs then placed about 10 - 15mm apart, then the bulbs should be covered to about 3/4 of their depth with a finer mix. These plants are community plants, so should have at least three or four bulbs per pot, but for a really good display several bulb per pan is a better idea. Light    Pleiones appreciate low light, about 50% shade. If too much light is present the leaves will start to yellow. Fertiliser     Slow release fertiliser tends to burn the roots, so should be avoided, but Sheep pellets, Dried Blood & liquid Fertilisers used at half the recommended strength will be beneficial. Watering   As the new growth commences, water should be introduced slowly, keeping plants on the dry side, as this encourages the  new roots to start searching for moisture.   Once the leaves have formed more water should be introduced, & the plants should then be consistently watered so that the mix is evenly moist. Inconsistent watering  is the greatest cause of root loss in Pleiones.    When the leaves start to yellow in the autumn, watering should be reduced & then ceased altogether for the winter dormancy period. Humidity   In dry areas, the humidity should be increased & dampening down the plants in the early evening during the hotter month will also prove beneficial. Temperature       During the growing season these plants like to be kept cool & shaded, & it is important that during their winter rest period they need cool dry conditions, about zero to three degrees Celsius, depending on the species. Air     These plants require plenty of air movement during their growing period, with some species preferring strong air movement, so a position close to a fan or ventilator is beneficial. Pests & Diseases      Pleiones are susceptible to the usual array of pests & diseases that affect other orchid, with the added extra that mice will have a nibble on the bulbs while they are in storage over the winter. Good plant culture usually prevents serious attack from most pests & the mice can be dissuaded  by sprinkling the bulbs with Flowers of sulphur before storing them. Pleione Timetable This timetable starts when the bulbs are still dormant as this is the time that most bulbs are purchased. June / July     Pot your bulbs out into a moist but not wet potting medium before the growths start. Do not water at this stage. August     When the flowers start to open gradually introduce water to the plants. Keep on the dry side so that the roots need to search for moisture. The roots are very easily rotted at this time. September / October     When the flowers start to fade the leaves will start to grow rapidly. Begin liquid fertiliser with a balanced NPK with trace elements. Give a side dressing of Dried Blood at two to three week intervals. November / March    Plenty of water & high humidity. The compost must be free draining. Change to a high potash fertiliser towards the end of the season to help mature the bulbs for the next seasons flowering. The plants must not dry out during this period of growth. April / May    When the leaves yellow it is time to reduce watering rapidly. After 3/4 weeks remove all old leaves & trim the roots back to 10mm. Store in a cool place. The pseudobulbs may be kept in a cool frame or other suitable cold dry area until the new growth commences in the next spring. If you would like any further information on these plants or even would like to obtain some, give Trevor a call on 06 359 1848 Or maybe send them an E-mail, Trevor & Teresa Gillbanks E-mail Address: arethusa@free.net.nz