Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: sjusovare on November 22, 2009, 09:20:48 PM

Title: pleione hardiness
Post by: sjusovare on November 22, 2009, 09:20:48 PM: hello ;)
I was wondering, has anyone tried the hardiness of pleiones?
I know my Pln limprichti and formosana alba have proved to be hardy here ( zone 8 ) when protected from rain.
I have not tried the others yet as I do not feel to sacrifice them as long as I do not have more specimen of each, however space in the fridge is beginning to lack :D
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Maren on November 25, 2009, 02:05:19 PM: Hi Julien,

Every November, I throw all my spent compost and rejected pseudobulbs onto my allotment. In the spring I lightly dig over the top layer. There are always pleiones flowering in the spring, but as this is a truly mixed bag, it is not always possible to me to identify them. Not a controlled test, just a bit of fun to see them coming up and the perplexed faces of my neighbours. ;D :P But of course they are soon nibbled and bashed by the weather. :-[
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Hristo on November 25, 2009, 02:49:16 PM: Maren! :o
What no Leeks!?
As Marianne Toinette would say, 'Let them eat Pleiones' maybe!? ;)
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: sjusovare on November 25, 2009, 06:05:40 PM: hey everyone
Interresting, Maren, I may try to leave a Zeus Weinstein and a Gerry Mundey outside this winter.
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: LarsB on November 25, 2009, 08:15:29 PM: I've also used the method of throwing the spent compast and unidentified bulbs under the rhododendrons. I have well established plants of formosana and Fuego flowering in my garden.
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: johanneshoeller on November 28, 2009, 09:08:02 AM: The following Pleiones are hardy here in Austria, only a little protected from rain:
forrestii, bulbocodioides, pleionoides, scopulorum, hookeriana, limprichtii, formosana alba and some hybrids of these Pleiones.
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Maren on November 28, 2009, 10:09:27 PM: Hans,

that is very interesting. What do you use to protect your pleiones from rain?
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Eric Locke on November 28, 2009, 10:18:49 PM: Quote from: Maren on November 28, 2009, 10:09:27 PM
Hans,

that is very interesting. What do you use to protect your pleiones from rain?

Mine have always perished due to either frost or getting over wet. :'( :'( :'(

Eric
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Pete Clarke on November 30, 2009, 08:23:02 PM: Julien - these are Rakata (? Shot Silk) bulbs, growing in ordinary garden soil for the last 6-7 years, without any protection & uncared for. The ground is wet & shaded in winter & regularly frosted. They seem to take what ever weather we get without problem & flower well in the spring.

Pete.
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 01, 2009, 08:24:13 AM: They surely look healthy Pete !! :o
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: Hristo on December 06, 2009, 10:06:27 AM: Bravo Pete,
Great to see the boundaries of what can be grown in the open garden being pushed by a few brave individuls!
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: LarsB on December 07, 2009, 09:12:04 AM: Some of us likes living on the edge ;D
Title: Re: pleione hardiness
Post by: johanneshoeller on December 27, 2009, 10:34:30 AM: Sorry for my late reply. I use an ordinary heat-insulation board (styrofoam, 2cm) to protect my Pleiones from rain.