Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: Guus on October 09, 2011, 07:49:38 PM

Title: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: Guus on October 09, 2011, 07:49:38 PM: Hi all,
I have some small bulbils on top of the old bulbs of Pleione humilis. How do I treat those best to get them to grow to new plants?
Thanks for your help!
Greetings, Guus
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: LarsB on October 10, 2011, 11:14:56 AM: I've had limited success putting them on rackwil slabs where i can actually see them and keep them moist at the same time. Growing them in pots with 'ordinary' backbased compost has not worked for me. Still, i've oly managed to get 2 out of 20 to survive, so i'm probably not hte best to learn from :)
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: Slug Killer on October 10, 2011, 12:27:55 PM: Guus

If you mean the very small bulbils that form large clusters then they are difficult but not impossible. I store them in dry tubs in a dark cold garage (frost free) over winter and then start them off in a mix of fine perlite and coco coir with shredded moss on top and just sprinkle them in. Spray to dampen when you see the first signs of growth. I would guess 40% make it through the first year. This year I have more clusters than normal.
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: Maggi Young on October 10, 2011, 01:42:27 PM: Quote from: LarsB on October 10, 2011, 11:14:56 AM
I've had limited success putting them on rackwil slabs where i can actually see them and keep them moist at the same time. Growing them in pots with 'ordinary' backbased compost has not worked for me. Still, i've only managed to get 2 out of 20 to survive, so i'm probably not hte best to learn from :)

rackwil slabs = rockwool sheets , I presume? :)
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: Guus on October 10, 2011, 05:53:09 PM: Thanks for the first inputs! I said "I have some..." but I think I should be honest and follow Slug Killer to say that I have many of them and I want to try to get many through winter and get them to start growing next year...
I'll try some different treatments.
Greetings, Guus
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: LarsB on October 11, 2011, 08:30:59 AM: Quote from: Maggi Young on October 10, 2011, 01:42:27 PM
Quote from: LarsB on October 10, 2011, 11:14:56 AM
I've had limited success putting them on rackwil slabs where i can actually see them and keep them moist at the same time. Growing them in pots with 'ordinary' backbased compost has not worked for me. Still, i've only managed to get 2 out of 20 to survive, so i'm probably not hte best to learn from :)

rackwil slabs = rockwool sheets , I presume? :)

Sorry. Rockwool slabs, actually. It is untreated, compressed rockwool. It can absorb a lot of water and I use it for growing orchids like Masdevallia and Pleione mounted. The slabs looks awful at first, but they are soon covered by a layer of moss and suddenly they look more naturelike than nature :) Haven't got a good picture but i can take some if anyone wants to see what it looks like.
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 11, 2011, 11:09:18 AM: Would be quite interesting to see Lars !!
Title: Re: how to treat the small bulbils on P. humilis?
Post by: LarsB on October 11, 2011, 01:08:17 PM: I'll go home and take some pictures, then ;D