[sunshineband]

I have been given some tubers of three different types of pleione for Christmas (wow!)

Having read up about these, it seems they like a growing medium which holds water but allows air to permeate too.

Does anyone grow these please?

I would like to know if proprietary bark mix for orchids is suitable on its own?

Hope someone has some experience to share 

[New shoot]

Hi Sunny

I asked our houseplant lady at work and she is going to look some stuff up for you in her books and notes, as it is years since she had any experience of them.  They just don't get sold as houseplants these days as they are slightly more tricksy than the uncomplaining moth orchid.

She did say orchid bark based compost is not the stuff to use.  She also said they don't need to be potted up for a while as they need an overwinter rest out of the soil.

Will see her again tomorrow, so will see what she has come up with    She said 'lucky you' as they are beautiful plants

[sunshineband]

Thank you very much New Shoot.

I had hoped they were Ok for a while 'resting' out of compost of any kind.

Please thank your colleague for her help. I want to get this right as they are quite pricy!!!

[Agatha]

Be interested to hear what she finds out - I was given one last year, labelled as 'easy to grow'.  Followed the instructions on the packet, but it never produced a flower, only 2 sickly looking leaves - after a year I got fed up and threw it out, so I would like to know where I went wrong!

[New shoot]

From what she has said so far, I think 'easy to grow' is a bit over optimistic.  They are a bit of a fiddle by all accounts, but make up for it by being so pretty 

[New shoot]

She forgot to look it up    Answers on Monday I promise   

[SG6]

For some odd reason I think they are grown similar to alpines.

[Aunt Sally]

What a great gift

I have no idea how to grow them but there is a web site dedicated to them.

http://www.pleione.info/

[New shoot]

That's a great website 

This is the info I got, which seems to tie in with everything the website suggests :

Think houseplant cyclamen re positioning the plants - they need a cool, airy position and dislike bright direct sunlight, especially when magnified by glass.

Orchid bark is too coarse and must be mixed with finer material - commerially bought in plants used to come in a mix of fine bark, perlite and a small amount of compost.

Watering was done by dunking the plants in room temperature water then allowing to drain. Rain water or water that has been previously boiled is best - our centre is in a hard water area as you are at home Sunny.

The winter rest period is really important if you want reliable flowering as the bulbs must rest and re-absorb the nutrients from the leaves to build up for the following year 

[Agatha]

No wonder mine didn't survive - the instructions on the packet said to keep on a windowsill in full sun  . 

[sunshineband]

That's very helpful thank you New Shoot, and the website is too, Aunty 

I shal try to create some suitable compost and plant up the tubers soon, especially the very small ones as I don't want them to dry out too much before starting back into growth

I hope I am able to share a photo with you one day