pleione

Pleione is a genus of great consequence in cultivation . It includes mainly terrestrial cryphilic (to frost -ressistant ) species . In spite of this fact, pleione orchids are included in the tropical section of Orchidaceae-their body morphology and life cycle makes them very similar to the tropical species . More over ,the genus contains ,among others ,a group of rather thermophilic species (including one entirely trophical epiphyte ,Pleione maculata). The plants form standard ,firm, fleshy pseudobulbs of broad , conic or spherical shapes . The apices of the pseudobulbs give rise to one or two elongated ,elliptical ,rather flabby leaves with a marked lengthwise venation. The leaves are shed annually before winter. In alpine species , single flowers develop in early spring simultaneouly with the forming of new shoots (this group includes Pleione limprichtii a Pleione formosana); the more warmth -loving species do not bloom until the fall,when the leaves are shed (besides Pleione maculata , this section includes also Pleione humilis, Pleione hookeriana , Pleione praecox and other species .) The flowers develop singly or in pairs on short spikes and are very decorative . Their lip is very decorative with lengthwise ribs and fimbriated edge . The tepals are also attractively green and sometimes only partially open . Cultivation requirements are the same with both ecologiacl groups -the vegetation period should be launched in early spring in a cool greenhouse (at temperatures between 50 -65 F/10 -18 C). Plant the bare pseudobulbs (unless they were wintered in a substrate ) in broad ceramic flowerpots or bowls filled with a mixture of ground pine bark , grated Styrofoam ,perlite,charcoal ,needless of coniferous trees and a little siliceous sand. For cryophilic species , you can add soil ,but be aware of the risk of root molding . During vegetation , the plants need sufficient moisture ,fertilizer fresh ,moving air an protection from direct sunlight . Toward the end of the summer ,reduce watering somewhat,and start wintering the plants after they shed their leaves or ,with ''autumnal '' species ,after their flowers fade . Even though some of them are,if covered with a layer of quality snow ,able to survive a cold winter ,it is safer to winter them in cool greenhouses ,cellars or refrigerators . If the pseudobulbs tend to dry up excessively during the storage period ,it is recommended to place them in a plastic bag or cover them with peat. Pleione orchids belonging to the beautiful genus Pleione can be spotted in alphine and submontane regions of India, China , Burma and Thailand .