old orchid grower new to this forum - Orchid Board

haika · #1 04-23-2014, 01:39 PM

I've been growing orchids since the 70's and right now I'm really focused on Pleione and Lycaste. Searching out new Pleione hybrids/species can be a full time job but this year I found several new sources and have a number of new plants to try out. My Pleione collection is a sliver of my past collection.....I've imported from Ian Butterfield back when it was so much easier to do so....but I've lost most of those plants through the years. Now I'm in a new location that really seems to be good for Pleiones and I'm sourcing out new material to try. I've been much more successful with the spring-blooming types so that is what I'm focused on. Don't want to kill any more P. maculata, P. praecox etc (sigh).

I am having some trouble adding photos. The buttons don't seem to work for me (nothing happens) in either the 'manage attachments' link or the 'insert image' link. Maybe it's because I'm new to the forum?????

haika - near Seattle, WA

tucker85 · #2 04-23-2014, 02:04 PM

Welcome to Orchid Board!

Leafmite · #3 04-23-2014, 02:08 PM

Pleiones, eh? If they were easier to find in the US and Ohio's climate allowed me to grow them outside, I am guessing I would have a larger collection but I have only the four. I'm currently enjoying the bub's bloom. The others are finished for the year.

1) Pleione confusa 'Golden Gate' HCC/AOS
2) Pleione buboecodiodes
3) Pleione formosanum
4) Pleione yunnanense

I'm guessing that you haven't made five posts, yet. When you do, you'll be able to upload your pictures. This was done to prevent spam.
Nice to have you join us! Hello and welcome!

RandomGemini · #4 04-23-2014, 02:09 PM

Yes, it's because you're new. You can add pics and links after you've put up 5 posts.

You should check out Seattle Orchid. They have a couple of Pleiones and a few Lycastes as well, not much in terms of selection, but you are within driving distance of their space and can go look at the plants and purchase them in person, which I find to always be an advantage.

It's great to have you here!

haika · #5 04-23-2014, 02:19 PM

Leafmite: You have a couple I've grown in the past but no longer have. I do have the P. x confusa 'Golden Gate' and P. formosana from several sources. Both are in bloom right now! I'll share photos once I'm allowed (grin). I also have some new-to-me USA sources that I discovered this year and ordered from. That post was not allowed either. I tend to google Pleione for sale in USA every spring when the Pleione fever hits (grin)!

Pleione bulbocodioides - used to make HUGE bulbs for me until one winter I lost it all (sigh)
Pleione yunnanensis - haven't had since the 70's
I think I got both of the above species from International Grower's Exchange when it was still active (before it was sold and many collectors were left with huge orders that were never filled.....including ME).

Leafmite · #6 04-23-2014, 02:29 PM

Wayne Roberts of Roberts Flower Supply has the bulbocodioides and the yunnanensis (as well as the formosana). I found the confusa at an orchid show...I think from Natt's.
I am really looking forward to your pictures.

I think that once you make so many posts, you'll be able to add links, too.

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------

Yes, I was surprised by how large those bulbs are! The confusa I have has bulbs more in the line of freesia-size so I guess I expected the other three to be as small and delicate.

haika · #7 04-23-2014, 02:38 PM

RandomGemini: Thanks for the hint. I checked out Seattle Orchids and they have one I might have already, but it's out of stock now. I'll check back in the fall/winter. Pleione praecox v. wallichiana. I have a plant from Burnt Bridge Creek Nursery (2009) labelled P. wallishiana. To my knowledge, I haven't bloomed it. I'm really really trying to be excellent at photodocumentation starting this year. Hmmmmm......I've lost everything I ever received that was labelled P. praecox and I tried several times from a number of sources (none of which still exist). Maybe I need to tweek culture on this plant....

---------- Post added at 10:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

Leafmite: I'm off to check out that source! I got my P. x confusa 'Golden Gate' from Keeping it Green Nursery (Stanwood, WA) this year. And yes....looks like I'll be checking in on your source later this year/early 2015! Thanks!

---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 AM ----------

Pleione lovers: Check out The Gardens at Post Hill. I found several lovely Pleiones there this spring and will be back to add more if possible in early 2015!

RandomGemini · #8 04-23-2014, 03:00 PM

You can get on an email list to be notified when a specific plant you want from them is back in stock.

haika · #9 04-23-2014, 03:25 PM

Pooooo....FIVE posts isn't the magic number for me. Still not allowing photo sharing. I have a lot of Pleione photos on FB (weak grin).

Leafmite · #10 04-23-2014, 04:36 PM

I have no idea, then, what the magic number is, then, for posts and pictures. I joined before they had to make those rules. I know that if you have a decent camera, you do have to resize them to make the file size smaller. I use Paint for that since I use my computer to upload the pictures.