Never give up! This little thing was all but given up for dead and got left to accumulate a healthy crop of weeds. I was just about to throw it out when I noticed an emerging shoot so I cleaned the weeds out and after a few weeks this is the result. The larger one to the right in the background flowered a long time ago and has a good healthy leaf shooting up, It's the more comon purple Plieione formosana
I too love these plants, though I only have the common one Plieione Formosana. It just shows by neglecting them, how they can come on.Good job you spotted the shoot in time. I have only had mine a couple of years, so they haven't had a chance to multiply at any great rate. I have seen some in specialist catalogues going for a small fortune. A lot of money to lose for the inexperienced. Good Luck Kandy
Isn't it beautiful? Plants that die right back then appear like magic again are always specially satisfying. At least you know how to treat it now! :D
I used to have a friend who grew these with great success on his north facing windowsill. He said they were just like weeds.....! I would like to try some too, I didn't realise they were expensive to buy. [ 05. June 2006, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: Liz ]
You can buy the common ones in the spring or autumn, I cannot remember which one it is though fairly cheaply. They usually come in those holey bags with a bit of peat in them or you can buy them from a specialist grower, for a lot more money. The ones at the garden centre can be bought for a couple of pounds, so if they die you haven't lost a lot of money. Though they will like orchid or bark type compost Kandy
I have a yellow one and was given a little buln from a very expensive rare pink one - it is stil green and hopefully alive, but have to say it terrifies me. I have a great big healthy leaf but no flower - all hints greatly welcome with thenks.
It's my first attempt with them and the bulbs were end of season clearouts so not that dear. They've just been planted up in a mix of loam, garden compost and grit and live in shady part of an unheated porch alongside the pelagoniums and gardenia etc. They are kept watered but not saturated and get an occasinal misting and feed. I've been suprised at how long the flowers lasted. The white one had already been in bloom for a week when I took the pic and I finally dead headed it today. Best info I could get is that they are sporadic bloomers and will throw up a bud if they feel like it so if it's got a healthy leaf and otherwise looks comfortable I'd leave well alone. Mine will definitely have to get repotted though -Scarlet red pots really clash! [ 06. June 2006, 12:14 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]
Well I am doing exactly what you said except they are on a west windowsill. I looked on pleione web site and they said to bury the bulbs, but my tame bulb man just rests his on the surface - I compromised and half buried them. There is an absolute mass of green shoots just under the surface, so may be thay re just to busy doing that to flower.
Like you I also planted them just sub-surface. I think they throw up a flower bud just before or with a new leaf so those green shoots could give you a surprise soon. I looked at the purple one today and that also has a new green shoot just showing so here's hoping.
Oh you gat me all excited not! I have had a leaf for ages bit it did not develop flower. There is a hell of a lot happening just under the soil though.
