Orchid pleione - a tiny but very beautiful flower. A fragile plant with large flowers encourages taking care of it with special trepidation, but in reality it will not cause much trouble. Orchid is widespread in the foothill regions of East Asia (Burma, China, Thailand, India). You can meet the pleion in mountain forests or on rocky cliffs at an altitude of 600-4200 m. Unfortunately, today the genus has been greatly reduced, so the plant is under protection.
Botanical Description
Pleione is a miniature perennial plant up to 30 cm high. It belongs to the Orchidaceae family. In a large family, epiphytic and lithophytic forms can be found. At the base is a flattened pseudobulb of a dark green color. In the process of growth on a short, creeping stem, new pseudobulbs are formed, tightly pressed against each other.
At the beginning of the vegetative period, 1-2 hard leaves grow over the bulb. The sheet plate is painted dark green. It has smooth edges and an oval or lanceolate shape. The length of the folded leaves reaches 10-15 cm. During the dormant period, the leaves fall, and the mother’s bulb gradually dries up. Around the old pseudobulb several children grow annually.
In the genus pleion, there are plants that bloom in March-April or in September-October. By the beginning of the flowering period, a short peduncle is formed from the base of the pseudobulb. On an upright stalk up to 15 cm long, 1-3 buds are located. The diameter of the opened flowers is 6-11 cm, each flower remains attractive for 3-4 weeks. Flowers can be painted white, raspberry, cream and yellow. The wide-lanceolate petals are open in the shape of a fan. The lip has the appearance of a tube or spindle with an extended fringed edge.
Types of Playon
There are about 25 species in the pleion family, each of which has several hybrids and decorative varieties. In total, there are up to 150 varieties, so before you buy a pleione, you should carefully study the assortment.
Pleione Hooker. The plant is found in the Himalayas at an altitude of up to 4.2 km. From a pear-shaped bulb up to 2.5 cm long, 2 oval leaves are opened. The edge of the leaves is pointed, their length is 5-10 cm. Peduncle with 1-2 buds grows above the pseudobulb. Flowers in diameter do not exceed 5 cm. The long white lip is a wide tube with a yellow-brown pattern in the lower part. Lighter at the base of the petals at the edges are painted in lilac or purple. The plant blooms in May and June.
Pleione squat. Alpine view with dark green, bluish shoots. In spring, 1-2 dense leaves are formed, 5-15 cm long. Immediately after flowering, the leaves begin to die. Flowering occurs in September-November. From the base of the bulb grows a peduncle with 1-2 snow-white flowers. The inner surface of the tubular lip is covered with burgundy or red stains.
Pleione is early. The plant lives high in the mountains and has cylindrical pseudobulbs up to 3 cm high. Reddish spots are visible on the surface of the dark green base. The plant produces 1-2 dense leaves of a lanceolate or oval shape. Their length does not exceed 15 cm. At the beginning of autumn, a flower stalk 10 cm long with a single bud is formed. Flowers with a diameter of 6-9 cm, painted in purple or pink and covered with rare specks. The lip is characterized by a darker color and the presence of yellow and white scallops.
Pleione is graceful. A low plant forms pear-shaped small bulbs. Above them are light green delicate leaves up to 10 cm long. Only one flower of white, pink, purple or lilac flowers is formed on each peduncle. The lip is lighter in color, it has a wide bell and a carved edge.
Pleione formosan (formosana). The plant reaches a height of 20 cm. 1-2 oval leaves are formed over a rounded bulb. Petals are lilac, cream or yellow. A lighter lip is covered with orange spots. This orchid is common in the mountains of China.
Playone is Bulbcode. The plant is resistant to cold and can be grown in open ground. The height of the orchid does not exceed 15 cm. 1-2 wide, easily breaking leaves and a flower stalk with a single bud bloom from the base of the bulb. Large pink and white flowers have a long lip with a fringed edge. It blooms in March and April. Leaves ripen after the flowers wither.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of the pleione is done by a vegetative method. For this, in early spring, fused bulbs are divided into several groups. The procedure is carried out after the appearance of small sprouts, at the end of the dormant period. It is advisable to leave 2 pseudobulbs in each dividend, then the rooting process will be easier. The slice is made with a sharp, disinfected blade. The cut site is sprinkled with crushed charcoal.
Planting is carried out immediately in a substrate for adult orchids. You can grow a pleione in pots or immediately plant it in the garden. In group cultivation, 15 cm are kept between the dividers. The pseudobulb is not completely buried, leaving young shoots and a third of the bulb above the surface.
Care Rules
Caring for a pleione at home is quite affordable for a beginner or inexperienced grower. She prefers rooms with intense, diffused light. It is advisable to choose eastern or western window sills, so that the midday sun does not burn the tender shoots.
To plant a pleion, use shallow pots with large holes. At the bottom, it is important to line a thick layer of drainage material (expanded clay, pebbles). The soil for planting must be light and breathable. You can make a mixture of:
- moss sphagnum;
- shallow pine bark;
- charcoal.
After planting, plants need lower temperatures, about + 10 ... +15 ° C. Every year at the beginning of spring, a transplant is necessary. It is important to remove as much old soil as possible and check the roots for disease.
Often in the photo, the pleion can be seen on the garden flower bed. And this is not surprising. The mountain dweller tolerates a cool climate, but can suffer from excessive heat. Even indoor plants are recommended for summer to take out to fresh air. It is advisable that the air temperature does not exceed +25 ° C. In winter, during dormancy, it is recommended to take the sleeping orchid to a cold room (0 ... +3 ° C). Even after the leaves fall, it is important to keep the pseudobulb in a bright room, so you can’t remove the pots in the pantry or basement.
During the period of active vegetation and flowering, the pleione needs frequent and plentiful watering. Tap water must be defended and then filtered. Excess water should leave the pot freely. After falling leaves, watering is completely stopped.
The optimum air humidity is 50%, but on hot days it can be increased up to 70%. Spraying of leaves and the use of trays with wet expanded clay are allowed.
From April to October, the pleione needs regular feeding. It is recommended to use a fertilizer for orchids every month. After the leaves fall, the need for top dressing disappears.
With proper care and compliance with the irrigation regimen, the pleione is not exposed to disease. Sometimes juicy foliage is attacked by spider mites, mealybug, snails and slugs. Cope with pests will help modern insecticides.
