Episode 33 Pleione orchids and how I look after mine through the year.

Pleiones are beautiful orchids and they are almost hardy. I've been growing them since I was a teenager. If you live in a region with a temperate climate they are very easy and rewarding to grow. There are only a few species but a huge choice of lovely hybrids to choose from.

[@ronseidel4249]

Beautiful display of Pleiones in bloom. A well-informed session on the care of these enchanting little gems by a truly inspirational speaker. Most enjoyable tutoria.😊

[@HowardRice]

Thanks. I love pleiones. They are beautiful and so easy to grow. Glad you found it useful.

[@laurapeck9199]

I just love this video. You gave us a whole year in a short synopsis. The information was cohesive and easy to understand. Fantastic job. You are so dedicated to informing and inspiring that you literally took an entire year to create this video for us. Bravo

[@HowardRice]

Hi Laura, Glad you enjoyed it and for your kind words

[@juliashearer7842]

I absolutely agree. I have come back to watch it again. The April display is stunning too!

[@mfcabrini]

@@juliashearer7842 My thoughts exactly. I admire your patience and dedication in spending an entire year to cover the growth cycle.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Another interesting and informative video! I really enjoy watching you with your orchids and appreciate the knowledge you pass along. As usual, I learned a lot. Thanks so much!

[@HowardRice]

Thanks very much. Best regards, Howard

[@LiamEserda]

Thank you Howard. A real joy to watch your video's and what a beautiful plants! I wish I discovered your channel earlier! And so calming and relaxing this ambience is.

[@idamarynongsiejidamarynong9396]

What lovely orchid from shillong india

[@philippecats9539]

Such a stunning collection!! Bravo!

[@mfcabrini]

Thank you for a very complete explanation. I just bought my first little pleione, not knowing anything about them. This is very helpful.

[@HowardRice]

Thankyou. They can be very rewarding and easy to grow.

[@angelbass6556]

Lovely video and orchids. Thank you

[@maureenswallow3054]

Both enjoyable, and educational, thanks,Bill.

[@pier6976]

Thank you, how beautiful! My grandmother grew these...I'm not sure she knew they were orchids!

[@sameeradhikari7346]

Wow

[@grahamclark3338]

Excellent video again. Very informative and well put together

[@HowardRice]

Thanks Graham

[@ronseidel4249]

GREAT LEARNING SESSION. INSPIRING TEACHER😊

[@kiwiargento]

Howard what a great video! I've just recently discovered Pleiones as my Orchid Club is doing a bulb order in NZ. It was so informative and showing the whole cycle is just amazing. The placement of the camera and the whole editions is just great.

[@beckyschlegel6777]

This was a great video! I just bought a couple at my local orchid show.

[@goshafrau3636]

Very valuable video! Thank you.

[@EliezaBaby]

I love this vlog 💗 brilliant and motivating. Bravo 👏 😻

[@MilanOfCreagan]

great video as always Howard. I've lost most of my formosanas last winter. I left them in our polytunnel, we are in the Trossachs and the temperature went below -10C for a few nights. only a few bulbils survived so it is going to be a long ride lol. will keep them in our unheated garage with the rest of my Pleiones from now on. happy growing

[@martinafaust4851]

Thanks Howard! This was just what I needed. I would like to start growing some Pleiones and was after information on growing them.

[@user-yx9dr8qg1k]

❤❤❤ beautiful

[@BlaisZeroni]

Wow, you put a lot of thought and patience into this video. It was a hood watch, never seen these discussed before. I’ve seen them in garden center here sometimes, but was never brave enough to pick one up. But now I might have to give it a try! Shame the flowers only last so short, but they are very interesting orchids. Thanks for the knowledge!

[@HowardRice]

Glad you enjoyed it. The large pan of P. formosana which I filmed three weeks ago is actually still looking perfect so, if the weather is cool, it can easily go for 3-4 weeks which is longer than many of the orchids indoors. Definitely the best one to start with in my opinion.

[@justtryandtaste8927]

This is a very complete video about growing Pleione orchid. I really enjoy this. Pleione is really beautiful orchid, too bad we can't find it in Indonesia. Thank you for making this video, really appreciate it.

[@mgadventurer9654]

Great video. Now I want Pleiones and need to research how to grow them in the foothills of Southern California.

[@HowardRice]

I know the climate varies hugely according to where you live in California. Should be okay providing not too hot and dry in the summer and the cool dry rest in winter. If not cold enough in winter there's always to option of storing in a fridge if needed.

[@newmanmansell760]

wonderful episode😌🙏💖I thoroughly enjoyed watching

[@YnseSchaap]

They look very similar to Lycaste when they are in the leaf stage 😁 very helpful video Howard !

[@HowardRice]

yes but not quite so large.

[@YnseSchaap]

@@HowardRice 😁

[@daisyflower4105]

What a brilliant video! It has inspired me to try to grow some! Not sure how I’ll go as maybe Sydney is too warm but we’ll see. Thank you for your wonderful videos they are a lovely surprise when they appear.

[@HowardRice]

Might be challenging in summer. Somewhere shady and frequent watering perhaps? Worth a try. If you can find out if anyone locally grows them that would be a great help. Local orchid Society?

[@Garnetspagrud]

Thank you so much for such an excellent video. I’ve watched it twice and will refer to it again in the future I’m sure. You didn’t mention fragrance. The ones I have don’t have any discernible fragrance. Do any of yours have a scent? Thanks again

[@inigo7586]

I love the plant 🪴 I’m going to buy one the thing is that I live in Spain where it is quite hot so I’ll see how it goes

[@HowardRice]

I guess it depends a lot on where you are in Spain and at what altitude. Still, only one way to find out! Hope it works for you.

[@juliashearer7842]

Hi Howard, I am looking forward to referring back to this video when I get some of these. In the meantime, if you see this, I was wondering if you have Dendrochilum gracile and could give any advice for growing it please? I have seen your videos on your Dendrochilums so far. Many thanks for sharing your wonderful collection. It is very inspiring.

[@HowardRice]

Hi Julia, I do have D. gracile. It is a really lovely small species. Mine gets the same treatment as my other dendrochilums - basically - coolish, shady and moist. One thing that is becoming more and more clear to me is that orchids in pots need to be repotted regularly and divided when big enough so that, as in the garden with many herbaceous perennials, you need to keep things moving along and not just leave them to their own thing. I'm trying to be better at this with my orchids. With dendrochilums, as far as I can make, out it is best to do this well before they start a new growth cycle. In the case of D. glumaceum this is in about Nov or Dec. D. gracile flowers later so I'd guess early spring. Best regards Howard

[@petravazanska5707]

This is my dream, having a green house or a conservatory.. i have a big plastic green house, but every 3 years I have to change it because it gets broken.

[@HowardRice]

It was my dream too - for half a lifetime! Hope you don't have to wait so long.

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Great tutorial video, thanks for sharing. Your pleione collection is so beautiful! I've never tried them before but I guess they grow well outdoors, since I got Colionthe which grows easily for me. I've never seen the yellow one for sale. They all beautiful, how long do they flower for?

[@HowardRice]

Thanks Mary. Best time to buy is winter when people are selling dormant pseudo bulbs by mail order such as on Ebay. I think you are in London? so they will grow well for you if you do the same as me. The individual flowers last 2 to 3 weeks but with a slight succesion of blooms each pan looks good for at least 3 weeks. P. formosana from memory can be good for a month outside if the weather is cool.

[@yves5502]

Amazing video. Thanks a lot. I just don't understand how and when you feed them, can you write NPK? THANKS.

[@HowardRice]

In the summer they get fed along with all the other plants such as bedding plants in pots outside with Miracle_Gro soluble plant food ( NPK 24:8:16 with trace elements) but at a reduced concentration - about a quarter normal and about every week or so. Towards late summer iIuse Tomato food but again at reduced strength. If you haven't watched it yet have a look at the first half of Episode 38 which is also about pleiones.

[@yves5502]

​@@HowardRice, thanks. I like the pots, how tall and wide are they? I will try to find in my country. I prefer clay pots for orchids :) . Thanks again for your films, they are so informative.