Formosaorchidee 'Light'

Season Overview

Description

Pleione formosana, also known as the Tibetan orchid or Formosa orchid, is a small terrestrial orchid that is quite challenging to cultivate. It is sought after for its early and beautiful flowers, which are quite large in relation to the plant. Pleione formosana 'light' is a vigorous orchid that originated from a cross between Pleione formosana and formosana var. alba. It has white to light pink flowers, the center of which is speckled with salmon-colored to light red lines. It is a rhizomatous orchid that develops pseudobulbs as storage organs. As it is not hardy and requires a dry winter rest period, this Pleione is best cultivated in a pot in an orchid substrate to ensure optimal overwintering conditions. In regions with mild winters, it can also be placed between the stones of a semi-shaded rock garden that is protected from winter rain. Pleione formosana is a botanical species native to the subtropical mountain forests of Taiwan. In nature, it grows in humus that accumulates between moss-covered rocks or even in tree stump holes in humid environments. Therefore, this plant has specific soil and climate requirements. All Pleione species belong to the orchid family. These orchids thrive best in a cold greenhouse with a winter dormancy period. The Formosa orchid is deciduous. A mature plant reaches a height of about 15-20 cm. At the end of winter, sometimes as early as March, the plant forms new shoots. The flowering period is in April, sometimes even at the end of March, when the young leaves sprout from the ground. Each bulb produces one or two flower stems, each with a single flower about 8 cm in diameter. Each flower consists of long, thin sepals and petals in a light pink shade, surrounding a large, fringed, white lip. After flowering, this orchid forms leaves and new pseudobulbs, which emerge from the original pseudobulbs. The 15 cm long leaves are lanceolate, elliptical, and curved inward, and are medium green in color. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall off as the plant goes into hibernation. It survives thanks to the reserve substances in its pseudobulbs. The following spring, new bulbs form, which produce more bulbs and enlarge the Pleione over the years. The genus Pleione belongs to the orchid family (bot. Orchidaceae). It comprises around 20 species native to Asia. In addition, there is a wide variety of Pleione hybrids, whose attractive flowers vary in shape, size, and color. The representatives of this Asian orchid genus are known in this country as Tibetan orchids. Other synonyms are Himalayan orchids and mountain orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek goddess Pleione. These are plants that mainly root in the ground, sometimes grow as epiphytes on trees or cling to rocks. In our latitudes, plants of this genus are only partially winter hardy, so they are found exclusively in cultivation. Leaf The leaves of Pleione are simple and usually grow individually, more rarely in pairs from the so-called bulb. This is an onion-like thickened part of the shoot axis. While the leaf is initially curled up, it grows to its full size after flowering. In autumn, it turns yellow and the plant sheds it in winter. Flower Like the leaf, the flower emerges from the bulb. The leaf encloses its stem at the base. The hermaphroditic flowers are beautifully shaped and conspicuous due to their size. Fruit Pleiones form capsule fruits that are spindle-shaped. They have three longitudinal ribs. The capsules contain the seeds of the plants. Growth Pleiones grow herbaceous and reach a height of ten to twelve centimeters. They survive the winter in pseudobulbs, which are thickened areas at the base of the stem that act as water and nutrient stores. Distribution Members of the Pleione genus are widespread in Asia. They mainly originate from China, Nepal, Tibet, and Taiwan. The plants can also be found in Southeast Asian countries. The occurrence of many species is often limited to a small distribution area. They often settle at altitudes between 1000 and 3500 meters. At the beginning of the 20th century, Pleiones were introduced to England as cultivated plants. Use Pleiones are popular ornamental plants. Orchid lovers particularly appreciate their large flowers. They look best in the front row of a flower bed. They can be combined very well with delicate grasses and ferns.

Growing tips

Plant the Formosa orchid in partial shade and sheltered from the wind in an orchid substrate or in light, humus-rich, sandy and well-drained soil that remains slightly moist from spring to the end of summer. Plant it in a fresh rock garden between stones together with lady's slippers, bletilla and small ferns. Due to its low winter hardiness, it is essential to protect the root area from winter moisture. This plant is often cultivated in large pots that are overwintered in a cold greenhouse and are hardly ever watered. Tip: After flowering, it is important not to allow the soil to dry out, as this is when the pseudobulbs grow and multiply. Pleione formosana prefers sheltered environments, partial shade, light humus and always stays slightly moist between March and September, but dry in winter. Winter moisture in combination with frost will cause the rhizome to rot. In very dry soil, the plant can tolerate temperatures of -8 to -10 °C for short periods. In rock gardens, winter protection against cold and moisture is essential. For this purpose, a layer of 20 cm of leaf or bark compost is placed over the rootstock and covered with a waterproof cover. Growing in large pots or planters is perfectly possible in an orchid substrate or a mixture of 60% heather soil, 20% potting soil and 20% coarse sand. Pleione plants have quite high nutrient requirements during the growing season: a weekly application of fertilizer at half the dosage as for geraniums from mid-May to mid-September is recommended. Pleione plants do not like lime, hot and dry summers, wind, dry air, cold and damp winters. The pseudobulb at the base of the plant should not be completely buried: It should protrude at least half its height. Water with lime-free and non-chlorinated water. Location Pleions thrive very well in a light to partially shaded location. Morning and evening hours of sunlight are ideal, whereas the plants cannot tolerate midday sun. The plants grow well in substrates that are loose, moist, well-drained and lime-free. The plants mostly grow terrestrially, i.e. they root in the soil. Some representatives grow lithophytically, colonizing rock crevices, while others thrive as epiphytes on trees. Care/pruning Although Pleione plants should always be kept moist, they do not tolerate waterlogging. Excess water should therefore be removed from the cachepot or drip tray. From May to September, make sure that the substrate dries out before the next watering. Depending on the substrate used, fertilizing is recommended every two weeks or one month. After the growing season, occasional watering is sufficient. Fertilizing is no longer necessary from autumn onwards. Before the first frosts, the plants move into their winter quarters, where they rest at temperatures between five and ten degrees. Diseases/pests Slugs and snails like to attack the pseudobulbs of the pleione and thus damage the new shoots of the plants. The plants are also susceptible to fungal diseases such as Pythum and Fusarium. Location Light: Semi-shady to shady, no direct midday sun. Temperature: Cool to cold, but frost-free (5-15 °C in winter, 15-20 °C in summer). Humidity: High (60-70%), especially during the growth phase. Substrate Recommended: Airy orchid substrate made from bark, peat or seramis. Alternative: Water- and air-permeable potting soil for outdoor cultivation. Drainage: Very important, avoid waterlogging. Planting Plant bulbs: Shallow in the substrate, cover only lightly. Time: Spring, when the new shoots appear. Choice of pot: Transparent pots or glass planter to control moisture and root growth. Care Watering: Regularly during the growth phase, keep substrate slightly moist. Reduce watering after flowering, keep almost dry in winter. Fertilization: From spring to summer every 2 weeks with a weak orchid fertilizer. Do not fertilize during the dormant phase. Winter dormancy: Store bulbs in a cool, dry place (e.g. in a cellar or refrigerator at 5-8 °C). Only repot and water in spring. Special features Flowering time: Spring, often before the leaves emerge. Flowers: Large, showy, often fragrant; the fringed lip is characteristic. Life span of the bulbs: Each pseudobulb is only active for about 12 months, but forms new daughter bulbs. Propagation: By dividing the bulbs after the dormant period.

Details

Light requirement

Semi-shaded

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Germination temperature

5 - 10 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm