Pleione humilis

Also known as: The Low Growing Pleione or Pleione humilis var. purpurascens Pleione humilis var. adnata Pleione humilis var. amitii Pleione humilis h.f. tricolor Pleione diantha Epidendrum humile Cymbidium humile Coelogyne humilis var. tricolor Coelogyne humilis var. albata in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: India Nepal

General Information

The Low Growing Pleione is a cold growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to India and Nepal.

Plant Description

Grows to 10-13cm. Each new growth has numerous elliptic leaves that grow to 8-15cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 2-6cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark
• Spaghnum Moss

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

These orchids thrive in cool, conditions with good airflow. When cultivated they will thrive in a cool, sheltered environment such as a shaded greenhouse, or if grown in cooler climates they can be grown in the garden in areas where they are protected from frost and receive shade throughout the year, though they may be able to tolerate some morning sun during winter.

Grows at high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 2mm to 377mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in December. Temperature ranges from -2C to 23C, highest in June (16C to 23C) and lowest in January (-2C to 12C).

Fertiliser

Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser year round.

Potting

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,

Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly