Pleione unexpected issue

[rbarata]

Hello, my friends

This is the first time I put my Pleiones in the cold.
As far as I know, by this time of the year, they must be taken out of the pot and put in the cold (in my case in the refrigerator) where they start a new growth by middle Jan or Feb.
That's what I was doing...take them out of the pot when I saw this, which seems to be a new growth. Isn't it too soon? I really don't know what to do...

The bulbs must be taken out of their pots when the leaves die, which happened more than a month ago. I didn't do nothing because I thought the plants were sick and we had temps near 30ºC until last week.

Need some advise on this one...put them in the cold or repot them right now (temps now are around 17ºC max/ 14ºC min).

Here's a photo:

[stonedragonfarms]

They don't have to come out of their pots/media when the leaves die back, it's just easier to divide/clean them up if you do--they do need to be kept dry and cool though. I don't grow them anymore, but here in the Pacific NW, I'd let the pots go dry, remove the dead leaves, and then put them in an unheated greenhouse--they would typically get as low as about 35F
If you are putting yours in the refrigerator, make sure the bulbs are completely dry first & trim off dead roots. The growths that you are seeing are next years' flowers/bulbs; they need a cold cycle to set flowers. Hopefully the others will chime in

[rbarata]

So I'm assuming from yor words that the presence of these new growths is perfectly normal for this time of the year.
I thought they only appear later as a sign for repotting time.

[Leafmite]

If the bulb is in the flowering/growing stage, you should treat it as if the new growing season has begun. The old bulb will not likely grow again so all you have is the newly formed ones and they will not have enough energy to give it a second try.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

If the bulb is in the flowering/growing stage, you should treat it as if the new growing season has begun.

That is exactly my doubt...the presence of those new shoots mean they have entered the growing stage or not?

[Leafmite]

This was a very useful site that I used when I grew them:
The Pleione Website - The Pleione Website Homepage

I tried to find the other informative site but...no idea.

If you want, I can take a picture of your pictures and send an email to a fellow OS member who grows quite a few varieties of these and see what he thinks.

I think at least one of them has broken dormancy and the other...it seems possible but I am not certain. It has been a while since I grew them, though.

[rbarata]

Thanks, Leafmite. If possible, please contact your friend.
I already know that site but in this matter it's not clear.

[stonedragonfarms]

This is the general advice that I've always followed

[Leafmite]

He says to put them in the fridge and if one breaks dormancy, it can be taken out later but to prolong it as long as possible. It can be potted or not but do not water until the roots are a couple of inches long, which will happen around March or April.

Good luck!