old orchid grower new to this forum

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

It seems pleiones are easier to get in the UK, but still I only have two. Really need to get more

[haika]

Oh yes.....you have access to so many more Pleiones than I have access to. I've been trying to figure out the current import procedures with all the hubub over CITES stuff but it's way more complicated than it was when I last imported from Ian Butterfield (in the 80's). I was in England/Scotland for 3 weeks back then and went to the Chelsea Flower Show and was totally enthralled with his Pleione exhibit! I had gotten my import stickers beforehand so was able to just give him my order for the fall shipment with my end of the paperwork all done. You do not have to worry about ANY of that (jealosy!).

[RosieC]

I don't know if any of them come over to the USA for shows. I get plants from the US when the growers from there come over to our shows. They sort out all the paperwork to bring in the plants they want and will often allow mail order plants for the UK when they know they are visiting, they then bring them over and mail them once in the UK.

No idea if anyone does the same thing in the other direction.

[haika]

Good idea....but haven't heard about that happening. I'll poke around, especially with the British Columbia growers who have some things I don't have. I haven't seen any of the really glorious Pleione hybrids in the BC catalogs though.

[Cntry]

Haika or Rosie are Pleione's a small compact orchid as it grows or does it get quite large? I need something that is on the smaller side so I can handle them I have MS and will be taking care of them myself.

[RosieC]

Not massive as some orchids go, but not tiny either, the leaves can get quite big.

I've just measured and the leaves on my formosanum are 16" (40cm) in length. Each bulb produced between 1 and 2 leaves (2 is better as that means 2 bulbs next year).

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Haika or Rosie are Pleione's a small compact orchid as it grows or does it get quite large? I need something that is on the smaller side so I can handle them I have MS and will be taking care of them myself.

Oncidium Twinkle. There are a few cattleyas that stay pretty small. Look for cattleya Walkeriana and its hybrids. Also, one I just got that I am in love with is dendrobium micro chip. It's a cute, fun, little orchid.

[Cntry]

Thanks Rosie and RandomGemini, for the quick response to my welcome. This board seems to be great, I am really enjoying myself here.

I can't wait to get a small collection of orchids I can work with and enjoy. I have my list started now thanks to you both.

[haika]

The smallest orchids I've grown are Restrepia, Pleurothallis, and Sophronitis spp. Equitant Oncidiums (I think they are in a new genus now)...I have Onc. Twinkle but it's more of a medium sized orchid for me. Masdevallias too....but I kept losing them suddenly. The previous four stayed with me for years. But I like the Pleiones because I can grow them outside in my area. I have some hand issues myself....fine detail work is a thing of the past (sigh).

[RandomGemini]

Haika, with MS she doesn't want something too small either. Micro miniatures are not a good fit, because she still needs to be able to manipulate the plant without requiring fine detail motion, so Oncidium twinkle is probably about perfect, in terms of size. It's more about weight than height.
I think she would also want a plant that is not very sensitive or delicate, on the off chance that it is dropped. That way she could just slide it back into the pot and move on.

I believe sophronitis are still sophronitis, but they are in the cattleya alliance and some got renamed to laelia.