Windowsill orchid
Pleione formosana
Also called Pleione, Peacock orchid and Indian crocus
Houseplant · OrchidsIT NEEDS A COLD REST — bulbs kept dry in a shed or a fridge drawer from November to February, then repotted. Kept warm and watered all winter it simply stops flowering, which is why most of them fail on a heated windowsill.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 4 daysSilver roots, then soak — read the roots — silver means thirsty, green means leave it alone.
- Light
- Bright indirect, cool
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Half-hardy — a light frost RHS H3, to -5°C
- Size
- 0.2 m tall · 0.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Taiwan and eastern China
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.