>I would not recommend trying to pull the 'bud'
>open unless of course you want to take some leaf cuttings
No-one asked but just in case:-
In earlier years (when Adrian Slack owned Marston Exotics, propogating
P. gypsicola awass a well guarded secret! It might help beginners to
know that leaf cuttings are best treated like succulents. Pull off as
many leaves (while the plant is a resting bud) as you need for cuttings.
Leave the leaves in a warm (not hot) dry place protected from any
breezes (or you'll lose the leaves!). After 3 - 7 days, plant t=he
leaves as for other Ping leaf cuttings. Place them on top of a layer of
pure Vermiculite or Pure Perlite, in either case very fine grade, and
keep the Vermiculite/Perlite damp. Each leaf will produce a new plant
and you should get better than 90% success rates. Using frshly removed
leaves without drying them off gives a far lower success rate. This
treatment is very similar to what's done with cacti and succulent
cuttings. A trrick that works with cacti and succulents is to paint a
newly cut end with nail varnish (any colour unless you worry about
colour co-ordination!) Cuttings with painted cut ends can be planted
immediately. I've never tried this with Ping leaves but it may be worth
a trial, especially for the smaller or more succulent (fleshy) types.