Re: some bulb comments- Jim another OT for ya :)

She sounds awesome - tell her come on down!!

:-D

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Donna" <justme@prairieinet.net>
Reply-To: gardenchat@hort.net
Date:  Sun, 15 Dec 2002 23:05:35 -0600

>HI gang,
>Claire has not signed on yet, but is reading our archives. A few
>comments of her's for you all to enjoy. She will be joining us shortly!
>
>Donna
>----<snip>---------
>You are soooooooooooooo right.  There are a lot messages on the new list
>plus a lot of people I know online.  It is sort of refreshing to see
>some subjects treated as pleasure in the garden and less obsessively
>than some of the dedicated lists.
>
>I pass along to you to post the sources of everything geophytic (bulbs,
>tubers, etc,) available in the US and outside the US:
>
>Great Lakes Bulb Society: Bulb and Seed Sources
>http://www.shieldsgardens.com/GLOVBulbs/SOURCES.html#botsoc
>
>The thread on Amaryllis (this is really Hippeastrum and beginning to
>appear labelled correctly) plus Haemanthus albiflos is one I read
>through.  
>
>Haemanthus albiflos is usually available at Russell's Stafford's Odyssey
>Bulbs.  He is online with his catalog.  If you grow it from seed you
>will wait until Kingdom Come for flowers, get bulbs instead and buy at
>least three to a five inch pot.  It is not beautiful, it is easy to grow
>and is somewhat curious.  I have one and will say the list description
>was a good one.
>
>Regarding the Hippeastrum thing (Amaryllis) one of the reasons for lack
>of rebloom is understanding the cycle of the bulb and the marketing of
>the bulb.  I can speak for those zone 5 and north of 5.  
>
>They are sold by most dealers, the best included with the fleshy roots
>trimmed to fit in the package or box.  The bulb requires a full set of
>healthy roots to flourish and bloom.  When it comes to you the first
>flower scapes are already in the bulb so you have a great first year. 
>The second year may be blind while the bulb grows some new roots and
>becomes accustomed to it's new home.  After that it should bloom
>yearly.  If the bulb takes a year off, one should not be upset.  Most
>true bulbs have "contractile" roots which roughly means they anchor the
>bulb by growing straight downward.  A tall clay pot is the best thing
>and a gritty soil with some humus is good.  Leave the bulb alone as long
>as you like.  Division the of daughter bulbs is not necessary but can be
>done after dormancy if you like.
>
>With winter or spring bloom in the north, you will have to keep the now
>floppy and unattractive foliage going along until you can put it
>outside.  It will need light and water and feeding.  Find a place in you
>house where you can line up the pots and wait out the cold weather.  If
>you remove the foliage at this stage, there will be no flowers a year
>from now.
>
>After blooming the bulb must mature the foliage and it must be
>fertilized several time while doing so to make another big show. In the
>north it may sometimes refuse to dry off so when the freezing weather
>comes, you slice off the foliage and store dry, dark and above
>freezing.  A new flower bud will appear when it feels like coming up,
>all different times as what you are buying are hybrids.  If you are past
>the best part of winter, you can warm up the pot and water to urge them
>to get started.
>
>There are several original sources of the hybrids, Dutch bred and
>African bred. The Africans are shorter, have smaller bulbs and work out
>on a window sill better than the well known Dutch.  The Dutch hybrids
>are very tall.  All are easy to buy but you need a catalog for a wide
>selection.  Look in at Scheepers and see some of the new hybrids on the
>market.  Pink Floyd is long lasting and an unusual form. Cybisters are
>also unusual and treat to have some new ones to try, also Scheepers.
>
>The size of the mother bulb is what dictates the number of scapes.  A
>good sized Dutch bulb is 32-34 cm. in circumference.  A smaller sized
>bulb which would be sold in the chain stores will produce usually just
>one scape.  The African bred bulbs are smaller yet produce several
>scapes.  To my surprise I saw some prize African CV's in Walmart this
>year.   Always open the box or view the package to check the progress of
>the flower scape.  If started it may be twisted around in the box and be
>useless as a blooming plant this winter.  Open the box whatever way it
>is sealed before you buy it.  A catalog dealer will not send such a bulb
>but if you find one boxed and want it, do check.
>
>We in the north are all done ordering anything now.  These must be put
>on a reminder list for next fall. Therefore a boxed store bulb might be
>you only chance.  You will not find the Haemanthus in a garden center, a
>catalog order is necessary.    In the southern states other methods are
>followed.  Along the gulf states and in Florida, they are grown outdoors
>and follow a different timetable.
>
>If you want to pass along any of this plus my name, feel free.  I would
>write this to list but I am not able to handle any more mail this week. 
>You were certainly correct, a lot of messages, fun reading.  I sent the
>link on to a friend who needs more mail.
>
>Thanks again.  It looks like great fun.  I will sign on.
>
>Claire Peplowski
>East Nassau, NY z4
>
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>

--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX/zone 8A
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