Did you store them in the fridge? Tulips need a cold period. Being in Zone 7, you might be able to plant them in the fall and have it work out, depending on how cold your winter gets. Here's what the John Scheepers folks have to say: "If you are in Horticultural Zone 8 or warmer, we suggest that you consult a local nursery for horticultural information about precooling bulbs to suit your specific micro-climate. Overall, we recommend that tulips be prechilled in Horticultural Zones 8-10 and that all bulbs be prechilled in Horticultural Zones 9-10. Generally, flower bulbs should be prechilled for about ten weeks from 38° to 42°F. Never put them in the freezer! Plant the bulbs immediately upon removal from the refrigerator. " Here is a link that might be useful: John Scheepers

Ok, thanks everyone! I tried to plant them Saturday and only got 5 in the ground, because I could only dig down 4 inches with the bulb planter. So I thought I'd wait for my husband to get home and find his drill/auger thing he has been looking for. I looked at Paghat's website and she recommended planting that particular tulip at about 8 inches. Boy, my neighbors had a laugh at the sight of me out there in the snow. We're the only ppl in the neighborhood who haven't raked up their leaves. :0) Phyl

Just a few suggestions; If your plant came in one of those kit deals, get your plant in a considerably larger pot with some good potting medium. I use 3 gallon pots. I would imagine your Hippi might enjoy the summer outdoors developing some additional leaf growth and, thereby storing up some energy for the winter bloom. My plan is to grow mine outdoors nearly all year. Some of that winter time will be spent in a greenhouse. However, I cannot give you any instruction on the "winter reposal" that our generous teacher "Hans" teaches of. A search here on this forum using "winter reposal" will provide you with a lot of valuable info. "Plant Guy" does in fact have a very informative site for growing Hippeastrum in the Far North. Tropicalfreak As you cruise through the older post, make note of the plants you like, then do a Google search using that name with the word Hippeastrum out front. You'll find 'em. If you want a few names to start with; Papilio would top just about anyone's list these days. As far as "different and unique", is a matter of opinion. The cybisters are certainly different, "Chico", "Emerarld", "LaPaz", "Rosario" Some folks really like the doubles. Check 'em out. Ray

My crockpot "superheats" queso and Rotel on "LOW", so I am thinking that it will be too hot. The stew pot with the big heating pad wrapped around it was 117 yesterday. When I shoved a washcloth in between on one side, it dropped it to 110...so I think I'll be ok with this very scientific method. I am giving the pot 5-6 hours to equilibrate between my adjustments. I will submerge them on Wednesday... Think I'll do 2 bulbs that way. There's one bulb that doesn't have as much damage, and Chris at Southern Heirloom bulbs (just east of Dallas) suggested that I soak it in a dilute solution of systemic insecticide. I may chip another bulb later this week. That will take care of all 5; 3 will be intact and 2 chipped...AKKK still ill over it. Just checked the chips from Friday, and although it's only been 2 days I was relieved that I didn't have bags of icky black mold balls. I am going to be very patient and check them every 3 days (checking more often won't make the bulblets grow any faster!!). I really do believe now that these were just opportunistic flies, as none of the other plants that were scattered in the front were affected, just the soggy bulbs in one big pot. Systemic insecticide is my friend now. Went to Home Depot, Lowes, and Houston Plant and Garden looking for Orthene a few days ago, and none had it. Have my standard toxic 0-0-diethyl S-2-(ethylthio) ethyl phosphorodithioate as well as a new bottle of disulfotone. Will no doubt kill something!! New bulbs from Holland start shipping in a month!! Then the next round of excitement starts! Kristi