You might miss out on flowers this year, too, but you can make moves toward improving things for the following year/s.

While the leaves are up and flourishing - give the plants a 'side dressing' of potato or tomato fertiliser scriffled into the surface dirt. This adds potash to the soil and can help with the production of next year's flowers.

Another move is to add a good layer of aged compost to the area when the leaves have gone.

The third is, as you say, to thin the plants. More than thin - when you dig them up also add fresh compost to the soil if you are going to put them back in the same place.

Agreed. A good watering and then a feeding with bulb food will help to get them strong again. The compost would be a slow and lasting moisture protector and a food as well. But thinning just might be the thing to do first; after five years they may have multiplied to the point where they are just too crowded. Get in there and see what is going on; if you see many and small ones, they are too crowded now. Then separate and replant them; water, feed and mulch for next year.

mbluetyphoon,

You have classic case of overcrowding, to shallow and undernourished. If bulbs are left in one place long enough, they will continue to multiply and literally push out of the ground. Additionally, bulbs are heavy feeders during their storage season, when they bulk up and store nutrients for the coming season (immediately after bloom). I strongly recommend that you lift and seperate the bulbs (you'll have a lot to give away). Once lifted, you should incorporate a lot of compost into the area and dig it in deeply (preferably a foot or so). Replant the bulbs, mulch and water thoroughly. The bulbs will probably bloom this year after thinning and resetting (mine did). After this, if you will make it a habit to lift the bulbs, seperate them and rejuvenate the beds about every three years, fertilize with a good quality slow-release fertilizer after blooming ceases and keep them watered (not wet) during the growing season, you will avoid this issue later. Hope this helps and I found some great information about this and other stuff at the link below, as well as a pretty good newsletter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardening Resource

Hi!

Thank you to all for the suggestions. I will start thinning the group today. I will follow suggestions made towards fertilization and watering. It would be so nice to see the paperwhites come up again - they smell so wonderful!

Again, thank you.

Sincerely,

mbluetyphoon