Hello LostMermaid, I'm not quite familiar with 'Fantastica' but I do know that some varieties are more prone or have the habit of clumping or producing a good number of offsets/babies. In regards to whether or not these offsets/babies will slow down potential blooms, I cannot say for sure but personally, I would just let the bulbs do what they naturally do. Photos would definitely help the maestros/maestras on this forum. Have you tried Photobucket? It's free, easy, and your pictures should be able to be uploaded if you sign up for an account....regardless of size.

And... PhotoBucket is free, and I believe you can resize photos right there in PhotoBucket... it makes posting pictures in forums and sharing them with people extremely simple! It writes the HTML code for you... all you have to do is copy and paste it!

Maybe the shock made them create bulblets. This is the first time they were forced. Did they have enough leaves though? Are they blooming size? It is rare that in household conditions, you can make young bulbs flower in two years from sowing. You have to have at least 5 leaves on a bulb for it to consider blooming.

One of my 2005 seedling, produced 5 babies in 2006 and two scapes in 2007. It is growing strong as a family.

Lora from Indiana sent me some of her "Lil Pinkie" seeds one year. I am amazed at how the seeds doubled themselves by creating all these offsets on baby bulbs! Also, (and I am sending a lil cluster with Soultan's package) the Charisma crossed seeds Elizabeth sent me have to be separated all the time. They grow one small bulblette and then 2 or 3 other hitchikers start alongside the immature bulb babies. Freak of nature??? Dunno! But I find it definitely KEWL!

Conspicuous offset formation is a matter of genetics. However, a good husbandry will in some cases considerably, but principally gradually enhance that tendency of forming daughter bulbs.
The thought behind such observations and questions respectively is: "Will the daughter bulbs have an adversal effect on the development of the (original) bulb?! I have NEVER gained any indication for that.
The overall ummh... husbandry is crucial, and it decides whether you access bloomability after 2 seasons (in fact possible if the seedlings are "continued" though the first winter, preferably under artificial assimilation enlightment) after 3 or 4 seasons (usual) or never (if the culture conditions are poor) - and it is not the genetical disposition towards a rich production of them offsets!

for Jodik and Paxfleur here is a picture of Fantastica.
[IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj146/lostmermaids/Fantastica.jpg[/IMG]

The 2005 bulbs have approx 5 leaves and are growing from their dormancy very fast. Some of the 2005 bulbs have as many as three bulblets, many have only one.

and a close up of the bulbs in question

[IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj146/lostmermaids/DSC_0002.jpg[/IMG]

and here is the whole nursery

[IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj146/lostmermaids/DSC_0001.jpg[/IMG]

hope I did the picture thing right. If not let me know and I will try again.
Dana

Lostmermid - you need to copy and paste the HTML coding under your uploaded photo that you want to post here in the forum...

Under each picture you've uploaded to PhotoBucket, there are several choices of coding... choose the HTML coding. Simply click on it, and it will automatically copy, then come here, click into the post you're writing, and right click and choose "paste"... your images should appear when you preview your post... then, if everything is in order as you want it, submit your post.

Wow. That's a very different Fantastica from what Leo Berbee is selling under the same name. This Fantastica looks like Clown to me.

Welll....... damn looks like soultan is right.

I aquired this bulb, I would say at least 8 years ago under the name Fantastica. My mother and I have bought several since labeled Fantastica and this is always the flower that we get.
I suppose I should ALWAYS research the named flower that I buy. I mean how many times have I read of someone buying one flower and it blooming something else!!

In fact I bought this bulb with 4 others all labeled Red Lion. Just goes to show.

So I will guess that My new addition of Clown is a prolific grower evidenced by the babies from the 2005 bulbs?

I don't suppose anyone knows the history of this one?

{{gwi:374766}}

Thanks for the tip on how to get the picture included. As you can see I figured it out!! Not bad for no sleep off night shift!