Jodi: Sorry to hear of the desssimation of your bulb collection. I guess we all learn from experience and also from the tales and experiences of others that awaken us to check our own more closely. Thanks for sharing your story and also thankyou for sharing all the pictures of your gardening experience that you do. Ross.

I know the feeling Jodi. I have lost only a couple this year, but there's nothing like that feeling of surprise when you look at a bulb that's gotten shoved to the back and, as you said, it's nothing but a dried husk. This year I lost my Grand Cru (from WalMart) and my Rembrant van Rijn (from RC....whaaaaaa!!!). Now whenever I am checking bulbs, I do reach all the way back and feel the bulb for being solid. Since I am using the systemic, haven't had any soft bulbs...and losing a couple from rot (even though they were cool bulbs) isn't the end of my world. I'm not happy, but definitely a teaching moment. I've been pretty good about placing bulbs higher in the pot and this fall, as I repot everything before they go in the greenhouse will give me a good chance for further inspection.

Kristi

Dear Jodik,

So sorry to hear about your bulbs. I know the feeling...
But, please do not be so hard on yourself. A day has only 24 hours, 8 of which we already spend sleeping. That leaves us just 16... And you were so busy! Come one.... is it not your fault!
I've also lost a few last season. Because of lack of space i had to bring them outside. It was not such a good idea after all. On the other hand, the did get the sun they so much needed, but they got all kinds of pests. For instance woodlice, because my garden is very humid. It gets just a few hours of sun a day in the summer and it rains really A LOT in Holland. There were also a lot of snails, more than other years .... and earwigs. The affected bulbs survived, but some bulbs (among "Aphrodite" and "Naranja") had a hole just above the basal plate, where the bulb curls into the basalplate. Inside the hole i always found one single brown fat larva, around 7 or 8 mm long. Probably a narcisus fly? I still hope it wasn't that. I was very sad, since Aprodite & Naranja were completely lost. And those were my favourite. I love Naranja! It looks like its petals are covered with myriads of tiny diamonds. Really a stunning cultivar. I was so sad i could cry. My husband saw me standing in the garden and even came to me, thinking i was feeling ill. But i was just very, very sad.

I wish you a lot of strengh and don't beat yourself like that, just buy new ones and begin again with the experience you've gained.

Big hug,

~Lourdes~

Jodi, so sorry to hear about your losses. I think the real trick is to find the perfect balance of attention so as not to smother or neglect.

I had been neglecting my Emerald bulb which was planted outside. I lifted it yesterday to divide the babies, and was shocked to find the basal plate was over a half inch thick! You could see all the layers of previous growth that had died and composted away (the bulb was healthy with no signs of rot), but now I understand how the bulb literally was lifting itself up out of the ground! I'll try and remember to post a photo this evening. Its just the funniest looking thing I've seen on a bulb.

Phoenix Ryan

Thank you, all... it's my pleasure to share pictures, stories, and everything I do with my bulbs... in the hopes that maybe someone can use a bit or two of the information, or smile when they see a particular flower they like, etc...

I should have been paying closer attention to them, so it is my fault. I figured they'd be fine until I could get around to re-potting. I'm not going to beat myself up over it, though... these things happen.

We live and learn... it's part of the process. And really, there is a bright side... I now have room for a few new bulbs!

This past spring and summer just flew by... I was so busy outside that I didn't have time to do much but give a quick watering now and then to my bulbs. The funny thing is... after checking the bulbs I have in the north facing window, those are plump, green, and growing huge leaves! And there is no supplemental lighting in that area... I wonder why those are doing so well? They're still potted in yucky old potting soil. They all bloomed earlier this spring, too.

I keep wondering if some bugs got in here and might be responsible for some of the issues... but I don't see anything other than a few fruit flies and a few of those orange ladybug look-alikes.

In any case, we're going tomorrow to get more granite chips and pine bark, so it looks like I'll be devoting time tomorrow to re-potting my jungle.

Thanks again for all the good thoughts... and I can't wait to see your funny looking bulb that pushed itself out of the ground, Ryan! My Minerva is doing that, too... between her and her baby, they've got a good sized pot filled, and then some! The bamboo hoop that was helping to hold up their leaves is half out of the pot!

I feel your pain. Last November I broke my ankle and wasn't able to get to the greenhouse very often until the end of January. Didn't dare try to walk thru the snow. I lost a few plants and a few amaryllis. The amaryllis I lost were mostly newly planted hybrids. Just be grateful that you now have extra space for more plants :)

Wow... breaking an ankle could really set back a greenhouse... I'm always hoping I remain in tact, even though I'm terribly clumsy! So far, so good! :-)

Oh, I am thankful! I've made a short list of varieties to be on the lookout for... I hope our local garden center has a couple of them this year!

I was pulled down by a very large dog that was in labor. She didn't want to go to the vet and get checked. I have only been out of the soft brace for a few weeks, and some days it still hurts. Definitely not fun. What varieties are you looking for?

What breed of dog, mymimi43? Speaking of dogs in labor, my little Maia was just determined to be pregnant! Puppies soon! We haven't had little ones in the house since she was born... it will be kind of nice! :-) We're retired breeders... I sort of miss the occasional litter.

I'll be on the lookout for Apple Blossom, for one... I just haven't gotten a strong bulb, even though this is a rather common variety. I'm sure to find one locally... every store carries this one around Christmas. I'm waiting for our local garden center to get their selection in... they usually have around a dozen varieties, or more... nice ones, too!

I hope your ankle gets better... it's no fun walking around in pain. Take it from me, chronic pain sufferer! And winter is so much worse for bone pain! Take it easy... keep that foot up!

Oh, your poor bulbs! We've all been there for one reason or another. We had just gotten the garden back in shape from Ike and the 4' of salt water when the roofers burned the house up. So the garden has been totally ignored for months. We lost a few things including a couple of Jims bonsai and other stuff needs a machete to get through.
Such is the life of a gardener. I just look at it as an opportunity to BUY MORE PLANTS!
Tally HO!

Oh, yes... I now have room for a few new ones, and I didn't expect that! I have so many bulbs that I'm almost glad the weaker ones showed themselves with a little bit of neglect. Now, I can replace those.

How's the yard coming along, Tally?

dogs......... giant alaskan malamute. appleblossom shouldnt be to hard to find. have swine flu, dont feel like posting. will return in a couple of days.......

Oh, no... I hope you feel better soon. Any flu is horrible, but this is supposed to be the worst. Do take care of yourself.

An Apple Blossom should be easy to locate... once all the stores get their bulb displays up. I can't wait to go bulb shopping!

CONGRATS on Maia being determined to be pregnant!!!! Ummm This was a Planned Litter, Right???? ***Smiley***

I'm Sorry that You've lost some of Your Bulbs

Jodi, Congratulations on the coming puppies! Our GOrdie baby, Shan, is now 4 months old and growing so fast! It must be the switch in puppy chow, LOL. Well, I sure know what you mean about being a bit overextended on the summer gardening and not having time for the amaryllis. Fortunately mine rather liked the neglect aside from the Narcissus bulb fly attacks.

Just got diagnosed with metatasalgia yesterday after limping around for 2 weeks. I am wearing a "Boot" for the next 6 weeks.(Comes from overworking the tendons, go figure!) Good thing the summer garden is about done. I am worried about getting my 1000 new daffodils in and all the other bulbs, minor and major. Most of the tulips go in crates. They will do OK if I can get them in by Jan 1, though so not panic time. We are supposed to have a warmer and dryer winter this year then usual. IF the "dryer" part is true it could be quite nice.

Thank you! Yes, Maia's litter was planned... we've had people begging us to make a breeding, so every pup she gives birth to already has a home. I suspect she won't have enough to cover the "wanted list". I am eager to see how well she produces, though! I just might keep one for myself... depending on how many she has and what they look like. If they favor her, I'd definitely want one... if they favor the sire... well, it would be a nice dog, but not the body style I prefer.

It seems like only yesterday Maia was a baby... yes, these little balls of energy and fur sure do grow up fast!

The surprising thing about the bulbs I lost is that they were all common varieties from the cheaper kit purchases I made... Red Lion and Apple Blossom. I'm not sure why... weak genetics? Are they being over-cloned/over-produced? I don't really know what to think, but there it is.

Lizalily, I hope your foot heals well and fast. Be careful of not overdoing anything! I've been in sad shape on and off all summer... I keep over-working myself, and then I suffer... it's my own fault, but there's so much to do! I really can't afford to take too many rest days!

I'm not sure what sort of winter we're in for... I hope mild and dry... that would help immensely! We had so much rain this past spring and summer... a mild winter would help everything survive, and it would sure make me feel better!

Thanks for the good wishes... I'm on top of the bulb thing now, and plan to finish up the re-potting as soon as I get a new supply of granite chips and pine bark in. With all this to do, all the tulips and daffodils that need planting, all the winterizing I need to do in the gardens, and Maia getting ready to give birth... it's gonna be a busy autumn and winter!

Ouch... my sympathies!

I recall the worst case of neglect on my part: it was near the end of college and I was really busy with school-related tasks, so my houseplants were somewhat neglected at the time. A bunch of spidermites set up shop in my ivy plants and stripped half the leaves off of them before I caught it - not fun!

Lizalily and Jodik, please take care of yourselves and don't overdo it.

Ah yes... spider mites! I had a bad infestation this past summer on an order of miniature roses we got in. They set up house before I realized it, and I ended up spraying the whole lot with a miticide. Nasty little buggers! They love warm, dry environments.

There are actually a type of microscopic mite that can harm hippeastrum bulbs... I can't even pronounce the name, let alone spell it... but I'm sure someone here knows the mites I'm talking about. They cause red streaking on the leaves and scapes, and also distortions in the leaves. I've used a 3 in 1 insecticide/miticide/fungicide on them with good results.

School is important, so I don't blame you for neglecting your houseplants in favor of getting your work done. It's disappointing, though, when you realize that your neglect caused the loss of some plants... or in my case, bulbs.

I'm trying to take it easy... but today looks good for getting some tulips planted out there! So, I'm off to see how dry the ground is... I hope it's ready! I'm so behind schedule!

My tulips have not arrived yet. Which with my foot out of action is just as well, but October weather is so much better then November and December for working outside. But with the bulbs will come all my amaryllis. I want them now. They always cheer me up when I am recovering from something! Fortunately I still have half of my Australian ones to go.

Good luck on your new rose adventure. My Mrs. suggested I get one of them Ammerillis things so I did. I guess she thought I was bored growing some roses I promise you I was not. At any rate I would carry it out while working on the roses and let it get some air during the later part of summer while growing rather fond of it. It has yet to flower for me but I will say I did learn alot about this plant from history to propergation all of which is very interesting. It's a grand adventure for me with just the one. I do hope you enjoy all of yours as much as I do mine.

See yah in that other forum

Well, it turns out the ground is still too muddy to plant fall bulbs... I took a shovel and two bags of bulbs out to the front rose beds, and though I did manage to get in about 20 bulbs, the soil was clumpy and wet... not quite right for bulb planting. Today was sunny and windy, so hopefully that helps dry things up a bit. I'd love to spend the next few days bulb planting and getting things ready for winter.

Thank you, wesley... the roses have been quite an adventure so far! They're one of my very favorite outdoor plants... the variety of color, shape, and scent is so incredible! I'll spend winter making permanent metal tags for each rose... and hopefully, by spring, we'll break ground for a new greenhouse to propagate cuttings. We've jumped in head first, and I still have a lot to learn... but what could be better than making a business out of something you love? We've already been invited to be on two different garden tours, locally. That should be interesting!

With the proper care, your bulb should bloom sometime this coming spring or early summer... you'll enjoy it so much, you may even begin collecting... as most of us do!

Lizalily, I hope you are well enough to plant everything when it all arrives! Rest up! :-)