Kristi, whoa I'm impressed - that's a lot of work you accomplished! I'm tired just reading about it ;-) It must feel good to have all that done though. Glad to hear about the Chicos as well. Some day 8 are going to look impressive all in bloom.

I think that your big bulb that is sending up little leaves must have gotten some sort of insect inside it - those out of season yellow leaves are a giveaway - and now it's trying to recover. Probably wasn't an NBF or it would have done the whole bulb in, but maybe something smaller. I had the same thing happen to me last year with my Minerva, but didn't dissect it to see what it was. The bulb seems to be somewhat back to normal wrt leaf width now. If it blooms, I'll know for sure.

Alana

See now this is why I don't bother with seeds much. I'd happily buy from Kristi, Alana etc. LOL

Good grief Kristi that is a lot of work. BTW Kristi if you are taking names for feature Gordie homes, pls put me on!

How big is your greenhouse? Do you heat it during the winter? I'm greenhouse hunting. Not planning on getting it for a while yet but would like to start looking to make sure I get a reliable one. I'd have to heat mine here in CO for sure.

Hope you're able to rest up before the work week starts. Take a nap in your red wagon!

Ryan

It might just be a smaller seedling, it could be a runt :) I would love to see pictures, I would make sure you hold onto this one, it could be an extra mini mini! lol

I'm glad I have a spare room that's very well lit, no extra heating charges in the winter for plants. I've got tons of extra lighting in addition to a eastern and northern windows. My guests either get the option to sleep in the "jungle" room or a cold unfinished basement, my babies come first! hehe

Ryan, the greenhouse is one of those flower houses, 6'x6'. I bought an electric heater for it and kept it set at 40ish...no precise setting, just set it to come on when the thermometer read 40 in the GH. For $199 it was a good investment as everything came through our "winter" - really...we did have 60 straight hours below freezing and lows 3 nights in a row to 15.

Joshy, sorry but it can't be a seedling. That bulb bloomed, bit neverr set seed and I've never had any seed pods in the side yard for the very reason that I want to know where each and every one goes. I am thinking Alana's probably right...something got in and munched. I'll post photos in the next few days.

OH...BTW all, happy to report that seedlings that are just 3 months old (from 7/10) are already forming bulbs the size of small peas and many had 3-4 leaves. The ones I am MOST excited about are the Red Lion x Jewel, Lady Diana x Jewel, and Lady Diana x Lemona. I have 09 seedlings of Red Pearl x Jewel....I just get visions of Jewel form with the other colors...and they have to smell like CHOCOLATE!
K

Kristi, great work! I still have some seedlings that need seperating into individual pots. And mine have not had much attention over the summer so they will have to catch up on leaf growth over the winter, in the greenhouse. Even so, mine will just not have the sunlight yours got, even with lights in my greenhouse. But its so much beter then it was!
You have some interesting sounding crosses that it will be fun to watch. My most vigorous crosses were an Orange Sovereign to United Nations ('07), Bambera crosses 08, and last year, Antarctica to Minerva and vice versa.

RYAN, the FLOWERHOUSE that Kristi is using is great for her climate but believe me it would not hold up to Denver! Even here in our mild temperate climate I lost mine in its 2nd year from a heavy snow and wind that crashed through the sun weakened plastic, snapped elastic cords in the framework and turned the wooden part of the support poles to splinters. The sun deteriorates the plastic screening, so that it tears at a touch. THE zippers rip loose.

IT is meant to be put up for getting plants off to a start in spring, then taken down. Hopefully Kristi will be able to get a permanent house built before hers degrades. I would suggest saving your money for the real thing.

By the time you are ready to build your greenhouse I will be able to report on my SunGlo. So far, I am in love with it but we have not had any bad storms, snow, or heavy freezes yet.

I too, had one of my bulbs do this this year. The bulb seems happy but its leaves look like they are coming out of two separate plants instead of only the one. Its strange. Maybe the bulb is dividing inside? Is that possible?

I have the money all ready to spend, just need to find the contractor to build the screen house that converts to a green house. Unfortunately, it won't be a kit...custom job I'm afraid!! This one will do for another winter. Seriously, it was up all summer and I had thrown a shade cloth to protect it from the sun. It's in great shape, except for where Laka's toenails when through the screen...she wanted to see what was inside that took so much of my time. You're right Noni, it's not for a subartic winter, but it worked great for me.

HARBOR FREIGHT had a flier in the paper today and their 10'x12' aluminum greenhouse is on sale for $549 through 12/12/10. SKU 52942158 www.harborfreight.com

Kristi

Radar,

The bulbs themselves can split into several pieces, this happens quite often. Does anyone know why it happens?

I think it's a survival mechanism...don't know the cause. Probably some hormone trigger?? I may cut this bulb open and see what's going on...then make little bulbs out of it.
K

Not to get off topic, but Radarcontactlost...gatta ask.. you a pilot, or a controller?

Ryan

Joshy, it's not a typical split with normal sized leaves on each half these are like a leaf was split long ways and they are coming out of the same bulb neck. And Ryan I'm a controller which one are you since you know the reference.

Radar,

Do you have pictures? I would love to see this! I'm not really sure why that would happen? I've never heard about it either. Maybe you should unpot and look for bugs?

Josh

Radar-- I'm the pilot-type-- though I have loads of controller friends-- tower, ground, approach, tracon, you name it. I got to know them pretty well when I flew for the USAF. I do not fly for a living any more, but work for Boeing instead. Flying a desk will be the end of me. Though I do still fly privately, this can get quite expensive.

Regarding your bulb-- I once had a bulb split in two before. Both "halves" went on to be successful bloomers and are growing fine to this day. Now, what you have going on is definitely strange!!! I have never heard of this either. Would love to see a pic if you have the time.

Ryan

Sounds like radar and I have the same thing going on. In fact, I thinR I might have 2 affect bulbs. It's supposed to be raining when I get home, but I will run to the side yard and snap a photo to post. Then Radar and I can compare notes.

Kristi

I would love to see a picture of the affected bulbs, it sounds so strange, nothing is impossible!

Josh

If I have 2 bulbs, depending on the varieties, I may do cuttage on one to see what's going on inside (and to see if it's salvagable).
K

Well...here's the pitiful Jade Serpent (I have to admit, this bulb was "bad" from day 1...put out 1 scape with 1 bloom that was so stressed it barely resembled JS)...now you can see both bulbs are in bad shape wasting away:
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One of my President Johnson's did the same and those have always been very strong and hardy! Here you can see that 3 very narrow leaves are coming up from the middle.
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And...here's the JS to compare to a 1-year old seedling:
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Both these bulbs at one time had normal leaves. What I did notice is that both had granules of the systemic insecticide on top of the soil that hadn't dissolved, and I'm wondering if that has any role in this, as most of the other pots have no granules...they have all dissolved. Hmmm... Both these bulbs are down to hardly anything. Might just be worth it to cut them to see. RADAR...do these look like yours??
Kristi

Hey all, I'll try to snap a picture tomorrow. But to answer your question the third picture there looks like what mine is doing. It was dormant when I got it and it took a long time after others were already growing to show any signs of life. When it did it made those thin leaves like yours. It has had them all summer, they never grew out. I'll post some photos tomorrow when the sun is up. Ryan I was in the AF until a few years ago that's where I learned to control.

Here is a picture of mine I took today. Notice how thin the leaves are.

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