It sounds like the bulb has lost a lot of it's size and energy. The way these bulbs are grown to be reliable bloomers is that they are grown for several years without being allowed to bloom. That means the flower stalk is usually cut off when it appears. This allows the bulb to direct all its energy on leaf and bulb growth. The bulbs must go dormant to trigger the bloom cycle. Usually the bulbs are just left to dry up in a cool and dark place in late summer through late fall. Then the cycle begins again in early spring, at least for the commercial varieties. Professional grows keep cutting the flower stalk, so that by the time the consumer buys and plants one of these bulbs, it's almost guaranteed to bloom -- how would you like it if the one thing in life you want to do is bloom and someone keeps cutting your bloom off -- given the opportunity to bloom, you certainly would. In your case it seems that through neglect the bulb has lost a lot of it's enery. If you leave it, it will continue to grow leaves and the bulb should get bigger. The bigger the bulb the bigger the bloom. If a flower stalk starts to appear you can decide to let it bloom or you can cut it and just let the bulb get bigger and healthier. I think the small size indicates that the bulb may not be up to blooming this time around. You can give it try, these bulbs are rather foolproof.

Nope, not winter hardy. I am a professional landscape designer, and have access to a large greenhouse in the winter. Yup, that's is how I planned it...low water needs. Except for the Phormium in the middle, which is in it's own container so when I water, the succulents barely get anything. Also, going to get a bucket of coarse sand/gravel from work here today and topdress the soil. Last year I had a bunch of annuals in them (and the Phormium) and had to water them gallons every day. :(

It really depends on what your weather is doing. If you have new growth on the bulbs as you suggest, then you must not allow them to get frosted/frozen. If you are warm with frost occasionally, you could transplant out and just cover the new shoots. A cold frame would work. I would definitely get the box out of my basement as it is too warm for them and they would grow faster than you want....it will make transplanting more difficult the taller they are. I think I would plant them....deeper than what they are now to cover some of the tip and then just rake leaves or straw over them until it warms up. They will slow down in their growth doing this, but that is what you want at this time of year. Good luck and let us know how you made out. flora2b

Rosylady, I agree with the posts above that anything you put in that beautiful urn will look great. I read in another thread that you picked up all those gorgeous urns from a neighbor who didn’t want them anymore...what an incredible find that’s beautiful high-end pottery, and very funny that she’ll still be looking at her urns for years to come. For those who asked about my petunias, I put 2 per urn...those Tidal Waves get very big very fast, a single plant spreads over 4 feet. They are rather hard to find, and I dislike starting those tiny seeds, so I take cuttings and over winter them under lights. My urns are in the front of the house, so I want color 365 days a year. In the winter, I substitute with pansies and chard: