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Does Bulbs -Shrink- During Bloom

2 years ago

So.....I know leaves provide energy for the bulbs. And during bloom , energy is spent.

I dug up some daffodils while still in the green. Most were still singles. Some had a daughter bulb attached to it. I was surprise at the size of the bulb though. Kinda wanna say it was like 2/3 smaller than when they originally planted. Normal ? Do bulbs get larger post bloom as it recharges. Wasn't really expecting the bulbs to be that much smaller....than when originally planted.

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Comments (5)

Embothrium
2 years ago
Planting probably needs to be fertilized.
a1an
Original Author
2 years ago
I guess we'll see next season. I did give the area some 'fertz last spring when I got some bud blast. Did not fert'z in fall but also applied some fert'z last month as well. Wasn't really expecting to see the bulbs @ the size they were yesterday. Just dug some out now as it's easier when it's green and leaves also help when they are firm to to the bulb to help -yank- them out as I use the trowel to loosed the soil around it.
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Embothrium
2 years ago
Bulb formation and increase requires a certain minimum amount of minerals. Also large flowered garden varieties presumably have a greater basic need than more modestly proportioned parental species.
a1an
Original Author
2 years ago
thx
a1an
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Its been about 3 weeks since I posted this.

Is it possible they shrink as it blooms and post bloom, when they are focusing back on stored food (recharge), they bulk up.

I just -forked- out a 2 dozen or so and all the bulbs seem pretty dang healthy in size. Whatever daughter bulbs that were present, all of them larger than the ones I had dug up 3 weeks earlier.

I'm thinking maybe I don't need to dig this entire patch up and divide - thinking maybe too crowded. There is clear -spacing- between each stalk/leaf in the bed it is in when it's fully leafed out. It's dense but it's not in clumps.

The only reason I'm even messing with them was getting bud blast on one particular cultivar (so me thinking either they are too dense and I need to give them more room than they have) as a extra step to see if bud blast occurs for 3 years in a row...

Bud Blast Inquiry Here

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6105316/anyone-grow-flower-parade-bud-blast-or-something-else

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