[pbs] A question about plants and bulbs through airport security
totototo at telus.net
totototo at telus.net
Thu Mar 1 06:54:03 EST 2007
On 27 Feb 07, at 13:40, Laura & Dave wrote:
> ...several of the bags full have not done well (Galanthus elwesii
> and Leucojum vernum in particular), waning over the three year span
> since arriving.
I won't even hazard a guess about the x-rays, but the two plants you
mention as not doing well have contrasting fates here in Victoria.
Galanthus do very well here. The only common form that is a bit iffy
is the little everyday double form of G. nivalis, which seems not to
be as robust as the others. I suspect it simply doesn't handle root
competition and shade all that well, and needs to be planted in an
open situation away from significant trees and shrubs. I've seen it
growing happily by drainage ditches in exposed situations that go
bone dry in summer.
Leucojum vernum, otoh (on the other hand), is a puzzle. I've planted
many bulbs of this over the years, perhaps hundreds. Only two or
three have survived and prospered; the rest disappeared years ago.
Over the years, one of the survivors has formed a a seriously
congested clump, which I lifted and divided just yesterday like
snowdrops in the green. I am keeping my fingers crossed that L.
vernum can handle disturbance during the growing season.
Now the interesting thing is that of the twenty or so bulbs in that
clump, one -- only one -- had grubs of the lesser bulb fly in it.
There were no signs whatsoever of the larger bulb fly, though it is
probably more common species of bulb fly here. I strongly suspect
that the clumping of that one bulb is due to damage to the basal
plate by the bulb fly; the clump had "that look" about it.
I also speculate (but with much less confidence) that L. vernum is
normally subject to the depredations of the bulb fly, but I have a
clone here that is not particularly attractive to them. Don't quote
me; this is pure speculation!
The usual complaint about L. vernum is that the bulbs in the trade
are so badly desiccated that they rot instead of growing. This is a
criticism of considerable accuracy, but overlooks that there is a
remedy. If the bulbs are first soaked in water until they firm up,
then potted up in pure sand and kept there for a season or two, the
majority survive. I've always done this and gotten the bulbs into a
state of active growth before planting them out. They still have
disappeared in large numbers. Frustrating.
Comments, anyone?
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
on beautiful Vancouver Island
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