[pbs] Was :Some frits are waking up -now a confession
James Waddick
jwaddick at kc.rr.com
Sun Mar 1 15:23:45 EST 2009
Dear friends,
The recent notes about awakening frits gives me some guilt.
Last July I dug a couple clumps of Frit. persica and donated
a dozen or so bulbs to BX # 177. I also planted some back in their
original place and elsewhere. I put some odds and ends in a cardboard
box with barely damp whole sphagnum. And then I forgot about them.
Come Dec 12 (5 months later !!), I opened the box and found
the largest bulbs had loss about half their weight (by guess) and
there was a fist size 'nest' of succulent white roots, a few smaller
bulb bits and pieces also had grown similarly. Sort of revolted at my
procrastination, I put 5 'blooming size' and odd lots in a single 5
gallon nursery pot. Watered well and then I put the pot in my cold
greenhouse for some protection. Now just 2 1/2 months later I have
four plants starting to bloom and and a half dozen smaller stems
growing.
Today at 8 degrees outside, this large pot of rich
chocolate-purple flowering stems is a nice show. I guess I'll let it
continue to grow in the pot, put it outdoors when the weather allows
and when it all goes dormant, unpot and plant the bulbs outside
somewhere in a more TIMELY manner.
This is either a very vigorous clone or highly 'forgiving' of
my abuse or both. The bulbs originally planted outdoors won't show
for weeks, but I have some confidence that they'll be 'just fine'. I
am happy that they are alive, surprised they came up so well and
bloom is fairly normally. I wouldn't expect Frit persica to be suited
to pot culture.
I'll get a picture out soon, too. Best
Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +
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