Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: JohnnyD on May 16, 2020, 02:35:16 PM

Title: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: JohnnyD on May 16, 2020, 02:35:16 PM
Is there any obvious remedy to help us induce Narcissus triandrus to make flowering size bulbs rather than dozens of bulbils?
JohnnyD
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: David Nicholson on May 16, 2020, 03:47:23 PM
Lots of pieces about this on the Bulb Log. You may try planting them a lot deeper than you would normally plant.
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Ian Y on May 16, 2020, 03:47:38 PM
Firstly Johnny I struggle with Narcissus triandrus I can get it to flowering size but cannot keep the bulbs going after that however I keep trying.

What you describe sounds like they are not getting enough water and feeding during the winter which is their growing season.
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: JohnnyD on May 16, 2020, 03:52:26 PM
Thanks guys, some things to try.
JohnnyD
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Jan Jeddeloh on March 14, 2021, 09:08:36 PM
Ian, I flowered N. triandrus last year and then had only one plant come back this year and it's not going to flower.  You mentioned you struggle with it too.  Any insights why?  I saw it in Portugal and Spain and it's such a cutie.  I have more seedlings coming along to play with.  In nature it grows in grass with other forbs. Maybe it likes company?

Jan in Portland.  Sitting down with a cup of Yorkshire Gold on a rainy day. 
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Matt T on March 14, 2021, 10:44:39 PM
I suspect that N. triandrus is just a naturally short lived plant that sustains itself through seeding. If you want to keep it going in cultivation it’s best to regularly sow seed so you always have new plants coming on, preferably using seed from your own plants if you can manage it. I believe it also likes good ventilation and cooler growing conditions so don’t bake it.
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Gerdk on March 15, 2021, 10:09:12 AM
I had the same problems as described here. Until now only multiply by seeds!
It seems the span from seeds to flowering plants is quite short.

Gerd
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Ian Y on March 16, 2021, 11:56:09 AM
Ian, I flowered N. triandrus last year and then had only one plant come back this year and it's not going to flower.  You mentioned you struggle with it too.  Any insights why?  I saw it in Portugal and Spain and it's such a cutie.  I have more seedlings coming along to play with.  In nature it grows in grass with other forbs. Maybe it likes company?

Jan in Portland.  Sitting down with a cup of Yorkshire Gold on a rainy day. 


I have not found the answer to successfully growing Narcissus triandrus other than it seems to be short lived and sowing seed whenever I can get hold of it.
I do agree with the other comments above and think it needs cooler moister growing conditions than many of the others.
It is such a beauty but will continue to tantalise and challenge us - it has given many very successful hybrids but for me none quite capture its unique beauty and charm.

Just keep trying with seed.

Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Tristan_He on March 16, 2021, 12:57:10 PM
Interesting thread. I have grown N. triandrus albus for a few years at the front of a SW facing low raised bed. It is moist in spring but tends to dry out in summer due to perennials and tree roots. The soil here is rather nutrient-poor, calcium-poor and probably just below neutral pH. This is certainly not one of the cooler parts of the garden (though of course our North Wales summers are often cool and rainy by any standard). N. triandrus hybrids such as 'Petrel' and 'Rippling Waters' also increase slowly (though I realise they are much more robust than the species).

I won't say it thrives but it has persisted for a while. I must make sure I collect seed if it emerges this year.

By the way is there a species / rockery narcissus society of any kind?
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Maggi Young on March 16, 2021, 01:08:07 PM
By the way is there a species / rockery narcissus society of any kind?

This place is as good as any  other, I reckon! And yes, I would say that wouldn't  I ? But  just  look at the  amount  of info on miniature narcissus that can be  found  in these  pages.  I'm not aware  of  a  specialist  society  for these  plants - but  someone ( Anne Wright? Matt Topsfield ?)   may know  better...... ::)
Title: Re: Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs
Post by: Gerdk on March 16, 2021, 05:09:21 PM
I brought this topic to the Facebook Narcissus Group.
A Spanish specialist (Rafa) reported that within a larger population of mainly single plants some groups were found that produce regularly flowering clumps by vegetative divsion. So it seems advisible to look for and select clones with with the desired characteristics.


Gerd
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