Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: Guff on October 14, 2008, 09:52:41 PM
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I received my crocus order today, and I have a heuffelianus Wildlife and Dark Eyes corms that has blue and white mold? What should I do try wiping it off, or are these just going to rot when planted out?
Thanks for info. Can take a picture later when battery is charged.
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Hmmm......doesn't sound too good, Guff. If the corms feel firm, then perhaps a quick dunk in a fungicidal mixture..... (though I am not sure which of that type of chemical is available right now), then allow to dry before planting. Perhaps, with a photo, someone will be able to identify the mould ???
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sounds like blue mould to me. If it is a light infection you could dust the corms in flowers of sulphur
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sounds like blue mould to me. If it is a light infection you could dust the corms in flowers of sulphur
For bulbs/corms with tunics, I would rather use a liquid fungicide to be sure of saturating the tunic properly.
Prefer flowers of sulphur for "bald" bulbs.... frits etc!
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Why not send them straight back to the supplier, Guff, and ask for the healthy corms you presumably paid for?
With luck you may even get something extra to compensate you for the mental anguish :'( ;) 8)
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Mark, Maggie thanks for the advice.
I emailed them, just waiting to see what he says I should do. He may want me to send them back, so I don't want to do anything until I hear back first.
They look solid, I haven't taken them out as of yet, they were sent in plastic baggies for some reason inside of a paper bag(had moisture on the inside of bags). The other crocus were in paper bags only. When I take a picture, I will remove them from the plastic baggies, then let them get some air.
On a good note, I did get Heuffelianus Carpathian Wonder, has 3 grow tips. Hopefully I see flowers in the spring, crossing fingers.
The color of the mold is more green (blue green or teal I guess). The Dark Eyes were already replacement from last year 07, only one of the two corms has this mold though. The Dark Eyes corms that I bought in fall 07 had rotted this past spring 08, and when I went to order replacements, he told me he would replace them for free.
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Here is what they look like.
I took a cotton swab, the mold wiped right off. They look like they will be ok. Will let them dry in paper bag for a day or two before planting.
Thanks for the help, now I can sleep............lol
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I think at that stage too much damage has been done
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Never having heard of these two varieties I would guess that they are not your everyday 'cheapies'. Send them back.
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Guff, now I see the extent of the mould in the pix.... send them back!
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If your supplier has an email address, why not send him the pictures of the mould. This should mean new corms sent without the need to ship the old one back.
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Thanks everyone for the help. They did clean up easy, but haven't done any poking around to see if they are rotted in spots or not(peeling back the paper), they do feel firm though. There was no new mold spots when I checked them today.
David, they were $7 per corm.
Arthur, yes I sent email and pictures. He said he would replace them, but I told him lets see what they do come spring, then if they don't show send me new ones in the fall. I'm going to be ordering more crocus next year from him. Hes the type of business man I like, one that stand behind his stuff.
I had a headach last year from another bulb company. Was sent two sets of 6 corms of Graecus, one set was suppose to be heuffelianus. When I sent pictures all with the same flower, made excuse after excuse. Saying I tag them wrong, but how can that be when I have two lots all with the same flower. After a month of emails he finally said send them back...........no, I wasted enough time, wasn't worth the effort digging them up and packaging, then running to the post office. But it isn't all bad, those 12 corms turned into 47 Graecus.......lol
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Nice pictures on your web site Guff. A great looking Cyclamen garden
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David, thanks. Not my web site though, just a thread I had started trying to learn about growing cyclamen. I had some setbacks, but I think I have finally figured out the problems issues.
Well I peeled back the paper, and it doesn't look good, it's even worse under the paper part of the corm. I resent the pictures. The Dark Eye looks in bad shape, but it does feel solid. The Dark Eye isn't cleaned in the picture, tomorrow I will take a picture of the corm cleaned, battery needs charging again. The Wildlife has been cleaned, the top shoot looks like it's damage. It had the blue green mold all over the top of the corm, under the paper. Feels solid though.
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Fingers crossed that they survive, but whatever result you get the new corms at the end of the season will be set back a LONG way by this. I would be contacting the supplier and letting him know you definitely want replacements, regardless of whether they grow or not, because even if they do grow I think you will be waiting a year or two until they build up size enough again to flower. I realise you're trying to give them a chance (and the supplier a chance too), but in this case you've got to accept that they are going to take a while to rebuild, and that replacements would instead be flowering after receipt next year. At least you have a great relationship with the source.... which is always a relief. Good suppliers are a wonderful asset. :D
Good to hear that you have 3 shoots on 'Carpathian Wonder' as that should mean at least 3 corms at the end of the season. Bonus!! ;D
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Paul, I agree with all you said. They may die and rot, I may not even see flowers. At $7 a corm, I agree I should have said I want then replaced now. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have sent them as I received them with all that mold growing. The problem was the corms were sent in plastic ziplock baggies, and there was moisture on the insides of the baggies.
Here is the Dark Eye corm cleaned, not sure if the top grow shoot is good, I didn't peek under the paper.
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Thanks everyone for your help and input.
I received replacement corms today, and just got done planting all what I had ordered.
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It was 60 here the other day, so I thought I would check on the Dark Eyes and Wildlife corms that I received with all the mold. They we both rotten. I then went to check the replacements. Not sure which but either the Wildlife or Dark Eyes was also rotten. I didn't make tags when I planted the replacements, therefore I don't know which rotted.
I have a question, should these heuffelianus not be let allowed to dry out while being stored? The Carpathian Wonder was sent damp with some dirt. I did check on it, and I could see a grow shoot.
Happy New Year!
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It was 60 here the other day, so I thought I would check on the Dark Eyes and Wildlife corms that I received with all the mold. They we both rotten. I then went to check the replacements. Not sure which but either the Wildlife or Dark Eyes was also rotten. I didn't make tags when I planted the replacements, therefore I don't know which rotted.
I have a question, should these heuffelianus not be let allowed to dry out while being stored? The Carpathian Wonder was sent damp with some dirt. I did check on it, and I could see a grow shoot.
Happy New Year!
I don't know your full name but I hope that corms are not from me as I'm not using zip-lock bags. All three varieties are raised by me. All three can to stay out of soil quite long if the bulb shed isn't too hot. Carpathian Wonder and Dark Eyes are more susceptible to drying out, but I never had real problems with them. I keep them all in open boxes or in hot weather cover them with silver sand but without polyethylene. Of course I'm not keeping them out of soil very long. I dispatch my orders in first half of August and after that immediately I'm replanting all Corydalis, Crocuses and Erythroniums. So they are back in soil in August. Usually had no problems. Possibly yours were kept too wet and in too thick polyethylene bag not allowing breathing for corms.
Janis
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Janis, thanks for the info. They weren't purchased from you. Do you think the heuffelianus being sent in middle of October is to long to be out of the ground? Crocus here die down mid June. Maybe I should ask if I can have my crocus sent July/August when I order again.
I have a hunch that the other rotten corm will turn out to be Darkeyes. I still have one corm of Darkeyes that looked ok, but there wasn't any grow shoots showing or roots growing. Think I'm going to give up on Darkeyes, that would be 5 corms that I have tried. Maybe my last corm will show in the spring.
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Janis, thanks for the info. They weren't purchased from you. Do you think the heuffelianus being sent in middle of October is to long to be out of the ground? Crocus here die down mid June. Maybe I should ask if I can have my crocus sent July/August when I order again.
I have a hunch that the other rotten corm will turn out to be Darkeyes. I still have one corm of Darkeyes that looked ok, but there wasn't any grow shoots showing or roots growing. Think I'm going to give up on Darkeyes, that would be 5 corms that I have tried. Maybe my last corm will show in the spring.
Oh, stone out of my heart.
Yes, I suppose that mid-0ctober is far too late. I harvest crocuses in mid June, too and best time to replant is August.
Most possibly the other one is just DARK EYES as it is pure heuffelianus, so more susceptible to drying. Here Crocuses planted at end of September grow very poorly and almost are not flowering, not forming good roots and seriously weekens. I despatch all bulbs to my customers only in first two weeks of August.
Janis
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Our local garden centre has finally removed the bulbs from it's shelves along with the Christmas decorations. They were still there the week before Christmas.
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Bulbs are still being displayed at our local garden centre and I saw a couple buying packets of crocuses and Narcissus today. :o
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David if the bulbs where nice and firm and the weather is OK like in Portugal one can plant and have some come up. If the the plants are all dried up it is borderline on criminal and I always talk loudly about how bad the bulbs are and hope the staff will hear. Doing this in Sweden (planting very late) is much more of a gamble and I think we lost most of the ones we tried this with.
I see garden centers with bulbs that are dry enough to self ignite being sold here in Portugal and that is probably why bulbs are not as popular as they should be (since they never come up anyway). They are sold at full price so the buyers have no warning that they are buying carp (I did not dare to have the a r reversed).
Kind regards
Joakim
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I can't resist....
Joakim,
It sounds like there is something fishy going on with the spring bulbs! ::)
Sorry, your carp comment just couldn't be ignored! ;)
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Paul Fishy it is :o I have had galathus becoming narcissus so You are right ::)
In Portugal the bulbs may be carp but the fish is sundried and salted cod (preferably from Norway).
Take care Paul.
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Sorry, your carp comment just couldn't be ignored! ;)
You have heard about the youngster who dropped his wallet in the pond at the local carp farm? The fish passed it along from one to the other... carp to carp walleting.
johnw
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I don't understand? :-\
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wall to wall ....
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Puts me in mind of my old friends, Mr and Mrs Wallcarpeting and their son, Walter ::)
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wall to wall ....
Doh! ::)
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Puts me in mind of my old friends, Mr and Mrs Wallcarpeting and their son, Walter ::)
I think you should fine yourself a chocolate bar for that one, Maggi! ;D
However, if you wish to fight the charge I can put you in touch with my lawyers, Dewey, Cheatham and Howe ;)
cheers
fermi
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Other aficionados of "Im Sorry I Haven't a Clue" (long running radio comedy programme in the UK much loved by those with simple tastes in humour!!) may remember:-
to the Zoological Socity Ball-Mr and Mrs Platypus and their duck, Bill.
and to a big party night in Wales- Mr and Mrs Mifathers and their son Orlando.
and to the Furniture Makers annual dinner and dance- Mr and Mrs Draws and their son Chester.
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Mr and Mrs Dworld and their little boy wee Ken Dworld.
Mr & Mrs Fireplace and their son Peter the Great.
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Every one a little gem ;D
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Oh please...take that "punmaster" title back!