Odd behaviour

[johnw]

Perhaps Ian Young can explain what's happening with this Lycoris radiata bulb.  The leaves were dying back prematurely so I yanked it out of the ground and much to my amazement found this. The question is why and which is the newer of the two, I presume the one underneath.

john

[Maggi Young]

Ian's away just now, John -  some of the  experienced  Lycoris growers will chip in, I hope.
(These things are a mystery to me! )

[jshields]

I have occasionally seed Lycoris bulbs simply bifurcate into two more or less same-sized twin bulbs.  I consider it odd but not extreme behavior.

Jim

[mark smyth]

Isn't it trying to go deeper or else come up to a better depth?

[Alan_b]

Snowdrops buried too deep will form a new bulb some way up the stem - I've seen that.  The new bulbs don't have a tunic initially so are easy to identify as newcomers.  Whereas snowdrop bulbs supposedly drag themselves down by the roots - difficult to observe because it must happen gradually over several seasons.  So because I know about Galanthus and nothing about Lycoris my guess would be that it was too deep and it trying to relocate the bulb nearer the surface.     

[jshields]

Snowdrops buried too deep will form a new bulb some way up the stem - I've seen that.  The new bulbs don't have a tunic initially so are easy to identify as newcomers.  Whereas snowdrop bulbs supposedly drag themselves down by the roots - difficult to observe because it must happen gradually over several seasons.  So because I know about Galanthus and nothing about Lycoris my guess would be that it was too deep and it trying to relocate the bulb nearer the surface.     

After many years, most of my Lycoris bulbs end up with the bulb tops just at or barely below the surface of the ground.

Jim

[johnw]

Jim/Alan

All my Lycoris are planted with necks and the top third of the bulbs above the soil line.  There is a chance this bulb got elbowed out do to the density of bulbs and wound up underneath the others.  Perhaps a struggle to find light.  Hard to say now as all were divided last September and re-spaced.

I finally have some C. falcatus coming along. How big is that round pot?  C. obliquus seed seems to be impossible to find of late.

john