Narcissus rooting now

[mark smyth]

Out of interest how does the Bulb Master explain this? I was knocking bulbs out today to get some chipped and found this Narcissus Cedric Morris. No others had roots

[Lesley Cox]

No doubt the Bulb Master will have a good explanation Mark but from this end of the world, I'd suggest it's simply because `Cedric Morris' is very early compared with other trumpets. It flowers here May-June (Nov-Dec for you) so stands to reason it will root early too, especially if you've had it anywhere where it was getting some moisture rather than bone dry. Narcissus will start to root with even a little fog in the air, as distinct from rain or watering.

Likewise, the early frits and juno irises root very early - just when I'm about to start to repot them - if there's even a suggestion of dampness in the air.

[mark smyth]

looks like Ian is ignoring me 

[Ian Y]

Ingnore you Mark?
How could I.
I have just been busy re-potting with occasional breaks to watch Le Tour.
But today it is pouring down with rain so I am at the PC for a while writing the Bulb Log.
Lesley has given the answer it is all to do with moisture.
Many bulbs will produce roots at any time if moisture is present and especially some Narcissus may never be fully dormant if moisture is around.
You have also been having very hot weather in Ireland and the bulbs will think they have had their summer so if the temperature falls and there is moisture they think it is autumn.
I am also finding odd roots on the narcissus where the pots have not dried out completely.

[mark smyth]

so I have to keep this one moist until the autumn?

[Ian Y]

That is a good question, if it were mine I would plant it in the garden where it will stay moist.
If you are putting it in a pot then yes you need to keep some moisture there so he roots can survive.
If it gets bone dry and the roots die off it may produce some more roots in autumn or it may not - the bulb should survive what ever.

[Lesley Cox]

It will do better in the garden anyway Mark. Bulk up more quickly and be generally stronger. Don't forget a little something to discourage both vine weevils and Narcissus fly, sprinkled when you plant it.

[mark smyth]

killed about 10 Vine Weevils tonight. Do you use Vinil?

[Lesley Cox]

I don't know that. I use SuSCon Green (yes, it's written like that) a pinch sprinkled among the bulbs or roots of a plant when it's potted/planted, not sprinkled on top.

[Maggi Young]

I hope you are wearing gloves when you are handling SuSCon Green, Lesley, it is a powerful poison and will kill more than vine weevils.

[Lesley Cox]

No I don't Maggi. I know I should but potting, planting small things with gloves on (I mean, when I am wearing gloves) is just too fiddly. I do always wash carefully afterwards though.

[bettyclark]

To all interested in Galanthus reginae olgae : I have grown it against a concrete terrace where it does get the damp but facing north her Min has finished flowering in May very early but it does produce leaves very quickly
 I have been told that it is not correct but it is nothing like the ones grown in ChCh which look very straggly tall and interested. As for those with early roots on bulbs Cedric morris along with n.minorwhich I sure is correct and has the correct measurements given in the 1966 American Jounal  Mine already up with a grey green leaf 15cm ribbed and 12mm wide As far as I can make out used to be called nanus.  Another way to handle suscan green is to pour it into a condiment shaker the small one with the fine sieve on top with screw lid and you dont need to handle it at all. I also mix it into the soil  not under the bulbs.Betty Clark     

[Paddy Tobin]

Betty,

After reading your posting I immediately had a mental picture of someone sprinkling SuSCon Green on their dinner. What does it taste like?

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

I doubt if Betty knows the answer to that Paddy and neither do I but I'll ask the next (dead) vine weevil grub I see. The salt shaker idea is an excellent one, which I'll put to use immediately. The instructions say not to apply to the surface of the pot (ground) but to mix it in and I mix some into my potting mix itself before potting, or I mix a little into the soil when planting. But I also sprinke a little onto the surface which the bases of the bulb will touch (and where the roots will form), in cases where the plants are particularly susceptible to the varmints concerned. Especially to Narcissus, Galanthus, all Saxifragaceae and Primulaceae, all of which suffer badly from either Narcissus fly or vine weevil. SuSCon Green is apparently not lethal for earthworms (according to the manufacturers) or I wouldn't be using it

[David Nicholson]

It's not available to amateurs in the UK-maybe another EU ban. It would be interesting to know if friends in other parts of Europe are able to use it?