>>>>>I was very interested in David's post, too, but for a different reason. I thought that all of us who need to pre-chill were supposed to make sure that our bulbs never shared a fridge with fruit. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene, which, I thought, would stunt or kill the flower developing in the bulb. Now I read that ethylene is helpful? Hi Jennifer, Yes I realise this too as I was thinking of treating my Amaryllis (as in belladonnas) to see if this had any effect on their blooming. I too found that storing bulbs in a fridge with ripening fruit wasn't a very good idea. However, that said, commercial cut flower practise on the Isles of Scilly, UK, Narcissus leaves are burnt each year post flowering, this was scientifically found to induce early flowering on an annual basis. It was found to be ethylene from the burning that induces this early flowering. Therefore it's probably ethylene after buring in the wild that promotes flowering. I had a friend try bananas on his Brunsvigias last year, the plants had not produced leaves for four year, yet after a couple of weeks of treatment leaves were produced. I think the answer is to experiment on less expensive bulbs, and make comparrisons with untreated ones; or try the method as a last resort. Some South African bulbs can sleep for quite a long period, at the moment I'm waiting for a large species of Albuca to shoot surface, it has been dormant for two years, although the bulbs are fine. It would probably be a very good candidate for banana treatment. Best Wishes, Dave Websites: http://www.theafricangarden.com/ http://www.crocosmiaheritage.com/ Address: David Fenwick NCCPG National Collection of Crocosmia with Chasmanthe and Tulbaghia The African Garden 96 Wasdale Gardens Estover Plymouth Devon England PL6 8TW ----- Original Message ----- From: <jennifer.hildebrand@att.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 9:22 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Bananas! > Hi all, > > I was very interested in David's post, too, but for a different reason. I > thought that all of us who need to pre-chill were supposed to make sure that > our bulbs never shared a fridge with fruit. Ripening fruit gives off ethylene, > which, I thought, would stunt or kill the flower developing in the bulb. Now I > read that ethylene is helpful? > > I would appreciate elucidation! > Jennifer > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com/). Version: 6.0.484 / Virus Database: 282 - Release Date: 27/05/03