I use a soluble complete fertilizer on my bulbs that are grown in containers, and the current difficult winter makes it difficult to decide when and how much to apply. First, during periods of heavy snow rabbits invaded the bulb frames and chewed off the emerging foliage of a number of genera (Crocus, Ornithogalum, Tecophilaea, and all the Themidaceae, primarily). This won't kill the plants, but it will certainly set them back. Since the nutrients the plants draw from the soil (i.e., the fertilizer) must be converted to stored food by photosynthesis -- a physiological process that occurs in the leaves -- it seems that applying fertilizer to plants that lack a normal amount of foliage is unproductive. Is it actually harmful? Second, it has been colder than average all winter. Usually I'd be applying the second of three spring "feeds" right now. But does the cold temperature mean that the plants will not be growing as actively (I notice that many of them are flowering on shorter stems than usual), and therefore be unable to utilize as much nutrient? I'd be glad to hear comments on this from some of our members who have professional knowledge on this subject. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA