Pulling down to correct level

John Lonsdale john@johnlonsdale.net
Tue, 12 Jul 2005 12:24:28 PDT
Generally it is seedling bulbs that make contractile roots (or use other
mechanisms) to pull themselves down to some predefined correct depth whilst
they mature.  They expend considerable energy doing this, hence the now
proven hypothesis that sowing seeds like crocus at a couple of inches deep
gets them to flowering size a year earlier than if surface sown.  If you
plant a mature bulb at the wrong depth then it is pretty well stuck - no
amount of grunting and groaning is going to get it down to its desired
level.  Seedling bulbs do this whether potted or in the ground, as long as
they have the capability to start with.

John

John T Lonsdale PhD
407 Edgewood Drive,
Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA

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