Mike, So you start watering in August also. There is no doubt that some of the Oxalis species of South Africa do get some rain in February (same as August north of equator) but not very much. Those from namaqualand may not receive rain until May(=November). The threadlike roots get ready for activity underground but I don't think many of the northern species begin aboveground until it really does rain. I have little difficulty with repotting once these threadlike roots showing but that may depend on the condition of the potting mix. However, if starting water in August works for you, that's really all that matters. It would shorten the blooming season for me to start earlier. Andrew San Diego Subject: [pbs] What's blooming week of 9-20, and Oxalis watering Just opened in my garden this week is a nice pink form of Rhodophiala bifida, courtesy of Steve Vinisky years ago. Thanks, Steve! The bud on Brunsvigia marginata is starting to turn pink. I'm probably about a week from the opening of the first flowers. The Oxalis I mentioned last time are still in bloom. The early-blooming ones tend to stay in bloom all fall. They have been joined by: --MV 4871, which Michael Vassar identified as possibly Oxalis depressa. It has fairly large white flowers. --O. stenorrhyncha, which looks like a miniature palm tree with salmon orange flowers on it. Andrew wrote: >> It would be interesting to hear how other growers stage their winter-growing Oxalis season. I start watering my Oxalis at the beginning of August here in San Jose. My daytime temperatures are into the low 90s F right now (around 33C), and the Oxalis pots get sun until about noon. I know it sounds crazy to water winter-growing bulbs at the height of summer's heat, but the Oxalis told me to do it. Years ago I had some of them stored dry in envelopes, waiting for repotting, and they almost all started growing in early August, while still in the envelopes. If they don't get watered, the little thready roots dry out, and I think it damages the bulbs. The other plant I start watering in early August is Moraea polystachya. The plants are over a foot tall (.3m) already, dark green and vigorous. They look like corn plants. This species has a reputation as an unreliable bloomer, but it is very reliable for me. Mike San Jose, CA (zone9, min temp 20F / -7C)