Rainlilies & Stagonospora

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Sat, 07 Dec 2013 10:26:30 PST
Like Peter and Mark, I always added leafmold (UK 
leafmould) to my bulb potting soil when I grew 
bulbs in plunged pots in coldframes. I harvested 
this component by sieving the top layer of soil 
under an area of alder trees on my former 
property. Every day during repotting season I 
harvested a large wheelbarrow full to mix into 
the day's batch of soil. It was a hard job but 
worth it. One belief of mine, however, is that if 
you use "live" leafmold like this, it's important 
to keep the bulbs dry during their dormant 
season; otherwise the microorganisms that 
decompose the leaves may attack the bulb tunics. 
You will be able to see the mycorrhizae on the tunics.

Now I have plenty of oak leaves thanks to my 
neighbors and three large compost bins for them, 
but I don't have a shredder as I could not find a 
well-reviewed one that is electric rather than 
gas (petrol), and it is too hard to start the gas 
ones. Any advice on this would be welcome.

I don't know why I'm worrying about plants right 
now as most of them are probably going to die in 
the current week of record low temperatures here.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA


At 01:11 AM 12/7/2013, you wrote:
>It is leafmould or any humus that is full of 
>those white threads which does the trick. I love 
>that mushroom smell it gives off. Wet autumn 
>woodsy smell. Mark > Message du 07/12/13 10:04 > 
>De : "Peter Taggart" > A : "Pacific Bulb 
>Society" > Copie à : > Objet : Re: [pbs] re 
>Rainlilies & Stagonospora > > I add leaf mould, 
>as a matter of routine, when potting 
>snowdrops, > daffodils, Crocus, reticulate Iris 
>(prone to 'Ink spot' fungus), freesias, > and 
>some other genera. It certainly improves their 
>growth in my conditions. > I had assumed that 
>these bulbs benefit from the extra moisture 
>retained > while in growth and that this also 
>helps maintain consistent moisture > levels 
>necessary to maintain strong shoot growth in 
>cormous plants, which > enter premature dormancy 
>very easily in drought conditions. > I am 
>definitely prepared to accept that the benefits 
>may be mycorrhizal at > least in part. > Peter 
>(UK) > 
>_______________________________________________ > 
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