Seeking Knowledge

Michael Kent kenttoto@gmail.com
Fri, 06 Dec 2019 10:02:04 PST
I have a few questions for our knowledgeable members.

I've spent the last few days trimming dead leaves off of my winter-dormant
bulbs (mostly rain lilies and a few crinums). Nearly half of those bulbs
seem to be refusing to enter dormancy: the majority of the leaves are still
green, just a few of the outer leaves have yellowed/dried, and new green
leaves are sprouting. Several of the rain lilies have bloomed (the most
recent being about three weeks ago). All of the plants were last watered on
Oct 15 (last fertilized sometime in early Aug). They're in an area that is
relatively dark, though not completely. The temperature is in the low
fifties with only slight day/night fluctuations. Should I start watering
the ones still going strong, and move them near a light source (i.e. -
assume they will not enter dormancy this year), or just keep on as things
currently stand? They're in an unheated basement, and it's currently in the
thirties outside (they'd die in the garage), therefore, I can't really
adjust the temperature.

I have two different varietals of pink Cyrtanthus elatus. One I have not
had problems with, the bulbs of the other varietal tend to pull out of the
soil with the slightest bit of tugging. I have actually had strong breezes
(not strong enough that I'd call them gusts) pull bulbs out of the soil
while the pot is outside for the summer. While trimming the dead leaves,
plenty of the bulbs popped out, even though I wasn't pulling, just holding
the leaf so that I could snip it. The roots were either short stubs (but
they looked as if they had just started growth, not eaten, or broken off),
or about 2-3" in length. They're in a 10" (H) × 11" (Diam) pot with the
soil mix being about 45% peat based loam/compost, 45% sand, and 10% fired
clay chips (Espoma Soil Perfector). The base of the bulbs is only about
1/8" in the soil, if I try to cover up more of the bulb, they'll push up a
bit to regain that level. Can I rectify (or ameliorate) the problem by
switching to a different soil mix, or a smaller pot (the bulbs offset
vigorously, but the pot is only about 3/4 filled so far)?

One last question... Several of my Amaryllids (most often my Strumaria, but
I've also had Amaryllis, Cyrtanthus & Brunsvigia do it) will, on occasion,
suddenly have the majority of their leaves held rigidly in one direction
(and usually flat on the soil). If you try to raise the leaves from that
position, they'll snap, unless they're very gradually raised. A day or two
later, the leaves will be back to being relaxed or raised (whatever is
normal for that Amaryllid). On a few occasions, on the first day, the
leaves will be pointing say North, the next day, South, then the next day,
back to relaxed. It isn't (shouldn't) be caused by light issues because
both of my Strumaria (gemmata & karooica) are centered directly below a
(shop)light. It isn't related to watering patterns so far as I can tell.
Does anyone know what might be causing this? Oh, and, so far, it has only
been one plant at a time doing this, not a bunch of them - no crop circles
here!

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Mike
In Zone 6a Finger Lakes area, where it is currently raowing (it can't
decide whether it wants to be rain, or snow).
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