Mailorder Snowdrops

[hwscot]

Hmmm thought they might be but thought I'd give them a try anyway.  I've only got one clump of woronowii anyway so I'll enjoy them anyway for less than a tender.   They say 50bulbs so we'll see when they arrive.  Will report back...

Sounds likely you've gone for the same listing as me, Chris. Have PMd you with more details.

H

[Mavers]

I saw these for sale on ebay & thought there is no way G. Ikariae would be offered so cheaply.

Who ever sent them out should be ashamed.

[hwscot]

Chris and I have checked and it's the same seller. I asked for a partial refund; that was accepted and paid this morning, no comment, no apology. I'm sure I could have asked for more but it's now a very minor loss, and is turning into an interesting experiment to see how many I can save, if any.

To balance things, I got delivery this morning of what I bought as "20 + !" G. elwesii from a seller called firecrystal02. There were 27 fat bulbs, not counting the offsets on several, all very well packed. I paid £6 plus £3.50 postage.

[hwscot]

I saw these for sale on ebay & thought there is no way G. Ikariae would be offered so cheaply.

Who ever sent them out should be ashamed.

Yes they should be.

I never imagined for a moment they would be ikariae but I was after woronowii and happy to pay a tenner for 50. There are plenty of honest and generous sellers on ebay, see below, so I don't feel too bad about having a punt.

[Mavers]

You are right hwscott there are honest & generous sellers on ebay & I've have received some lovely snowdrops.

Glad you are feeling ok now. 

[ChrisB]

Here is my order.  They look ok but some are certainly dried out... Should I rehydrate them by soaking in water before planting?  Considering the price and so long as they are woronowii I'm reasonably happy with them.

[emma T]

I'd give them a soak

[Alan_b]

Buying bulbs that are just breaking dormancy when they should be in full leaf with a fully-formed root system is a big risk, particularly with small bulbs that need a full season to recoup the energy they put into growth.  Chris, I think if you end up with 25% of those bulbs still alive by next year you will be doing well.  And I would not mix them in with other snowdrops because they don't all look too healthy.  Maybe you can grow them in pots until summer then rescue them and plant out those that remain and look healthy?  I always strip snowdrop bulbs down to the healthy white part when transplanting because in a small minority of instances there is little or nothing left when I do this and I don't want such bulbs mixed-in with my normal healthy ones.     

[ChrisB]

Thanks Alan I'll do as you say... I'm not so fussy about snowdrops as others are but I do like growing species of many plants just to see if I can figure out the differences in them.  I've got some germinating galanthus seed too so I'll be back to the galanthophiles for advice on whether they are what it says on the packet someday... It's probably the best way to buy species I guess but not often on our list...

[Alan_b]

Fussy doesn't come into it - what I'm advocating is just good hygiene.  You don't want to risk contaminating your existing healthy snowdrops by bringing them into contact with ones that may not be healthy.   

[ChrisB]

Sorry should have phrased that better.  I really meant I'm not a real snowdrop fancier when I said fussy.  I do understand about the hygiene thing.... thanks...

[mark smyth]

I wouldn't buy dormant bulbs at this time of year. Many are definitely dead or dying

[Martin Baxendale]

I'd get a tray or large pot of general purpose type compost and just push the bulbs into it with the noses sticking out, water and then keep an eye on  them to see which are sending up shoots and putting down roots. Any that don't root after week or two and are easily lifted out I would pull out and discard (especially if they start to rot or go mouldy) as they're dead. I was still planting dried bulbs in December and they've grown on fine.

[ChrisB]

I've put them in to soak today and will pot up tomorrow.  I just bought them on impulse and I know that's not good but now I've got them I'm going to see if I can get some of them to grow anyway...

[steve owen]

Chris
Have you got a bit of fungicide or disinfectant you can put in the soak? Jeyes fluid will do for the latter if you have nothing more specialised.