Sick Bulb

[Tim Harberd]

I had high hopes for this 'yet to flower' seedling...

Can anyone suggest a rescue plan?

Tim DH

[Gail]

The damage to the basal plate seems to have stimulated production of lots of daughter bulbs. I think if you had the time - surgery with a craft knife/razor blade, cut into pieces to access/cut away the decaying centre, soak in a fungicide then pot up any healthy pieces in a very free draining mix or just damp vermiculite as if you were twinscaling them.

I bought a bulb of one of the new "Amaryllis" (Hippeastrum) Sonatini cultivars 'Eyecatcher' at my local Morrisons yesterday which seemed a bargain at £2 until I got it home and opened the packet;


I've given up being shocked at how appalling the quality of bulbs from very many suppliers is (I've just received some Nerines & Lycoris from a well-known supplier of Dutch bulbs which are in a similar state). I was busy yesterday so with the 'Eyecatcher' bulb I just took off as much as I could of the rotting outer scales, sprayed with Fungus Clear and potted into a gritty mix and will watch to see if the bulb is able to recover but I am considering doing some trials of different rescue techniques/fungicides with some of the other duff bulbs. (also while in Morrisons I bought a mould treatment designed for showers etc as my house has very beautiful cast iron windows which unfortunately don't currently look beautiful as they are dripping with condensation and attracting a whole ecosystem of assorted moulds. But once I read the instructions on the product it says don't use on metal so I was toying with the idea of trying it on the bulbs instead - although obviously aware that this would be in breach of all sorts of rules and regulations...)

[johnralphcarpenter]

- although obviously aware that this would be in breach of all sorts of rules and regulations...)

You'll be alright after 29th March! (Just joking).

[Anthony Hawkins]

Would I be right in thinking something ate the middle, rather than rot? Though of course rot may then have taken a hand as well.

[Gail]

You'll be alright after 29th March! (Just joking).

we live in interesting times as they say...

I agree that initial damage was probably something eating away and have found snowdrops like that where either narcissus fly or swift moth larva  has been chewing and then you get rot from the middle out.

[Alan_b]

I agree that initial damage was probably something eating away and have found snowdrops like that where either narcissus fly or swift moth larva  has been chewing and then you get rot from the middle out.

I think swift moth larvae often start on the roots and work their way up until they find the basal plate then go in that way.  In other instances they go in from the side and you may find only half the bulb left.  The wounding that they do to the bulb may cause it to rot but if there isn't too much rot then you should be able to find the entry wound.

Narcissus fly larvae supposedly enter the bulb from the top when they are very small.  Since they rely on the outer bulb scales for protection until they pupate it's not in their interest to cause rot and it would not surprise me if one day somebody discovers they secrete a fungicide. 

[annew]

I had high hopes for this 'yet to flower' seedling...

Can anyone suggest a rescue plan?

Tim DH

I agree with Gail. If you cut it in half vertically, I think you may find the culprit inside. If so dispose of it then clean up the remaining bits of the bulb and treat like a chip (no, not salt and vinegar  )