Narcissus making bulbils and not flowering size bulbs

[JohnnyD]

Is there any obvious remedy to help us induce Narcissus triandrus to make flowering size bulbs rather than dozens of bulbils?
JohnnyD

[David Nicholson]

Lots of pieces about this on the Bulb Log. You may try planting them a lot deeper than you would normally plant.

[Ian Y]

Firstly Johnny I struggle with Narcissus triandrus I can get it to flowering size but cannot keep the bulbs going after that however I keep trying.

What you describe sounds like they are not getting enough water and feeding during the winter which is their growing season.

[JohnnyD]

Thanks guys, some things to try.
JohnnyD

[Jan Jeddeloh]

Ian, I flowered N. triandrus last year and then had only one plant come back this year and it's not going to flower.  You mentioned you struggle with it too.  Any insights why?  I saw it in Portugal and Spain and it's such a cutie.  I have more seedlings coming along to play with.  In nature it grows in grass with other forbs. Maybe it likes company?

Jan in Portland.  Sitting down with a cup of Yorkshire Gold on a rainy day. 

[Matt T]

I suspect that N. triandrus is just a naturally short lived plant that sustains itself through seeding. If you want to keep it going in cultivation it’s best to regularly sow seed so you always have new plants coming on, preferably using seed from your own plants if you can manage it. I believe it also likes good ventilation and cooler growing conditions so don’t bake it.

[Gerdk]

I had the same problems as described here. Until now only multiply by seeds!
It seems the span from seeds to flowering plants is quite short.

Gerd

[Ian Y]

Ian, I flowered N. triandrus last year and then had only one plant come back this year and it's not going to flower.  You mentioned you struggle with it too.  Any insights why?  I saw it in Portugal and Spain and it's such a cutie.  I have more seedlings coming along to play with.  In nature it grows in grass with other forbs. Maybe it likes company?

Jan in Portland.  Sitting down with a cup of Yorkshire Gold on a rainy day. 

I have not found the answer to successfully growing Narcissus triandrus other than it seems to be short lived and sowing seed whenever I can get hold of it.
I do agree with the other comments above and think it needs cooler moister growing conditions than many of the others.
It is such a beauty but will continue to tantalise and challenge us - it has given many very successful hybrids but for me none quite capture its unique beauty and charm.

Just keep trying with seed.

[Tristan_He]

Interesting thread. I have grown N. triandrus albus for a few years at the front of a SW facing low raised bed. It is moist in spring but tends to dry out in summer due to perennials and tree roots. The soil here is rather nutrient-poor, calcium-poor and probably just below neutral pH. This is certainly not one of the cooler parts of the garden (though of course our North Wales summers are often cool and rainy by any standard). N. triandrus hybrids such as 'Petrel' and 'Rippling Waters' also increase slowly (though I realise they are much more robust than the species).

I won't say it thrives but it has persisted for a while. I must make sure I collect seed if it emerges this year.

By the way is there a species / rockery narcissus society of any kind?

[Maggi Young]

By the way is there a species / rockery narcissus society of any kind?

This place is as good as any  other, I reckon! And yes, I would say that wouldn't  I ? But  just  look at the  amount  of info on miniature narcissus that can be  found  in these  pages.  I'm not aware  of  a  specialist  society  for these  plants - but  someone ( Anne Wright? Matt Topsfield ?)   may know  better......

[Gerdk]

I brought this topic to the Facebook Narcissus Group.
A Spanish specialist (Rafa) reported that within a larger population of mainly single plants some groups were found that produce regularly flowering clumps by vegetative divsion. So it seems advisible to look for and select clones with with the desired characteristics.


Gerd