Bulb Log 46 --- 12th November 08

[Andrew]

In the log, Ian showed the buds coming up on the various Narcissus and commented that keeping the bulbs too dry could slow down the developement. Well the opposite is true here, as there has been quite a bit of rain over the past couple of months, this could explain the flowering of my N. romieuxii messatlanticus (received from Ian a couple of years ago) now.

[Anthony Darby]

Ian, your 'woolly aphid' looks like something altogether more sinister? Pseudococcus longispinus the greenhouse mealy bug.

[Maggi Young]

Thank you, Anthony...Those bugs  are on my orchids, in the kitchen and nowhere near his bulbhouse, so he doesn't care what they're called!    I had told him they were mealy bugs.....the info just washed over him...he's as impervious to that as the flippin'  bugs are to anything without a drop of washing up liquid to break through their furry coats!!

Your bulbs are growing well, Andrew.... when you say you've had rain... I take it they are outdoors, or in an uncovered frame??

[Andrew]

Your bulbs are growing well, Andrew.... when you say you've had rain... I take it they are outdoors, or in an uncovered frame??

They were outdoors, I had stood the pot outside so they had their Autumn storm and now they have, have moved them inside.

[annew]

Now why doesn't Ian do it that way? 

[Maggi Young]

Now why doesn't Ian do it that way? 

TEE HEE! It would seem easier that way, wouldn't it?
BUT........moving umpteen hundred pots in an out isn't MY idea of fun and besides, the Aberdeen weather ( heck, most weather) is a law unto itself and the Bulb Despot ( you see he didn't earn that name lightly) prefers to take charge and be his own God of Thunder!!

[Anthony Darby]

I don't think Andrew has the quality of water we have in Scotland? I have to laugh every time I see adverts for water softeners here. Not needed north of Yorkshire! Kettles don't get furry - ever! I water my orchids with tap water. We have a water filter for our fridge, though I suspect it is not needed. I wonder when we will have to change it?

BTW I take it you've tried the 'meths on a paint brush' trick for the mealy bugs Maggi? The granular poison used for vine weevil also works.

[Maggi Young]

BTW I take it you've tried the 'meths on a paint brush' trick for the mealy bugs Maggi? The granular poison used for vine weevil also works.

Yes to the meths method........
.... my chum, who considers herself to be a humanitarian, uses whisky or gin on them, instead!

[Anthony Darby]

BTW I take it you've tried the 'meths on a paint brush' trick for the mealy bugs Maggi? The granular poison used for vine weevil also works.

Yes to the meths method........
.... my chum, who considers herself to be a humanitarian, uses whisky or gin on them, instead!

I think it would have to be export gin (47% alcohol) on the Scottish race? Actually, gin bought in the UK is watered down so whisky would be better.

[Andrew]

I don't think Andrew has the quality of water we have in Scotland?

Anthony, at the beginning of a month our weather presenter usually does a round up of the previous months weather, temperature, rainfall etc. I'll see if I am around to get the details, does your region do the same thing ?

[fermi de Sousa]

BTW I take it you've tried the 'meths on a paint brush' trick for the mealy bugs Maggi? The granular poison used for vine weevil also works.

Yes to the meths method........
.... my chum, who considers herself to be a humanitarian, uses whisky or gin on them, instead!

I was told that for bulbs you can water with a diluted vinegar solution, but I haven't tried it yet.
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

I don't think Andrew has the quality of water we have in Scotland?

Anthony, at the beginning of a month our weather presenter usually does a round up of the previous months weather, temperature, rainfall etc. I'll see if I am around to get the details, does your region do the same thing ?

I'm meaning tap water. I don't think there would be much difference in the rain water?