Stagonospora infection - collected threads

[mark smyth]

I've  collected a number of previous threads on this subject here... Some of these posts are narcissus related also . - I was moved to do so by a recent conversation I saw  ......

 Q: Does stag cause snowdrop flowers to abort and turn to a brown mush in the spathe?

A:  Yes it can do but the major sign is reddish brown marks on the leaves and scapes plus difformed leaves. Sweeten up your soil with extra humus and Trichoderma harzianum mycorhiza!
 And use less fertiliser then.

 Many Narcissus are now above ground with buds showing at ground level. Below is what I grow as 'Melvillei' and one of the ones I first got. It hasnt increased much and doesnt look special nor does the quite vigerous 'Atkinsii' Moccas form. Better late than never is my small group of elwesii Hiemalis Group

Our snowdrop days is only 6 week away and the 12c today isnt going to do anything to hold back the rush of Galanthus and Crocus. I was hoping to have a good display of the latter for visitors to see.

I've mention before now snowdrops taking a year out and then flowering normally. During the 2006 snowdrop season I was given a small non flowering bulb of G. 'Greenfinch'. Last year, 2007, it didnt appear so I thought a Narcissus fly has got it. Today while weeding I was very happy to see it above ground with a flower bud.

[Maggi Young]

About snowdrops after chipping when the chips refuse to form leaves, give them a week -1 celsius and if they still dont, repeat this. They will certainly start now.

Gerard, just so I understand fully... do you say to give the chips minus 1 degree celsius for a week?  Thanks, Maggi

[Maggi Young]

Gerard, I don't know it in fahrenheit, either! 
It is very interesting technique, useful to be able to try that for other chips, too, perhaps.

[Anthony Darby]

Gerard, I don't know it [-1^oC] in fahrenheit, either! 
It is very interesting technique, useful to be able to try that for other chips, too, perhaps.

~30^oF

I like DB's early byzantinus Mark.

[Paddy Tobin]

Help my poor head - what or who is "DB"?

Paddy

[mark smyth]

I dont know and I dont know who sent them. They arrived in the post during the summer dormant, damp packed and excess water ruining the letter

[Paddy Tobin]

So, DB = Damp Bulbs?

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Derek Bacon, forumist??

[Anthony Darby]

I was going to say Del Boy.

[vanhouttewim]

David Bromley

[Anthony Darby]

Ah ha! I like the delicate markings on the inner petals.

[Alan_b]

Tony's remark started me thinking about which plants are freely shared
and which have become "collector's plants", with high prices and theft.

I wonder about the reasons.  Maybe the plant needs to be rather slow at
increasing, and grow as "singles".  No one is going to steal something that
forms a mat or gallops across the ground with runners.......... 

I think you are right.  The plants that stay as "'collector's plants" are the poor weak feeble things that are difficult to grow or are prone to sudden death!  If a plant is new and interesting it may command a high price but if it is too vigorous and/or too easily propagated then the price drops.  In the snowdrop world I think I see this happening with 'Wendy's Gold', the yellow G. plicatus.  At the plant sale following Joe Sharman's 'Galanthus Gala' last year I noticed that there were plenty of these left 'on the shelves'.  It is an attractive and distinctive snowdrop but quite easy to grow.  I had a single bulb that got half eaten-away but it managed to pull through and I seem to be getting about 8 flowers this year.  And there are even dark rumours about micropropagation techniques that will have it turning up in garden centres eventually!  So I'm expecting the price of this one to drop as it joins the ranks of snowdrops like 'magnet' that everybody has.

I think there is still money to be made by selling 'easy' plants like the pretty forms of the Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria.  I grow a few of these in my garden and I can concentrate on which are the most attractive and the good doers without being prejudiced by how much I have spent to get one!           

[Gerard Oud]

Maggi, we use this technique also on lillie scales and it works. As long as they get their winterperiod its okay.
I could have kept this for myself, but you know me toooo enthusiastic and sharing information with colleages, members etc.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Gerard, I was thinking about lily scales.....some types seem less keen than others to grow leaves... now I know what to do.

[Brian Ellis]

And there are even dark rumours about micropropagation techniques that will have it turning up in garden centres eventually!

I'm no expert Alan but from Joe's talk he seemed to be saying that the simple root of a snowdrop carries a fungus which is lost if micropropagation is tried.  I got the impression that this meant you couldn't do it.  Somebody correct me if I am wrong.