How to plant Colchicums with rhizomes

[mark smyth]

This is Merendera/Colchicum sobolifera showing the new rhizomes going straight down

[mark smyth]

This is Colchicum cupanii var pulverulentum showing it would rather have horizontal growth and only turns down at the edge of the pot

[mark smyth]

when I got home from work I'll remove them totally from the soil and lay them out for a photo. I would do it now but I have to be at work in 50 minutes

[tonyg]

They're not rhizomes!! 
But they don't look much like corms either  ...  although thats what we should call them.

[mark smyth]

Well, it loks like the answer is vertical for both of them. Just now I removed them from all the soil in the pots and took away the old flower stem and roots. I put all from each pot in to a pot of sand with the flower stems vertival like they were in the pot

This photo shows Merendera/Colchicum sobolifera. I thought that the ones that touches the side of the pot were forced down. All the rhizomes no matter where they were in the pot turned down

[mark smyth]

These are the tubers of C. cupanii var pulverulentum

[mark smyth]

Is the Bulb Despot happy with my detective work? I think I'm getting hooked on 'playing' with my bulbs

[mark smyth]

I dont want to bore everyone with too many similar photos but here is Merendera/Colchicum sobolifera with most of the soil removed

[hadacekf]

Mark,
I am not a expert, but I think the tubers of C. cupanii var. pulverulentum are too Colchicum sobolifera.
C cupanii has an individual thick corm. 

[mark smyth]

Franz I thought it was labelled wrong.

[Diane Clement]

They're not rhizomes!! 
But they don't look much like corms either  ...  although thats what we should call them.

I believe the side shoots off the funny-shaped corms are called "soboles" - hence soboliferum (i.e. bearing soboles), the diagnostic feature.  So yes, Mark, I agree with Franz both lots are Merendera sobolifera (or Colchicum soboliferum) depending on how the botanists are feeling this week.  They flower at quite different times, cupanii very soon now, sobolifera in early spring.
Diane

[annew]

Fascinating, Mark.

[Lesley Cox]

There are worse things to play with Mark.

[mark smyth]

I've enjoyed these Merendera. It makes me regret not repotting everything I have but I dont have the time to do so

[Maggi Young]

It's the joy of bulbs, isn't it? That frisson of excitement when you tip the pot out... what's in there? More than last year? Yes, Yippee!
Don't feel bad about not getting everything repotted, Mark. We have had to live with that situation for some years now. Just remember to rotate which ones you DO repot!
Ian is pleased you are discovering just how much fun the underground bits are, if you'll pardon the expression!