Galanthus January 2012

[kentish_lass]

Me again

I have a question for those that grow snowdrops in pots...if I may?

Today I got a lovely delivery from one of my orders and I had to pot them up whilst waiting to finish another small raised bed in the woodlands.  I made my mix from John Innes 2, potting grit and a touch of peat.  I carefully put the bulb on a layer of sharp sand and grit with a little gritty compost around the bulb.  I gently watered them in and placed them in my net polytunnel for now.

My question is really - watering?  I tend to panic with bulbs in pots and let them get far too dry.  Once potted -how moist should the soil be?  I have just taken a few lattice pots from the tunnel and the soil was like dust and the flowers were much smaller and shorter than they should be - they were dehydrated.  I am used to planting them directly in the ground.

I know just how much water to give any other type of plant but am nervy when it comes to bulbs.  Any advice gratefully accepted.

thanks

[KentGardener]

I logged on over 2 hours ago and somehow ended up on Galanthus 2010 with some excellent photos and before I knew it I was in 2007 and Tilebarn Nursery getting excited over Cyclamen!  There is so much good reading on here.

Jennie

I know that feeling Jennie. 

My latest thing is to visit the 'who is online' section on the front page - and then randomly dip into a thread that someone else is reading.  I keep finding all sort of interesting threads I wouldn't have otherwise visited.   

[RichardW]

Jennie,

I use a sandy/gritty John Innes mix and water little but often during the growing season (all mine indoors have been done twice this week with it being mild/sunny) never letting the compost get very dry, in the summer they go into a shaded frame and unless the weather is particularly dry they rarely get watered more then a very quick splash once every few weeks.

has been dry last year & was worried about over watering the dormant chipped bulbs so I left a few to nature and they were clearly not to good when repotted.

I've had a lot in pots for the last few years due to starting chipping and this seems to work well for me.

 

[Brian Ellis]

I use a sandy/gritty John Innes mix and water little but often during the growing season (all mine indoors have been done twice this week with it being mild/sunny) never letting the compost get very dry, in the summer they go into a shaded frame and unless the weather is particularly dry they rarely get watered more then a very quick splash once every few weeks... this seems to work well for me.

Me too Jennie

[art600]

Mine in pots are in open frames and have received no watering from me since repotting.  My mix is similar to Richard's

My concern during the really wet periods we have had - yes we did have rain in November and December - was whether they were getting too wet.  The results would say otherwise as I think this year is the best ever.

[RichardW]

My concern during the really wet periods we have had - yes we did have rain in November and December - was whether they were getting too wet.

same here so if very heavy rain is forecast I do cover my frames, if they get too dry at least you can water but they can take weeks to dry out from water logging.

[Maggi Young]

Searching for Galanthus Hanning's Horror!

Hello fellow forum members.  For a desperately seeking garden friend I am searching for Galanthus Hanning's Horror. Does anyone know a source who sells this snowdrop?

Thank you for your help.

Cheers,

So, does anyone know of a source for 'Hanning's Horror',  please?

[KentGardener]

I've never seen it on any of the lists I have been getting for the past half dozen years Maggi.  It is one I would have noticed and would grow too if it had been listed.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks John. It hasn't been seen much around the Forum, for sure.

[art600]

Well it is aptly named

[Brian Ellis]

Well is John hasn't got his hands on it then it must be difficult to come by...or difficult to grow

[Brian Ellis]

Just noticed Mark has a picture on his site

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/hanning-horror.html

so he may know from whence it can be obtained.

[Oakwood]

Just noticed Mark has a picture on his site

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/hanning-horror.html

so he may know from whence it can be obtained.

Brian, this is rather "Phytoplasma-Infected Horror"!!        

[Maggi Young]

Just noticed Mark has a picture on his site

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/hanning-horror.html

so he may know from whence it can be obtained.

Brian, this is rather "Mycoplasma-Infected Horror"!!       

Well, I must say it looks sick to me, so I am interested to see you say that Dima.   
 I wonder if our friend who is searching for it realises that it is most likely not healthy. I will send a note. 

[daveyp1970]

Just noticed Mark has a picture on his site

http://www.snowdropinfo.com/hanning-horror.html

so he may know from whence it can be obtained.

Brian, this is rather "Mycoplasma-Infected Horror"!!       

Mycoplasma-Infected,is this the cause of all snowdrops that we class as spikies Dima.