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Bulb ID

helenrampleyhelenrampley Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi, I have these bulbs growing in my garden. We have been here for 2 years and each year they get to this stage and just shrivel up brown. Does anyone know what they are or how to rescue them? I know the soil is very dry at the moment but the same happened last year when there was oodles of rain. Any help would be very much appreciated. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Whatever they are @helenrampley, the problem is that they aren't planted deeply enough.
    I feel I should recognise them, but I can't bring it  to mind. If you can dig them out carefully, and replant at the correct depth, it will help. Let them die back naturally, and add some general purpose food as they do that, and that will also help the bulbs build up for the future. 
    Bulbs should be planted at around three times their depth, so if those were 2 inches in height, you need holes of 6 inches depth  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Crinum Powellii?, if so they're ok planted at that depth
    Devon.
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    edited April 2020
    I thought Crinum as well. They do need to be planted with the nose above the compost, but they are far too close together!
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Given the massive crack in the soil in the first pic, I reckon more water might help. 
    Devon.
  • helenrampleyhelenrampley Posts: 2
    Thanks for taking the time to help :-) I shall replant in a large pot per bulb to give them space and see how I get on. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - fair dos boys. Not something I've grown.

    Sorry @helenrampley - just as well you didn't listen to  me then!

    Is that a peony behind them though - they like drier conditions, so maybe they would be better in another spot anyway?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    I planted an unidentified bulb in a pot with some nerines; at one point in the early spring it was an inch deep in water as the pot wasn't on feet. It's turned out to be a happy healthy crinum powellii (lovely) and throwing up babies alongside Another name for it is swamp lily and according to "Tropical Britain" grows alongside rivers and swamps. This suggests to me that they like the "moist but free draining" that we see for so many plants, but different sites say opposing things. Like all plants, they can't read the rules!
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
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