Galanthus

[Toole]

A number of Galanthus are out --sorry   i admit i haven't a clue to their names ...too many have been split and moved around the garden ......

Cheers Dave.

[bulborum]

The last one looks as a G. elwesii
can you post a picture from the leaves

Roland

[Toole]

The last one looks as a G. elwesii
can you post a picture from the leaves

Roland

Thanks Roland --i'm having difficulty locating that specific plant in the garden   

Cheers Dave.

[bulborum]

Almost sure Galanthus elwesii var. elwesii
the leaves are just to confirm my thoughts

Roland

[FBitt]

Hi, hopefully this is a good place to post a question on snowdrops... if not please let me know.
I planted a few potfulls of galanthus elwesii (or so I'm told) a little over a week ago.  They were clearance bulbs and most showed about 1/2 inch of sprouting and a few nubbins of roots.  I have them in a cool spot and thought they would take some time to root, but it looks like the top growth is continuing.  Any suggestions for slowing the top growth down so the roots can establish a little bit first?  Or am I over reacting and they'll be fine, and they're just happy to finally be planted?

[bulborum]

The temperature must be over 7ºC
otherwise they don't make roots and aren't hardy
what soil do you use

Roland

[FBitt]

We are having a mild autumn so the temperatures are well above 7^oC, probably around 15, but that's mostly a guess.  I used a comercial potting soil that seems peat free and mostly ground bark?  After seeing your response I went and dug up one of the sprouting bulbs.  From the tip of the bulb to the sprout tip is now about 10cm, which was even more than I thought (they were planted deeper than I remembered), but to my surprise the roots had also grown to about that same length (10cm).  I didn't think they could have grown this quickly. 
Should I keep them cooler (above freezing) and try and stall the growth, or should I give them more light and see what happens?  I thought they would need more of a cold period before jumping into growth. 
Sorry, but I'm afraid my efforts are much less professional than most of the postings on this board!

[cohan]

Don't worry- many of us are far from professional, though we do have some members with real expertise in some areas! There is always lots to learn about plants and gardening

[bulborum]

Hi F

Honestly I don't like using potting mixtures for most of my bulbs
best are loam based ones
I mix sand , grit , perlite , clay , and lava stones < 1cm in my potting mixture
I would replant them in a mixture like that with max 30% potting-mixture in it

second part is that snowdrops (and many other bulbs) aren't very hardy in pots
so don't let the temperature drop under -5 to -7ºC
otherwise they probably die
but keep the pot as cold and light as possible

Roland

[FBitt]

Thanks for the help and the encouragement.  I will start bringing the pots in and out as weather permits to give them some light and cooler temperatures.  Once hard frosts hit I have some cold windowsills and flourescent lights for them. I suppose I could still plant them outside, but where's the fun in that?

I will work on my soil mix for future plantings.  My past failures in bulb growing have probably had alot to do with too much moisture in the soil.  I just assumed that since they normally grow in similar soils and freeze solid in the garden that a pot would be no different.... I now know better (well at least a little better)

[cohan]

Thanks for the help and the encouragement.  I will start bringing the pots in and out as weather permits to give them some light and cooler temperatures.  Once hard frosts hit I have some cold windowsills and flourescent lights for them. I suppose I could still plant them outside, but where's the fun in that?

I will work on my soil mix for future plantings.  My past failures in bulb growing have probably had alot to do with too much moisture in the soil.  I just assumed that since they normally grow in similar soils and freeze solid in the garden that a pot would be no different.... I now know better (well at least a little better)

For whatever reasons, hardiness in the ground and hardiness in exposed pots are two completely different things-at least here, prob much colder than where you are- anything-even most natives- that will be left outside in a pot over winter is sunk into the soil, and then they are fine. Sitting on the surface is a much less certain prospect..

[bulborum]

For whatever reasons, hardiness in the ground and hardiness in exposed pots are two completely different things-at least here, prob much colder than where you are- anything-even most natives- that will be left outside in a pot over winter is sunk into the soil, and then they are fine. Sitting on the surface is a much less certain prospect..

Not sure Cohan

I think it has to do with the "fastness" (is this English ?) the temperature changes in a pot
this changes much faster as in the soil

Roland

[cohan]

Yes, I'd guess it could be the more rapid freezing, or more rapid fluctuations between  colder and warmer... I think the best might be to say 'speed' or 'rate' of temperature change..
Oddly, we use fastness in a very different context, it would apply to one of the following uses of the word fast:
8. Resistant, as to destruction or fading: fast colors.
9. Firmly fixed or fastened: a fast grip.
10. Fixed firmly in place; secure: shutters that are fast against the rain.
11. Firm in loyalty: fast friends.
12. Lasting; permanent: fast rules and regulations.
(from this page: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fast) So, for example, we might talk about the colour fastness-i.e. whether a dye, pigment, ink etc will last in clothing, prints etc..
They also mention fastness as you have used it, for 'swiftness/rapidity' ( http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fastness )but one citation mentions that it is archaic, and certainly not much used in Canada, at least, though anyone would likely know what you meant

[Hoy]

To avoid the freezing-in-a-pot problem I plant all my bulbs in the ground

[cohan]

I don't permanently grow many outdoor plants in pots, but I usually have a bunch (less this year after I built some new gardens!) of pots of seedlings etc that are still in pots awaiting permanent planting at the end of the year!