In a message dated 12/3/03 6:06:31 AM, angelopalm69@inwind.it writes: << Reading Dirk's experience, it makes me to remember some problems happened to me on Amarygia, Amarcrinum and Haemathus coccineus sowing of last year. After a good germination and growth in winter and sping, all them went dormant in June. I didn't water them during summer at all and this has caused many bulbs to die for eccessive heat. Only the biggest bulbs have survived (abt 1cm or 1/2"), while the other appeared mummified (does exists this word?!) If I had watered them during summer, probably the roots would have remained alive. Also, a similar experience with a mature bulb of Haemanthus coccineus and Amaryllis belladonna in pots. The first flowered stunted, while the second at all. At a checking, I found most of the roots died, surely because I haven't watered them at all and the pots became well roasted in summer, being in full sun. On the other hands, several Nerine sarniensis hybrids, in pots left in shade during summer, have flowered very well. Plants in the ground are less susceptible to this, if not at all and got lovely flowering from all species. This contrasts the behaviour of most Mediterranean geophytes, because all these, with few exception , don't have permanent fleshy roots during the summer, so they don't resent a total drought of months. So, in my humble opinion, all these winter growing South African amaryllids need a bit of water even during the summer. Angelo Porcelli Apulia, south of Italy...where the smell of fresh olive oil fills the air of the town >> Angelo, All of this agrees with my experience EXACTLY, if you can move those potted young seedlings into some shade during the summer (as well as giving some water) they will do much better and leaf out very early in the autumn. Best wishes, Bill the Bulb Baron <A HREF="http://www.billthebulbbaron.com/">Bill the Bulb Baron.com</A> William R.P. Welch P.O. Box 1736 (UPS: 264 West Carmel Valley Road) Carmel Valley, CA 93924-1736, USA Phone/fax (831) 659-3830