On 29 May 07, at 7:48, Diana Chapman wrote: > ...this problem with California frits sort of melting. It is a > very common problem, and often occurs after repotting apparently > healthy bulbs. ...I think it is because the bulb is vulnerable to > fungal diseases, and the lack of a tunic makes it very susceptible > to damage that may not be apparent to the naked eye. I think it is > advisable to treat such bulbs with a fungicide when repotting, > but, even doing this, some disappear. California fritillarias are > very touchy bulbs, difficult to grow even in their native > environment. There are a couple of tricks that may help if fungi are the difficulty. One is, of course, treat with a fungicide -- but which fungicide? I suggest good old flowers of sulphur; it's cheap, it doesn't introduce dubious petrochemicals into your garden, and (as Paul Christian said in a lecture many years ago) not only does it work well, but it stays where you put it. Another trick is to surround the bulbs with sand or grit so they are not in contact with organic matter in soil. Seedlings of Scoliopus bigelovii were gradually dwindling, one by one, until I surrounded the growing points with granite grit when repotting. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island