Milla magnifica
Diana Chapman (Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:20:56 PDT)

Hi Dylan:

I'd like to say it's my expert growing, but I don't know why some of the
Mexican bulbs did so well this year. We had a cooler than average summer,
but they are in greenhouses where it gets pretty warm. My Behria tenuiflora
(I think they are now included in Bessera?) also did well for the very first
time ever, and I have had them for years. I have to assume it's something
to do with weather conditions. In thinking about the greenhouse conditions,
I have the greenhouses swathed in Aluminet this year, plus it was cooler, so
there weren't the extreme diurnal temperature swings that have existed in
previous years, although it's still a pretty radical swing, from about 50F
at night to around 90F in the daytime. I do feed my bulbs with a water
soluble fertilizer, and I treat with fungicides about twice a year, although
I haven't found these bulbs to be prone to fungal diseases. How often do I
feed? Whenever I have the time! I would like to feed more, at least once a
month, but I don't. Probably about two to three times during their growth
cycle. My winter growing bulbs get fed more.

The more I think about it, the more I think it is temperature. I am
actually amazed that bulbs will grow for us in black plastic pots, where
soil temperatures must make very radical swings compared to what they would
experience in the ground. Not to mention huge swings in moisture from
soaking when watered to almost dry (although I think bulbs are OK with
that). After all, that's the logic behind plunge beds, to keep the
temperature of the pot stable, with the added benefit of keeping moisture
levels more even.

And to answer Cynthia question -- again, I am not sure, but Milla takes a
while to mature, so your bulbs may not be mature enough yet.

Diana
Telos Rare Bulbs
http://www.telosrarebulbs.com/