Snowdrops in the green
Jane McGary (Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:08:57 PST)

I completely agree with John Grimshaw that Galanthus should be
shipped dormant. I've bought them both ways, and those received
dormant (all the way from England, and some from John) settled in
much better than those received in growth.

When I was selling surplus bulbs, I put those that needed not to be
dried out too much into plastic bags with a little barely moist
vermiculite, and left the top of the bag slightly open while they
were waiting to be shipped, which could take two to three weeks. I
kept all the sale bulbs in a cool, dim room. Then I shipped them in a
similar bag with vermiculite. I didn't get any complaints about the
snowdrops. I think this is also a good way to handle some Fritillaria
species (not those from arid regions, which usually have an outer
layer of dried scale almost like a tunic) and those Narcissus that
make root growth early in autumn.

Mark wrote:

I've read that G. fosteri also tolerates summer drought, and it did
well in an unirrigated part of my former garden, where there is
little or no summer rainfall.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA