I would wait a couple of years at least. They should detach very easily and have roots. As long as they are firmly attached to the parent bulb, leave them alone! Diana > Thank you Diana > > The 3rd picture shows the growth pattern exactly as mine will be. How long before the side shoots can be detached with a root system? I have space for one sided pots with metre long leaves but not a circle of such proportions. That is a bit daunting. > > Brian > > >> ________________________________ >> I have posted some pictures on the blog: http://www.thebulbmaven.typepad.com/. >> They are all older pictures, since the ones in my office are not all >> open yet and still haven't developed their full form. They open a >> greenish yellow, but as they expand they turn pure white. >> >> Diana >>> I have 3 Pamianthe (~35mm diam/1m long(tall?)) yet to flower) that seem determined to grow as epiphytes at 45% to the horizontal. I thought I had what appeared to be a root growing at right-angles to one of them, only to realise today that it has leaves and is a side shoot. I can find odd images online of some pots with 2 similar sized bulbs, very upright and parallel, but none with clumps, spreading or otherwise. Are side shoots unusual? >>> >>> Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8 ish. > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >