On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 11:33 AM, Ina <klazina@orcon.net.nz> wrote: I was also > asked why one was better than the other. As the Tui potting mix has > chicken fertiliser in it, and Dalton's has osmocote, > Various people in the UK have observed that bulbs grown in compost fed by (Osmocote) slow release granules may go dormant prematurely, and very suddenly. The bulbs being quite healthy for the following winter growing season. It seems that the Osmocote pellets release the fertiliser (?nitrogen ) according to temperature. In the British climate we sometimes have cold weather when winter growing bulbs grow steadily, and intermittent hot spells. The theory is that a hot sunny day in mid spring may cause a flash release of fertiliser from the slow release granules, which 'burns' the roots of the bulbs, -sending them dormant. Peter (UK)