Since most commercially grown Ornithogalum dubium crops likely consist of genetically identical individuals, I don't think comparing their flowering to genetically heterogenous populations in situ is valid in this instance. Significantly less than 100% flowering for a commercial O. dubium crop suggests three possibilities. First, the bulbs may not have yet reached a state of physiological maturity following the last vegetative growing cycle even though the foliage has already died down (I'm not referring to bulb size here, although the bulbs do have to be large enough to flower). For example, as is frequently the case, the foliage prematurely died because the plants were not adequately cared for after the flowers senesced, or perhaps the bulbs were harvested too soon from the soil resulting in the bulbs not fully maturing. The temperature during the bulb enlargement stage of many species can also affect the physiological state of the bulbs at harvest. Second, the bulbs reached a state of maturity and became fully dormant but there might now be a dormancy breaking requirement (not necessarily warm temperatures) needed before the bulbs can perceive the floral induction stimulus (presumed to be warm temperatures). Assuming such a dormancy breaking requirement even exists for this species, without meeting this necessary dormancy breaking requirement, subsequent warm temperatures will not induce flowering. Such a dormancy breaking treatment could be something as simple as a period of relatively cooler (not vernalization) or even warmer temperatures prior to the warm floral induction period. Finally, the third possible reason for less than 100% flowering is that the warm floral induction stimulus was inadequate. The bulbs were mature and dormancy (as defined by the ability to respond to a floral stimulus) was broken but subsequent temperatures were not warm enough and/or for long enough. In the situation of growing plants in pots, not fulfilling all three of these potential requirements could easily account for less than 100% flowering. That being said, Hugh's comments are spot on. Whatever their needs for full flowering, the major wholesale growers already have this species figured out. Nathan At 10:15 PM 12/7/2014, you wrote: >In nature, many bulbs practice dormancy. It is a means to reduce losses in >droughty years. > >Andrew >San Diego