Hi Cody, I'm actually one step behind but also facing the same kind of dilemas, in my case with hardy Cyclamens. The step behind is that I've yet to get hold of many of your mentioned species. The question you arise is about translating wild conditions back to a gardening situation, an even more inside a container (clay pot, plastic pot , or plastic bag.). How much clay you want in your soil mix inside a pot is a question of finding the right ammount. None is never right. Also adding generous amounts of organic material will help in moisture retention. My strategy with potted plants are to water them from below. Then the crown area will be dry, yet further down it will keep moist and even wet without any harm during the dormant season. You simply have to check say once a week that the bottom tray has standing water. If doing so there's hardly any risk in dessication. So the soil mix inside the pot ought to be on the porous side because it will help in the capillary forces that wicker upwards the moisture. In the garden things work out differently. The options are working different typesof soils placed in layers. You can place a clayey mix quite low and then add a sandy/loam mix on top with very good drainage in the upper inch or so, including a sandy grit as top dressing. The strategy is to avoid water collecting around the roots of dormant bulbs during your summer general garden waterings. It would be best to place your bulbs that have similar requirements away from plants that have different watering requirements. I don't have serpentine clay soils here. arturo