I usually apply soluble fertilizer to plants in my unheated bulb house now. However, we are having an unusually cold late winter: near freezing every night, and in the 40s F daytime. Many plants are in active growth, if a bit later than usual. Should I apply fertilizer now, or wait until the daytime temperatures are a bit higher? I don't use pelleted fertilizer on the container plants but have some for the garden which is designed to release slowly at cool temperatures, unlike Osmocote-type slow-release fertilizers which need higher soil temperatures than is typical in the Pacific Northwest. The continuing cold is also probably impeding the seed harvest for this year. I'm told that cold temperatures retard the development of pollen tubes leading to the ovaries. However, I don't like the idea of bringing flowering plants into indoor temperature just to encourage seed set, because I think it would make them go into premature dormancy, which might limit their vigor in the future. I've always preferred to grow my container plants as hard as they will tolerate, so that they appear in character (more like they do in nature). Many of the bulbs I grow come from mountainous or steppe areas where night temperature is sharply lower than daytime. Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, usa _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…