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When learning how to
use this technique of propagation, be prepared for the inevitable
casualties, and please do not rush into deploying this method upon your
favourite bulbs unless you can afford to lose a few.
You will need: -
-
A Sharp Knife
(preferably with a thin blade);
-
Horticultural
Vermiculite;
-
A reasonably sized
plastic bag;
-
Both Liquid and
Powdered Fungicide;
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Plus of course the
Bulb you have chosen as your victim.
-
Choose your bulb
carefully, it should be healthy and free from any signs of disease
or insect infestation;
-
Clean your bulb,
removing soil and any papery outer layers;
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Your knife should
be sterilised;
-
Now carefully cut
your bulb into quarters starting from the base plate;
-
Next remove the
embryonic flower and leaves - We do not want energy being expended
on trying to repair the damaged flower and leaves, or for them to
rot;
-
At this stage you
should be left with four clean bulb segments comprising only of
scales and a portion of base plate;
-
Now immerse the
segments in the liquid fungicide for 5-10 minutes, then remove them
and drain away the excess liquid;
-
Now dust the bulb segments
with some of the powdered fungicide;
-
Half fill your
plastic bag with moistened Vermiculite, add the bulb segments, and
seal the bag;
-
All that is now
required is a suitable dark place to put your bag of bulb bits until
they hopefully start to produce small bulblets arising from the base
plate: The Airing Cupboard is usually the suggested place, but this
can at times get too warm, however in these times of central heating
almost any dark cupboard will suffice;
-
Occasionally over
the next few weeks have a look at your bag of bits to check that
they are doing well, remove any material that shows signs of disease,
and with luck you will see the emergence of the little bulbs you are
trying to produce, where as the bulblets grow in size the scales of
the parent plant will wither and dry up;
The next stage can
also be a time of disaster:
The time when you
pot up your newly born bulblets.
I much prefer to leave
my new bulbs attached to their base plate and plant them as as they
emerge from their plastic cocoon, I feel that this subjects them to less
stress whilst they adapt from the protection and warmth of where they
were born, whilst others suggest that it is more beneficial to separate
each bulblet with a portion of the base plate so that they can get on
with the business of growing in their own unrestricted area - It is a
matter of personal choice, and again like everything else in gardening,
if it works for you then it must be the right thing to do. Whichever
technique you use, do not expect flowering size bulbs for at least 4
years, for like bulbs grown from seed the little bulblets need time to
grow.
I do hope that you will try vegetatively propagating
some bulbs, it can be very rewarding.
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