The MGS Forum
Gardening in mediterranean climates => Pests and diseases => Topic started by: Daisy on March 04, 2013, 10:06:07 AM
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Perhaps I have been fortunate, but I have been planting narcissus bulbs all my life and have never had blind bulbs.
This year however, is the second spring for most of my narcissus here and most of them have come up blind.
I have one flower only on Avalanche and I found these insects on it.
Is this the cause of their blindness?
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss112/daisyincrete/feb2013006_zps5a5dfffb.jpg)
Is it worth leaving the bulbs in the hope that they will flower next year? Or should I dig them up and discard them?
Daisy :)
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Daisy,
In my experience, 'Avalanche' and 'Geranium' are both heavy feeders meaning they need extra nutrients available through their growing seoson in order to develop a future flower bud.
A good compost in autumn and at least once; fertilizer with high level of Phosphorus by the end of the season will do the job.
Also they do much better in full sun and do not let them over croud, and most important do not cut the leaves, let them dry compleetly.
The bugs on your flower are not a problem really.
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Oron says narcissi need phosphorus. Is this all narcissi in general? What do you mean 'high' phosphorus. Could we have some NPK numbers please (and any other micros necessary). Feeding nutrients is always a dilemma for me....... I use 15.15.15 most of the time but its probably not optimal in our clay soil.
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Pamela,
Sorry, i meant high in Phosporus [P],
Therefore 10-20-10, 15-30-15, 12-24-12 etc. which are used in order to encourage flowering.
Tomato fertilazers have similar combinations and can be used as well.
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Thats extremely helpful Oron....especially as we can always get something like Tomorite here.
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Thanks Oron I will give them some high phosphorus feed.
Hopefully they will flower next year.
Daisy :)