Making Babies ! (I Hope)

44 comments

Snowdrops have always been a favorite through the years, always looking anxiously for the first flowers in January.
Now with the onset of EBay there are many new varieties to be purchased many at high prices,some of you will have seen press coverage of a few bulbs being sold for in excess of £300.00 each last winter
This led me to think what if it died on you,They do.
So decided to research a bit and found that more often than not the buyer does not even plant his bulb he cuts it up to increase the numbers they call it twin scaling.
So thats what i decided to try and see just how practical it is.
The bulbs i used I could afford to loose there value being no more than a couple pounds each.Two were doubles and one single flowered.
The first thing I learnt was that I needed to work on them in sterile conditions
The initial requirements were
Disposable gloves
Vermiculite,Systemic Fungicide,Plastic Bags ,Scalpel,Methylated Spirit.and a glass or marble slab to work on.there were a few other items but these were the main ones.
So to start gloves on, boiled water allowed already to cooled,this was used to remove remove the bulbs tunic.
(Imagine preparing an Onion and the procedure is similar)then on to my chopping board (Didn’t have any marble) Scalpel sterilized in methylated I proceeded to cut the neck of the bulb off horizontally, the bulb was then stood up vertically and cut straight through in half ,now this where you have to be accurate because each segment you cut has to have a portion of the basal plate (where the roots come from) and also the bulbil

I continued to cut each bulb into 8 pieces these were then placed into a fungicide solution including the neck and allowed to soak for about 20 Minutes before being dried off.Some experts I understand cut them into as many 32 slices,not sure how you would need a very sharp blade
Next clean Polythene bags were opened ( no blowing in them spreads germs)A quantity of vermiculite was then poured in to the bag and several spoonfuls of sterilized water added

Each section of the bulb was then placed in the bag sealed airtight and labeled

They were then put in a dark cupboard at about 20c for 14 weeks and checked several times to make sure none were rotting and that they were not drying out

At The end of this period I Knew there was some growth but difficult to gauge how much as the Vermiculite was stuck to the segments the bags were opened about a week ago

This photo shows them being potted in the grit sorry,opening the bag has now been added at the end.

And there were the tiny bulbils still joined to the now exhausted segments of bulb, tiny miracles really.

The top section also producing babies that surprised me.But its already possible to see how in a few years several hundred pounds could be several thousand.
Next pots already cleaned and half filled with a 50/50 mixture of vermiculite and peat based compost, to this was added a layer of sand and grit to create sharp drainage, the bulbils were set down into it and topped up with more compost they were then watered with a weak fungicide solution and now need to be kept frost free through the coming winter,in spring if i am lucky some small leaves will emerge ,but maybe not until 2013 as there growth will be building up the bulb through roots as its priority. Part 2 in about 18 months time if iam lucky

24 Oct, 2011
23 likes

Comments

Stickitoffee

Fascinating bjs, very interested to see how you get on, and how quickly you will be a millionaire!

24 Oct, 2011

Tetrarch

It's fascinating as you say Sticki..still I dont fancy standing in a greenhouse day in, day out cutting up bulbs like a surgeon in an operating theatre! All just to make thousands..whether thats bulbs or money, not quite sure, money I think...Im tired and reading it wrong!
Well, its one way of making money but Brian, remember the South Sea Bubble..it could become the
Snow-drop Bulbil at this time of year!!

24 Oct, 2011

Nana_d

Crikey you have put a lot of research into this I hope you have a bumper crop in 2013 and make a fortune:)

24 Oct, 2011

Stickitoffee

The good thing is that if you cut your bulbs by mistake you may end up with double the amount!

24 Oct, 2011

Bjs

No no I just did it for the fun of it, i have no intention of trying to make money out of it.but its interesting to see how life can be regenerated from the tiniest shred of tissue,and where do the ones come from on the neck of the bulb, what trigers it to regenerate there.

24 Oct, 2011

Amy

That is so fascinating Brian they really are tiny miracles , i'm amazed at the patience you have with your plants , I have a lot of snowdrops but like the cyclamens I haven't learnt the difference in them yet , all I know is that some are single some are double LOl... !! well done :o)

24 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Margo
I am sure the bubble will burst it always does, It did with the Tulips how long ago was that they even traded them on the stock market and one bulb was exchanged for a house in Kensington, dont see that happening with snowdrops.

24 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Amy
If i lost the labels out of snowdrops I would not know what a lot of them were.

24 Oct, 2011

Ginellie

How brilliant is that and what enormous patience you have Bjs. I found the whole thing fascinating.

24 Oct, 2011

Motinot

Wow Bjs....Well done!!...Funny i was reading on line today about this very subject...Thanks for showing it to us...:>)

25 Oct, 2011

Bampy

my kind of blog BJ, informative & inspirational, makes you want to have a go. I am about to clean-up the pleione collection & will spend alot of time collecting the 'bulbils' ( smaller than a match head) from the parent bulbs & growing them on for 3-4 years to flowering size.

BTW: what month did you start the bulb division please?

25 Oct, 2011

Pimpernel

Excellent blog, very well put together and photographed.

25 Oct, 2011

Tetrarch

I well know your enquiring mind Brian, only teasing. I do tho, admire your patience (and success!) when doing these things..I have a job keeping plugs alive!! I reckon they must like the sound of your voice...there must be something....doesnt matter how much or how little care I take, I havent your skill in propagation!
Tell me, how is it that when I dig up a plant I want to get rid of, there are always roots that keep sending up healthy shoots, but when I transplant something Im lucky if it doesnt kick the bucket?? I obviously dont have greenfingers..more like witherfingers!!

25 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Bampy
It was started late june after they died back, its recomended to do it a bit earlier in the year but mine stayed green for a long time.There is more information I could have added but to be honest I find it easer to do than write about.

25 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Margo
can't really answer that one,guess the bits in the ground are hanging on to life,maybe they understand you are about to kill the rest of them.lol.
You wouldn't be selling them on EBay if you really killed them.
B

25 Oct, 2011

Angieindgar..

Very interesting! Love all your details & pics. You have great patience alright. I have to save this blog in my favorites and keep that information in my mind. I wonder who ever thought to do that with a bulb. So kind of you to share it with us, I really enjoyed it thanks, but I hope we get an update sooner than 18 months. Best of luck with them.
P.S
I love Snowdrops, always have.

25 Oct, 2011

Tetrarch

Brian, those ebayers are mainly irises..tough little beggars, determined to survive whatever I throw at 'em! lol
Actually, they - and day lilies - are my real success stories..cant say the same for many other things...witness snowdrops! Guess Im a 50/50 gardener.

25 Oct, 2011

Terratoonie

Hello Brian ...Fascinating blog. :o)

Sent you a private message ...

25 Oct, 2011

Terratoonie

Well done ... I can see the first pic now ;o)

25 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Good !

25 Oct, 2011

Bampy

thanks BJ, so around April-May to start bulb division. Ok, I know someone who sells gallanthus for silly money as I call it, last year he sent 6 bulbs to Sweden £450 each, Im off to his garden with a small trowel, night-sights & cam cream LOL :-)))

25 Oct, 2011

Poppylover99

What an informative blog. How patient and meticulous you are Brian. I am tempted to have a go myself. Its just the 3 yr wait that I'm having trouble with. I think you can use this method of scaling with lilies too. I really like the martagon lilies but they are £5 each or there abouts. I would like to have a group of them, maybe this is the way to achieve it. ...hmmmmn.

25 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Poppy not sure if seed may not be as quick with the Lilly.
The real reason for propagating the Snowdrop this way is because the seed would not come true and some are slow to increase naturally, lot of lillys naturally make bulbils,aparently and i have not tried it, if you let them dry out to the point of death they will make lots of bulbils,bit like Margo digging things out the bit bit left behind does its best to survive.

25 Oct, 2011

Pcw

Brian-fascinating stuff.I've only ever done this with lillies.You can just pull the scales off as long as you have a piece of basal plate.

25 Oct, 2011

Tetrarch

Blimey, another whizz kid on the block..think I'll go away and hide lol! Hi Pcw, nice to meet you {:-D. Brian's also talking about my brain, doing its best to survive!!

Seriously, Ive always wanted to have a go at propagating lilies like that, the only thing holding me back is the thought of wantonly killing a lovely bulb...which is highly likely!
Btw Brian, one out of two of your hostas has survived..Remember Me is going strong..thank you..I must post a picture soon.

25 Oct, 2011

Bjs

Pcw
How long do you think from scales to flowering bulb with the Lilly,Poppy Is interested in trying,her comment is farther up the page.

25 Oct, 2011

Pcw

Tetrach-you can pull off as many scales as you want and replant the bulb.Also you dont need to be as sterile as Brian had to when twin scaling,as you are not cutting the bulb up,just coat the scales with fungicide powder.Then all you need is an airing cupboard-with some lillies a fridge- and some patience.

25 Oct, 2011

Tetrarch

I might have a go..I will probly end up chilling one and overheating the other, cos Im likely to forget they are there! lol! But I also am interested in how long it takes to grow a flower from a scale, Pcw?

25 Oct, 2011

Poppylover99

Well that's not so bad if you can keep the original bulb. What's the best time to do it? I'm guessing spring??

25 Oct, 2011

Dawnsaunt

Well done Brian, you are very clever, patient and meticulous - success too! Very interesting, you are an inspiration to us.

25 Oct, 2011

Tuesdaybear

That's amazing, Brian. will have to re-read to get my head round it properly. What patience you have. My beautiful daughter was born on 7th February and my husband brought 7 bunches of snowdrops into hospital for me - so much nicer than traditional bouquets in my opinion. Love them.

25 Oct, 2011

Pcw

Brian-probably 3-4 years.
Poppy-the best time is now,late summer/autumn.Some Lillies though,can be as quick,or even quicker from fresh seed eg.Lilium regale.

25 Oct, 2011

David

Gosh, just found this, Brian, and am amazed. You'd make an excellent midwife, and should consider future home deliveries as an alternative to Paypal on ebay!

Would not object to blowing into a new baby if O2 required, but not recommend sealing one in a plastic bag thereafter (just jesting, of course). And their dear little name tags! How on Earth did Poe Hill's parents choose that name? But, little Ophelia G sounds quite grand, :-)

Seriously, a fascinating read, with great instructions and illustrations. Would enjoy trying this at home. :-)

26 Oct, 2011

Wagger

I've seen this done with Narcissi - a bit more to get hold of there, lol. You have incredible patience, Bjs, and I think your description was brilliant!

30 Oct, 2011

Lincslass

Only just found this blog Brian, I found it fascinating, thankyou...

20 Nov, 2011

Katarina

This was surgery...no....cardiosurgery. Fine work. Congratulation. Send us photo of the results :)

1 Jan, 2012

Bjs

Katarina
I do have an update,but hardly big enough to show yet, in the last week tiny shoots have started to emerge in four out of the six pots,so they are thriving.Will take a photo when there is a bit more to see.

1 Jan, 2012

Pamd

Brian, what a blog, it is very intersting and I do fancy having a go. Last year I went to a snowdrop lecture and the chap there used a spring onion to do the scaleing demo. You can imagine the "aroma" going round the room :o)) Your instructions and pics are very good. I've seen the update to all this hard work, very exciting.

2 Mar, 2012

Bjs

Pam they are doing well around half the 22 growing have now made a second leaf.Have a go we wont make a fortune but its amazing to see how they grow from a small section ,if you do try I used a stanley blade but it needs thinner a scalpel

3 Mar, 2012

Pamd

That's exciting Brian, I may well give it a go. What I have done, I may well sound a bit (loopy) some of my named snowdrops are now all wearing little hats !!:o) either buy some very cheap tea bags or dry out used ones, make a slit in the top, emptying out any tea, pop it over the seed capsule and staple it closed with a small stapler to catch the seeds before they drop. I know they probably wont come true, but may get something different. I may take some pics and do a blog if I get time.

10 Mar, 2012