All I have done in the past is to repot in fresh compost, with a little slow release fertiliser. The smaller bulbs will soon reach flowering size.

Thankyou very much Owdboggy. That is what I'll do then.

that's what mother nature does. They will be identical to the parent as they are clones barring any mutations that may occur.

That's part of the fun Merlinbd getting lots of grit. rice and growing it on. You might want to put the rice into a separate pot or just back in with the flowering size bulbs. Wouldn't bother with the slow release fertiliser personally but it is your choice.

Thankyou Sbg and MG. I potted them when I heard from Owdboggy and I did put the 'rice' (what a great name for the little beauts) into a separate pot with no fertiliser. So happy to hopefully grow new plants and i'm pleased that they will be clones because they were so pretty. Another pound shop buy I'm afraid. I do go elsewhere but am constantly delighted by my ultra cheap finds.

Don't feel guilty about buying pound shop bulbs… which particular grit. is this Merlinbd. Really pleased for you will take 2 or 3 years to get to flowering size but then you'll have an even bigger pot full! Now you know why Bulba and I are so hooked.

I always put extra food in with baby bulbs. The more they eat the sooner they reach flowering size.

Sorry but I disagree Owdb. feeding the bulb when it is in leaf has always been the route taken by Bulba and me. Putting slow release fertiliser in with the frit. rice isn't going to help them if the fertiliser is released before they've so much as created a single root. But that is just our view.

Now i don't know whether or not I should've put fertiliser in with the rice because you are both such experts. But we are all accustomed to scientists, medical doctors and academics having different views so why not gardeners?
I did put some chicken manure pellets (Omg! I hope that was ok) in with the mature bulbs. So what's done is done and thankyou both and Sbg.

Chicken manure pellets I would not use with any bulbs to strong.

I also foliage feed as well. Any food in the original compost is washed out within six weeks in any case. The slow release stuff generally does not begin to work until the soil is warm enough for the bulbs to have begun growing.

Thankyou. i'll repot them if chicken pellets are too strong. i think I have some slow release ones somewhere but another question - do they lose effectiveness with age?

Pass as we never use them for anything.

Not sure as I never have them long enough to find out.

Look and see if there is a 'best before' date on them Merlinbd