Lots of leaves, only a few blooms!?

I planted a bunch of tulips, daffodils, and nectaroscordum two falls ago, and while the display was terrific last spring, this year it's spotty at best. I know tulips are not super-long-lived, but I thought I'd get at least a few seasons. I'd say I'm averaging about 50% with them--I have a lot of leaves (the edges of which look a little ratty) with no buds. The ones that are blooming look fantastic, though.
Daffodils, on the other hand, are supposed to increase! Again, I have a ton of leaves, and so far I've only had flowers on about 25% of them. I even got the naturalizing mix!!
Does anyone else grow nectaroscordum? It's beautiful, and I'd really like to have it all throughout my perennial bed, but out of 10 or 12 bulbs I planted, I only see 2 buds (one of which is flopped over).

Do I need to feed them more? Water less? Buy from a different grower? Help!!

This is what I've found out about perennializing daffs and other bulbs.

As you mentioned, tulips are very iffy unless they are designated 'perennial' tulips'--usually noted in the catalogs--and not worth the effort to try to rebloom. Some catalogs even point out that most tulip bulbs are produced for the cut flower producers and aren't really meant for the garden--up to 90% of tulip bulbs...

For good rebloom in general:

1. Water: 1 inch per week during the spring bloom cycle. But bulbs generally do not want much water at all after the foliage has turned brown during summer when they are dormant. Pick a spot that has good drainage especially from winter rains, etc.

2. Ugly phase: Must tolerate and retain the foliage for at least six weeks after bloom and the plants should be in the sunshine during this time. If you plant under deciduous trees shade from leafing out might be a factor. (Try a daffodil/muscari/crocus that blooms earlier before the trees leaf out.)

3. Bloom Booster: A dose of fertilizer high in P and K is useful when the bulbs are just in bloom to aid bulb development (much of which takes place while the foliage is turning brown.) The bulb growers aren't recommending bone meal much anymore. There are 'better for bulbs' fertilizers available at the garden center. Some people fertilize when the foliage is just peeping out of the ground, also, but I think that's overkill.

4. Be picky: Choose a variety known to 'come back' or perennialize in your area. The catalogs usually will mention if it is a good perennializer or naturalizer. I buy from Brent and Becky's, Bleek's 'Touch of Nature', John Scheepers, and there are other good suppliers (and many bad ones--check Garden Watchdog.) Some of my best bulbs came from HD and Lowes, too, but check those carefully for mould and such.

5. Sometimes bulbs are attacked by a virus or nemotodes, but this is not often.

6. Watch out for the critters, although Daffs and alliums are fairly safe from them, other bulbs are not, especially tulips. There are many threads describing anti-critter defenses.

You might call White Flower Farms, since they are in your area (Connecticut) and sell lots of bulbs, and ask 'Amos' what the best perennializers are for your particular situation. They would probably know specific cultivars to try. (But you don't have to buy from them!)

I am growing 'honey garlic'/nectaroscordum this year, too. I have read that they like well-drained, not too rich soil, even a 'gravel bed' was suggested. And very sunny and dry conditions. Probably not the conditions of the normal mixed perennial border... I have grown giant alliums for three years, and I'm pretty sure I don't have a good return on them because I have them scattered through my perennial beds and I don't selectively water (or not water) through out the year (I just set out the sprinkler and everything gets soaked.)

Here's Paghat's description and cultural information on nectaroscordum: http://www.paghat.com/honeygarlic.html

In my case, if I choose a good cultivar, provide enough 'after bloom' sunshine, don't over water in the summer, and provide good winter drainage, I get good re-bloom of many daffs, muscari, lilies, camassia, spanish hyacinths, lilies of the valley, giant allium. But I don't always follow my own instructions!

I have not had rebloom luck with little allium, tulips, crocus, callas, and some other bulbs...

Wow, tabasco! Thanks for all the info! I'll do my research before I buy new bulbs in the fall. And I might have to move the nectaroscordum...

A couple of my Nectaroscordums "lolled" over this spring. I thought it was due to a cold snap or going dry while the scape was growing. This has happened before. The rest were fine.

All my large bulbs bloomed, though there are lot of offset with just foliage. One offset sent up a weak stem. They are a bit crowded with a host of "Emily Mackenzie" Crocsosmia that come up quite early here. (Boy do they ever multiply!)

I'll be moving both this fall and will keep your tips in mind, tabasco.

BTW, have you ever gotten seed form yours? I haven't. I was thinking I might get out my sable brush and play "bee"........

Robert.