Has anyone tried Bulb Propagation, by ''Bulb Chipping"?

I read in my new book Plant Propagation by the American Horticultural Society, that bulbs can be reproduced using several methods. I was most interested in the chipping method.

Here is a great site with photos:
http://www.judyssnowdrops.co.uk/Propagation/Twin-Scaling/twin-scaling.htm

and here is another:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/learning/publications/pubs/garden_98-00/pubs_journals_garden_0899_bulbslice2.asp

I am especially interested in trying this with Lycoris species. Here is a short article some results specifically testing lycoris.
http://www.actahort.org/books/517/517_11.htm

I've never deliberately done the 'chipping'. I have had bulbs to break apart and I just plant them that way and they come up. Thanks for those links. That's very interesting. I'll have to try that technique and do it right.
Lin

I thought it was pretty interesting, too. Ü
I'd never ever heard of propagating bulbs any other way, except just letting them do it on their own(until now). I always wondered how the commercial people did it. Now I know, lol...

I'm definitely going to try it.
-T

Grand Trillium does not chip.

Uh-oh...did you find that out the hard way? Is trillium a bulb? I seem to have always thought it was a rhizome?...not really sure. They don't/won't grow here. And, I've tried them before...more than once.

-T

It wasn't hard on me. Poor Trillium.

Taylor--
I must be cursed. That second link still doesn't work for me--lol

As a side note to our discussion on the other thread...check this out. They are still working on this site.
http://solasgardens.com/page4.html

Debbie

http://www.rhs.org.uk/learning/publications/pubs/garden_98-00/pubs_journals_garden_0899_bulbslice2.asp

Hope that worked this time...sure is weird, it keeps dropping off the " 2.asp" part, instead of including it in the link.

I checked out that site. They have some nice bulbs, (especially that belladonna/crinum), but couldn't find any info on pricing or their location, or contact info...
-T

I think they are informational at this point in time--should be interesting to see how they develop.

It did work for me when I cut and pasted to word and added in the "2.asp" part. Another excellent link Taylor, thank you.

I was thinking about that third link yesterday at work. I bought a couple of narcisus from Southern Bulb Company and also have that Allium Schuberti coming from a Coop. I'm thinking I'm kinda chicken to try the 1/8" sections but I am willing to give the 1/4" sections a try and tell you how they work. These bulbs are in complete dormancy so would be a good one to try it on. I can still plant a few out to enjoy next spring.

I have some real large Amarcrinums or Crinodonna bulbs I would be willing to trade you for something I don't have in early Oct. when it cools off. They are heardy to zone 7. Think about some bulbs you might can spare for yet my latest plant family addiction--lol
Debbie

Which systemic fungicide are you planning to use? I'm organic here so I've never bought any...and wouldn't have a clue as to a decent brand fpr this purpose..

I also happen to be at the 99 cent store the other day, I never go there except at the beginning of the year to buy school stuff for my class, but they had some plastic pots--wide but shallow that would be great to use for rain lillies and oxalis other small bulbs that you aren't ready to put in the ground. Or that you don't have too many of and don't want to loose track of in the ground. I wish they would have had clay ones, but I picked up a few of the plastic ones to try since they were so cheap. I've worked up a pretty good sized collection of small bulbs.

Sounds like we're on the same page with bulbs. Ü

A neighbor down the street gave me a division of her bulbs the other day. She doesn't know exactly what they are. She bought a bunch of easter lilies on clearance, and a few of these were mixed in. They look like easter lilies, but have a real buttery-yellowy-orangey color to them. Very pretty.

I remembered seeing them back in the Spring, and thinking how surprised I was that hers came back from the winter(we just have such heavy clay & most lilies seem to rot here), and I just loved the color. I complimented her on them, and she offered to share a bulb with me.

I noticed that she had them in a bed where they only got filtered shade, and no supplemental watering, except for natural rainfall. They also were planted very shallowly.

So when I was over there the other day, she popped out one of the bulbs. It looked just like the picture of the lily bulbs in the propagation book, with lots of fat scales. With the bulb in hand, and fresh propagating information in my head, I did the obvious.

I removed the outer 1/3 of the scales and placed them, and the mother bulb in a clear plastic baggie filled halfway with sterilized coir(luckily I had some already sterilized on hand) with sand added. I put a tiny bit of water in it, and when it felt right, and I couldn't squeeze any water from it, I plunked the mother bulb in the middle, and the scales fashioned around her. I then put that baggie inside a paper bag, to exclude light. This way it is in the dark, but I can still peek without disturbing it. It is inside at room temperature.

I've checked on it for the last few days, and no sign of mold. I didn't treat with the sulfer or systemic stuff, because I don't keep any on hand. I figure if mine starts to mold, I'll go get some sulfur powder. (One source said Vitax brand green or yellow sulfur)

I DO intend to use some sulfur powder when I try my other bulbs, I was just sort of in a situation where I hadn't planned on getting that bulb that day, and didn't have time for a trip for supplies. I had to make a quick attempt, or not do it. I took a chance, lol...

I have a crinum "Ellen Bosenquet'' that I would like to try, next. That is the only crinum I have. I do have some of the regular pink belladonna, though, and may try them, too.

It is always so fun to have a new project and something fun to experiment over the winer months. Getting this book was just perfect timing.

Well powdered sulphur I have. It's an organic way to acidify soil for my large Louisiana Iris collection and other acid-loving plants.

Easter Lilies will survive our heavy clay soil--but they bloom about May 1 for me and are very tall, requireing staking down here for me. So they should do just fine in your clay soil. I would love to have more myself, seems the stores would rather throw them out rather than mark them down after Easter. And they've gotten so expensive to buy prior to Easter in the last 2 years.

I may try some crinums too--hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it. They also are pretty expensive but turn into a lanscape investment like a shrub or tree so are worth it. But I would like more...I also started some hybrid crinum seeds this summer. Was pretty successful at that--its just a long wait for blooms.

Are you referring to amoninum sulfate, or aluminum sulfate, or something like that?? I used to buy that for my azaleas(that I don't have, anymore).

I am thinking this is different stuff. It showed it in the picture, and it is very bright green. I don't remember my acidifier as being any color at all(except maybe whitish gray)

soil sulphur ammendment is bright yellow--at least mine is. Its basically crushed sulphur--period.

I gave up on azaleas years ago too--we are just not Japan--lol