On 3/20/2014 11:44 AM, mj wrote:

Is it common for bulbs to grow but not flower the first year? I am
not having a great success rate with the many bulbs I planted last
fall. MJ


That depends on what plant is involved.

Some bulbs refuse to bloom for several years if their roots are
disturbed at the wrong time. This includes species of Crinum,
Amaryllis, and Sprekelia.

Other bulbs might take a year. Bearded iris often fails to bloom the
first year after it is divided and replanted.

Still other bulbs do not care. They bloom the first spring no matter
what. That includes most species of Narcissus (including daffodils),
Hippeastrum, Crocus (actually a corm), and Freesia (another corm).
Ranunculus (a tuber) generally blooms the first year unless the tuber
was quite small; then it blooms every year after.

Then there are tulips. Where I live, tulips must be stored in the
refrigerator for about 6 weeks before planting; otherwise they will not
bloom. If they do bloom in the first spring, they will never bloom
again; instead, they are treated as annuals, pulled up, and discarded.
If they do not bloom in the first spring, they will never bloom at all.
(This does not apply to lady tulips -- Tulipa clausiana -- which do not
require winter chill.) A few other spring bulbs also require winter
chill, at least a few inches of lingering snow but not deeply frozen
soil. I do without such plants because I prefer living where snow is
seen only on TV or in the movies.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary