"echinosum" wrote in message
...

I planted some Nerine bowdeni around my young Judas Tree about 8 years
ago, about a foot from the trunk. I got the occasional flower in the
first couple of years, but for about 5 years none. The bulbs have
multiplied, so there are some clumps of them, probably about 20
individual bulbs now. There were plenty of leaves in the spring and
early summer, till they died back in late summer, which I think is
normal. I watered them during the dry periods. I scattered some
fertiliser about. Other bulbs in the same bed - tulips, alliums -
flower. Primulas flower and wild strawberries fruit there. The Judas
tree, after sulking for a few years, has got its feet down and is now
growing vigorously. But not a flower off the Nerine. What am I doing
wrong?

--
echinosum


Two thoughts come to mind: a) could they be planted too deeply? and b) might
the bulbs have disintegrated into daughter bulbs and therefore not of
flowering size? Were it not for your other bulbs flowering, I would have
suggested that the increased vigour of the tree might have something to do
with it, but that seems unlikely. I assume you're using a high potash feed
to encourage flowering. If not, that would be a good first move come the
spring.

Are they trying to grow through grass around the base of this tree? This
would, I think, tend to make them unhappy as they like to bake in sunshine.
Some tulips and alliums will naturalise and are able to grow through grass,
but nerines would sulk.

In truth, mine aren't doing too well, but the leaves are constantly being
attacked by slugs and snails, so they hardly stand a chance. Even so, I
shall lift mine soon and check if there's any other problem. I'll report
back.

Spider