backbulbs

[Cinderella]

I thought that I read somewhere that old, leafless p-bulbs provide extra nutrition for a plant and to just leave them when repotting. But I heard an experienced grower at my local OS meeting say that those need to be removed when repotting or they would kill the plant. ??

[uncasteeb]

I,m not an experienced grower but if old back bulbs can kill a plant then there would not be any plants left in the wild.

[Forrest]

I think there must have been a misunderstanding. Back bulbs will not kill your plants. In fact that is just silly.

[Gin]

Mine would all be history if that were true . I remove them if they are bad/ rotting ,or there are too many of them . they must of misunderstood . Gin

[Jmoney]

old shriveled backbulbs without roots don't need to be left on since they will not really contribute much to the plant, assuming that there is a sufficient number of viable leafed growths. I take them off because otherwise you start to use pots that are too large for the root mass, and because the old ones are pretty much useless to the plant. I don't see them killing the plant though. An infection can set in an old bulb and then progress, but then again an infection can set in anywhere.

[LJA]

Backbulbs don't need to be removed when repotting. Matter of fact, if you leave them on, you'll give the plant a better chance of acclimating to its new environment, and it will grow new roots faster. The only plant material you should get rid of is anything dead, dying, or infected--roots and backbulbs that won't contribute to a plant's vigor, and which, if left on, can spread infection to healthy growths. If you cut away backbulbs, be sure to either spray the cut with pruning sealer or dip it in fungicide so that the moist environment beneath the media won't contribute to any kind of invasive infection.