I have been providing my hippes with Miracle Grow by both foliar and soil applications this summer. I am a little skeptical whether the foliar applications help much, but I figure that most not taken up by the leaf should be carried to the soil in the rain.
This year I tried something else which almost certainly delivers a good dose of nutrients to the plant during the flowering phase. I used a syringe to inject half-strength Miracle Grow directly into the scapes. I first did this with just water to try to resurrect some scapes that seemed to be failing on poorly rooted bulbs. It did not seem to help the poor scapes much, but the plants were clearly taking up the water (the insides of the scapes do not have the water-proof cuticle that is on the outside of the scapes and leaves). It occurred to me that this would be a great way to deliver nutrients to the plant, so I injected some scapes with a small amount of nutrient solution. I did not see any adverse effects, so I got bolder and bolder with the amount of solution I added (some I completely filled the scape with the solution). I mostly did this with scapes that failed to set seed or that had fruits that were close to maturity. It is possible that large amounts of water could cause rot in a scape if continued over a long period, so I would be cautious about doing this to healthy scapes when still young. I have been quite happy with the growth of these plants over the summer, producing dark green foliage and substantial increases in bulb size. Of course a controlled experiment would be needed to demonstrate a benefit, but I am certain to continue doing this. If anyone in this list ever buys multiple bulbs of the same variety, it would be great fun to do a test by injecting half of them.

Bill

Holy crap. That was creative!

Were you injecting the solution into the hollow of the scape or just within the flesh?

I have scapes which i have chopped, what do you think of me putting a little solution into the scape...

Sooo tempted to try this. Especially with those growth stimulant seaweed solutions.

I injected it into the hollow of the scape. I think I was inspired by someone on this forum who fills scapes of cut hippies with water before putting them into a vase. It might have been Donna who mentioned this.

Why would you fill the hollow of the scape before putting in a vase as it would just run out... unless you snapped the scape off at the base of the bulb so that the scape was still sealed...

I've actually done the latter before and those blooms seemed to last way longer.

My understanding is that you keep your thumb over the end of the scape while inverting it. Once it is under water, it will not drain out because air cannot enter.

Another excellent idea. :)

Is there any other great stuff you are keeping from us?

So misting some dilute fertilizer or seaweed stimulant is ok right? It won't cause rot or fungus? Just want to make sure how to do it as where i live summer is pretty much over.

I have more than one of some bulbs so i'll give it a try at some point.

I know that I had mentioned that filling the scape with water prolongs the life in a vase. I usually change out the water every few days and have taken scapes from bloom to ripe seed pods this way.

Bill is correct, putting your finger over the end of the cut (or broken) scape as you lower it into the vase prevents the water from running out. If the ends of the scape start to curl, you can cut the edge to even it up again...as often as needed (and put in a shorter vase!).

Donna has loads of great ideas too!!
K

Here are my hippis in their summer "pasture", where they enjoy the good life and just grow and grow! The PVC/screen top is over 5.5 feet tall (I can't quite stand up under it).

They get watered 2-3 times / week with an automated sprinkler and the occasional dousing with half-strength MiracleGro. All were given a good dose of the Bayer 3-in-1 prior to being set out, and that has a slow releasing fertilizer as well.

The screens were scavenged from someone's curbside rubbish pile (I asked if I could take them...) and they have made a huge difference. The past 2 years I had the metallic woven shade cloth. These are much easier to maintain.

I can't believe that they'll all be put back in the greenhouse within a couple months (first week of November typically). And yes...I cut all the leaves down to about 6-8 inches as there is no way they'd fit in the greenhouse otherwise. I tried that a few years ago. Very good learning experience!!

K

Kristi,
Sorry, it must have been your post that I was remembering. That is quite a hippie party you have at your house. I am worried that I will soon be approaching that number.

AuntJemima,
I suppose there is a risk that foliar feeding will increase the risk of bulb rot since it would be difficult to prevent water from draining down to the neck of the bulb. But I haven't been too concerned with this since my plants are already exposed to the rain in the summer. I won't be doing this in the winter when my plant are indoors (messy and increased risk of rot).

Bill

I just tried watering down the scape today. Kinda ended up spilling some down the bulb too in both that i tried. But they are above a heat source so should evaporate i hope. I'll see how it goes before i try some liquid seaweed in there.

Can't help but envy you guys in hotter climates. I only have one hippi that has decent leaves and that was grown in December. The ones i grew in May are just starting to get going and the leaves are like 10cm at most.

Anyone know how often this can be done? Don't want to rot it.. but i checked and overnight all the water is now gone. So tempted to pour more in. lol

AJ...are you pouring water into a cut scape that is still attached to a bulb???
K

Yeah.. lol

Oooooo.... My bulbs are shaking in their pots. That's scary. Remember, where the leaves come out, the bulb necks are narrow, so water doesn't get between thd layers of the bulb. The scape is like a hollow tube that goes into the "heart" of the bulb, between layers. Around my house, with warmth and humidity, I think that might produce rotten bulbs. The roots are designed to absorb nutrients and water. I don't think the bulb flesh is. Think of how poorly a bulb without roots does.... Ooooo....

K

Well i watered them as i don't have a spray bottle to spray the foilage as they are just poking through. But the main thing is they have no roots as i had to cut rotten basal plate off so they are pretty bald. It is interesting when you cut it though as u can make out roots inside that did not make it past the rough basal outer layer.

As it is drying up quickly i thought i'd take the change to give it some water... I think i'll keep experimenting with one. Maybe giving it some water and dilute fertiliser every 7-10 days. It is above a heat source so extra should evaporate..

Interesting experiment...rotten basal plate, all gone, or mostly? Did you have rooting hormone?
K

Well i cut off all the old stuff and where it was rotten so it is like a cut potato but there is some fresh basal plate in there. I'm pretty sure it will root and i dusted it with rooting powder that also has thiram. Just a matter of time vs the bulb and leaves shrivelling up.

It would probably still live if it came back to life after the shrivelling but since our summer is over, it would come back to darkness and probably die again so i am eager to keep it hydrated... like a IV drip for a hippi.