First of all, thanks so much for your reply. The soil is quite wet, all the way to the bottom, so I guess overwatering is the main issue. I tugged at the bulb and loosened surrounding dirt but it didn't want to budge. I could move it to a larger pot with drier soil. Would you recommend?

Leucone, You don't want it in a larger pot at this time because you want it to dry out quicker and it won't in a larger pot. You also don't want to leave it in wet soil. If it were me, I would remove it from the wet soil and put it in fresh dryer soil. I would wait a few days before beginning watering

and then water from the bottom. These bulbs are tough but really hate wet feet especially when the temps are cooler. I hope this helps.

jstropic, thanks again. Can you give me some detail on how i can water it from the bottom? the small plastic pot it's in now doesn't even have drainage. Give the pot some holes and add a layer of pebbles, perhaps? I really appreciate your help. I've been so excited for this plant growing, now to have trouble near bloom is so disheartening.

Those kits from the big boxes, grocery stores, etc. never seem to supply a pot with the drainage holes poked through. If you take the bulb up to put in dry soil, either find a new same sized pot with drainage holes or - failing that - take a Phillips screwdriver, or awl, and a hammer and punch the holes through. You might make a crack in the bottom of the plastic pot doing that, but that doesn't matter.

With the holes punched through, you can set the pot in a bowl of water and it'll soak up the water it needs from the bottom.

Thanks! I found a similar sized pot, perhaps 2 inches wider, and put it in there with some pebbles and drier soil. Although, now, I guess, the inch or so of pebbles may interfere with watering from the bottom.