Narcissus Bulb Culture Crab Claw Style
everydaytaichi ken cultures Chinese narcissus bulbs for Chinese New Year
Shown here are the stages of growth in the art of Chinese culturing of narcissus bulbs
Chinatown usually sells narcissus bulbs about 2 months before Chinese New Year. These bulbs are imported from the Fukien province of China.
Bulbs are cleaned about 25-30 days before the estimated time narcissus bloom.
everydaytaichi ken selects bulbs that tend to be more elongated than round. This minimizes the presence of non flowering bulbs which tend to grow from the sides of the round bulb off the main axis.
Bulb clusters containing exposed bulblets can be chosen according to the grower's intention or desire.
If you are doing long tradition culture avoiding excessive down pointing bulblets is suggested since you need to remove these if you are going to grow the plant upright.
Crab culture are easier to culture using flat elongated bulbs, because the flower sacs are aligned in one plane along the long axis of the bulb. There is less tendency for hidden side bulblets to be present deep in the uncarved side. The growth of these side bulblets are difficult to control.
Bulb clusters containing exposed bulblets can be chosen according to the grower's intention or desire.
If you are doing long tradition culture avoiding excessive down pointing bulblets is suggested since you need to remove these if you are going to grow the plant upright.
Crab culture are easier to culture using flat elongated bulbs, because the flower sacs are aligned in one plane along the long axis of the bulb. There is less tendency for hidden side bulblets to be present deep in the uncarved side. The growth of these side bulblets are difficult to control.
Selection of tools used to carve with: clamp, exacto knives, sharpened umbrella spoke, pocket knife.
This bulb is more elongated than round is shape.
Wash hands before and after carving bulbs is important to minimize contamination. Also, to remove poisonous sap that the bulb produces.
Cut along the long axis on each side with the ultimate plan to remove almost half the bulb but retaining the leaf and flower bud sheaths.
Make a tranverse cut about 1/4 to 1/3 above the rooting platform.
Pictured below is a roughly dissected bulb carved when it is dry without it being soaked in water. A dry bulb can withstand the rougher handling that is required from the initial heavy carving.
This bulb is worth continuing since there is no signs of rot.
Bulbs are soaked overnight with dissected side facing down.
Shown below in the next 2 images, leaf and flower stalk are fully exposed, in preparation for carving of the leaves.
Preliminary carving of leaves done in preparation for placing in individual culture for further shaping as the bulb progresses.
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