Rhizome Growth

[AnonYMouse]

What dictates rhizome growth?

I suppose some of it is genetic but I have a bulbo that has varying lengths. The newest one has reached the edge of the 6 inch pot and turning. The shortest one is less than 1cm.

So, what environmental factors contribute to rhizome growth?

[Ray]

Just speculation on my part, but I can think of a few scenarios that might apply:

I suppose that a well-established plant that has a good "base camp" of growths, can more easily afford to expend the resources to extend the rhizome in search of more, while a plant with less "shareable" mass might need to put down roots fast, to be more secure.

Or...

Maybe there's something in the pot that is deficient, or has built up to excess, and the plant is trying to get out!

[AnonYMouse]

As I think on the timeline of growths, the short rhizome has a tiny pbulb (the last, lets call it 6) and came off of a small pbulb (4). The long one hasn't developed a pbulb yet but came off a fat second to the last (5). Pbulb sizes make sense except for...

Pbulb 5 and its rhizome grew out from fat pbulb 2 but half the distance from it's sibling 3 (small).

I acquired it with two fat pbulbs and two small pbulbs and it didn't do anything for over a year/close to two. In the last year, it grew the fat 5, the tiny 6 (probably 1/10 the fat ones) and the current long rhizome. I think I can expect very little from the two small pbulb leads.

I was hoping to find the secret to rhizome control. I would like to fill out the pot better, it's pretty sparse looking. Since its not a linear grower, I thought it would fill out. It's suppose to be a Bulbo. lilacinum.

I need to flush the pot. I don't do it with the regularity of the others because its an awkward set up.

[estación seca]

The bulbos I've seen in habitat with the tightest growth get the most sun. I don't know whether it's caused by the sun, or that's just how they grow.

[AnonYMouse]

Not sure about the sun thing.

I have some that are clumpers and this is NOT one of them. This one wanders and I have a climber.

Evolution.

[Ray]

I stopped growing bulbos in S/H (they loved it) - or any pot, for that matter - and mount them, specifically because of their tendency to "move next door". Mounted, I can hang 'em far enough apart that they stay home.

[AnonYMouse]

Most of my other Bulbos are small, have compact growth habits and are mounted.

The cocoinum/vitiense is the climber and in s/h. It is too big to mount for my set up.

The lilacinum has the 6 pbulbs on ~12 inches of rhizome on the same plane (as in geometry).