Propagation
Separate bulblets from old bulb and grow in nursery for 2 years. Lift bulbs after foliage has died, clean, store in cool position in dry peat moss, replant during autumn-winter.

In warmer climates bulbs are not successful in the 2nd season. Planting depth is 150 mm (6in).


Botanic information
Leaf: The glabrous basal leaves are narrow linear and slightly falcate with undulating reddish margins and an acuminate apex. The stem leaves are similar with the base clasping the stem.

Flower: The cyathiform flowers have 6-pale yellow tepals with a rounded base and an obtuse apex and a dark blotch of yellow or bronze on the inside. The yellowish stamens are slightly exserted and the flowers are held above the foliage on a slender leafy scape that is up 150 mm (6 in) tall and appear during mid-spring.

Fruit: The small 3-valved capsule produces numerous seeds but the fruit is normally removed during cultivation. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type.

Culture
Cut Flowers
When cutting flowers avoid removing too many blooms from the one bulb and take minimal amounts of leaves. Use a sharp knife and remove flowers in early morning or late afternoon then stand them in water outside before bringing indoors.

Planting Bulbs
Place bulbs on the garden bed and space equally allowing for foliage growth then plant from the middle at a depth twice the length of the bulb moisten and fertilise at this time.

In warm regions place the bulbs in the crisper of a refrigerator for 8 to 10 weeks before planting out. Plant the bulbs into enriched well drained, deep moist soil with pH of 7- 7.5 in a sunny wind protected position.

Physical Problems
'Topple'
When the upper or lower part of the flower stem collapses due to weak water soaked areas that exudate liquid. This may occur at the neck of the bulb and the flower stem may topple without any obvious symptoms.

There are many contributing factors that bring about this problem including insufficient ripening of the bulb after a cool moist summer or excessive temperatures, hot or cold.
Bulbs may also have retarded growth if they are stored in a warm place and, if planted in heavy wet soils they rot.