I bought a bulb late in the season and planted it in a cool place. Gritty, humusy soil with a silty clay base. Guaranteed acid and free from any lime sources. Moist. (It's been that sort of winter.)

I dug it up as nothing was showing. It had started to form roots. A shoot had begun. Then it became infected with some sort of rot and collapsed in the middle. There was not enough left to try to get it to form offsets.

Question: next time I try this bulb (probably early next year) what other cultivation steps can I take to get better results? The packaging expressly said it was unsuited for container culture as the bulb does not tolerate warm, dry conditions. I'm not sure about pot and plunge. If anyone has done this with success I'd appreciate the reassurance.

Free from lime? Don't think it matters. I grow them in limy soil. Planting late probably isn't good, they seem to be slow to establish. I gave up on mine the first year, then they appeared almost overnight. I have them in deciduous shade, sandy soil, very dry in summer (very dry for England) but continually moist in winter. Not waterlogged, I don't think they like waterlogged.

I am very sorry to have missed it, and I will try again.

It was in company with Anemone sylvestris, some Epimedium, Sanguinaria canadensis and a hulking great Dicksonia. Clearly not posh enough.

In another post you mention you have three cherry trees. Did you plant the P.s. at the foot of one of these?

And, perhaps a touch of gypsum or dolomite.

The best of the coming season to you shrubs'n'bulbs.

Thank you for the extra info.