I did as I always do before purchasing... I made sure the bulb was solid and had a bud tip showing, and I checked out the roots, which looked dried, but ok... here's the problem:

Once I peeled away the outer dried layers of bulb, as we do before potting, I found a hole in the bulb right between the basal plate and the bulb flesh, itself.

It's not quite big enough to get my pinkie finger into, and it doesn't appear to go up into the bulb... but of course, I can't see between the layers...

Is this what a NBF hole looks like and where it would be positioned?? I'm scared to plant it... I need some opinions from the experts!

Here are some photos...

Here's the box and bulb together...

What do you guys think? Should I stuff it back in the box and return it? Or do you think it's just something else, like critter damage, and nothing to worry about?

I'm really undecided on this one... mainly because I don't know what to look for when it comes to NBF damage... and also because Home Depot is a 20 minute trip. Should I return it? Better safe than sorry? Help! Please!

I wish I can help you out with this but I have NEVER seen a dried NBF damage yet. I usually see them when they are still wet with those red yucky damage and excretes(?). If I were you...just take it back no matter what...simple as that. A damaged bulb is a damaged bulb and we as consumers don't need to pay for such bulbs.

These influx of sick/damaged bulbs into the US market has been going on for years. That "Buy and throw away" mentality has got to stop! Commercial growers and bulb companies businesses (specially the ones who cater to potted hippie bulbs) are taking advantage of this, making a lot of $$$ out of it and bringing in pests and deseases. A lot of these bulbs WON'T even be allowed to enter other countries. And USA accepts them all...containers after containers of bad,sick and infested bulbs!!!

I do not know for sure, but the hole is surely in the right place. THERE exactly is where the nasty critters bite their way into the bulb. Other possibility is that the bulb could be damaged by woodlice/armadillo bugs/pillbugs. I do not know how you call them in the USA. They are very common AND difficult to erradicate in amaryllis greenhouses, at least in Netherlands. They usually eat rotting leaves, etc. BUT don't hesitate to attack fruit, bulbs, etc. In fact, they find my amaryllis very tasty. They love to crawl into my pots here. I've seen them a lot. Next year i'm wrapping my pots in a net and securing in as good as possible.

If the bulb is damaged by NBF, it will grow poorly anyway. Woodlice do less damage, but all pests transmit diseases. So the health of the bulb could be compromised.

I would complain to Home Depot and ask for a replacement.

The hole looks rather undeep ON THE PICTURE, but you never know. I asure you NBF can survive peacefully in the bulb eventhough it has been lifted and dryed. I know from own experience. I lifted and dryed my Promise bulb, saw the wholes, even tryed to do a hot water treatment. Had to stop after around 5 minutes because i couln't manage to measure well the water temperature (have to buy a good thermometer) Next day i get curious and beging to pierce in the hole with a little plastic stick. Well, THERE WAS THE NBF LARVA, ALIVE AND KICKING, in spite of the drying and short heating of the bulb. This critters are incorregible!

So sorry about your bulb :-(. Keep us informed!

Hope this helped somehow. Don't want to get too emotional or partial, but mine NBF disaster came back to me when i saw your pictures :-)
I repeat, in my opinion, this looks fishy...

I do have good news, The last four bulbs that had to be controled were fine. My favourite, Royal Velvet, was ok! Thank goodness..... Exotica, Charisma and Picotee were the other i examined today and they either are counted among the "casualties".

Lots of success and i understand your worrying about the nasty NBF.

a hug,

~Lourdes~

At a mere 5 dollars and change, I don't mind taking a chance on the cheaper bulbs of the season, but it's not worth that price if one bulb infects every other bulb I have!

I just put it back in the box, put the box in a bag, and took the bag out to the kennel. That way, it won't freeze and I'll be able to take it back in the same condition we bought it in... and not risk anything hatching or laying eggs inside the house!

Thank you! I value your opinions!

I'm curious, and I would cut the bulb open to see what might be in there... but I'd rather get the money back and buy from a more reputable source.

Lourdes, please email me... I have some seeds for you, if you want them. :-)

Thanks again!

Any time there is a rise in popularity of an item, no matter what it is, the quality soon goes downhill as dishonest, unscrupulous, greedy, and unprofessional individuals and companies rush to profit from it.

I've seen this pattern over and over again with the breeds of dogs my husband and I have spent the last 25 years with. The moment Walt Disney came out with Homeward Bound and Little Rascals, the majestic American Bulldog was doomed. Everyone and his brother rushed to cash in on the popularity of the breed, and it spawned untold numbers of backyard breeders and puppy mills, only interested in the number if pups they could sell, and not in the genetic health or well being of the animal. What's left in the aftermath is a mere shadow of what the dog once was.

It's a shame... and it's beginning with our precious hippeastrum bulbs. The rise in popularity has spawned an outbreak in growers and wholesalers, and they're not interested in selling a top quality product... they're interested in profit.

We'll need to fight back... to make it known that we won't accept poor quality! Return, return, return!

Jodi, I believe like you that when a bulb becomes popular, everybody jumps on the bandwagon to profit from it. You know, of the bulbs I purchased at HD last season, none of them did well. The bulbs I get from reputable places get very large and healthy.

A little off-thread, but I placed an order with van Bourgondien for Snow White and Evergreen (3 each). When SW came, it was labeled Alfresco (I had one already). I was so disappointed, so called them. Not only did they send SW out immediately, they told me to keep the Alfresco. Now I have four of Alfresco in one pot. Then I received my Evergreen, and they were HUGE! Now, that's what I like - quality service. The only one I'm interestied in getting yet is Pink Floyd. I have to be really careful because of my lack of room.

I'm lacking space, too... but it never stops me from finding a spot to squeeze one more in! The few bulbs I lost left openings for a few new ones!

It's true... reputable companies are the way to go. It's worth it sometimes to pay a few dollars more for the quality and service of a good company. In the end, you always get what you pay for!

I don't know what they'll do... they're not really "garden people"... just store clerks. But I certainly hope they will take it seriously.

I'm also going to write the company the bulb came from. I don't know if that will do anything, but they should be notified that infested bulbs are being shipped... quality control needs an upgrade!

Other than that, its good to be getting some time to finally be back to my hippi friends!

Great to see you posting! Hugs! :-)