This request is cropping up on quite a few of the forums. With few exceptions the FAQ's seem to be an exercise in futility.... for the basic reason that many posters feel their situation is somehow unique and isn't addressed (or they don't recognize the information when it actually is addressed).

And people are so generous with their knowledge, it seems kind of unfriendly to respond to someone with nothing beyond "read the FAQ".

With few exceptions the FAQ's seem to be an exercise in futility
I agree, but in the cases where there are good FAQ, they are quite helpful. Often just the basic planting and care info would be helpful....soil, sun, drainage, fertilizing, planting depth, etc...like peonies for example....at The Peony Forum or Dahlia Forums.

And people are so generous with their knowledge, it seems kind of unfriendly to respond to someone with nothing beyond "read the FAQ".

I agree that sounds a bit unfriendly, but one could maybe quote from the FAQ for a member with a question and then refer to the FAQ for additional info.

For example, often I quote info from The American Daffodil Soc about why daffs might not bloom. I quote the most frequent reasons, and then link to the list of all reasons. If the reasons were included in an FAQ here, they would be easier found and linked to.

jmho.

Sue

anyone else?

Forcing bulbs for early bloom...

Sue, I would really appreciate it if you updated the FAQ. That's a real public service. Although some people don't read the FAQs for any number of reasons, many of us do. I think your ideas for reorganizing them are excellent.

You could also link over in the FAQs to the FAQs for each area- there's a FAQ in the California Forum about which bulbs grow in California, for instance.

You have what it takes to do a thorough rewrite of the FAQs- intellect and research skills. Go for it!
Renee

Sue, I would really appreciate it if you updated the FAQ.
Ok, you twisted my arm....and thank you.

You could also link over in the FAQs to the FAQs for each area-
I 'do' know that links are not permitted in the FAQ, because links, over time often go dead for one reason or another. Possibly some of the info could be used from the FAQ there, with permission, and credit be given for the info.

Ok, in looking through the back pages, what other bulbs do you find a lot of questions about besides

Daffodils, (and also Paperwhites)-Sources for Daffodils,727 Matches via search
Tulips, 794 matches
Hyacinths, 376 matches
Spring Blooming Bulbs1081 matches via search
Caladiums?,86 matches
Gladiola?44 matches
Crinum?90 matches

Like I said above, those bulbs that have more specific forums (lilies, daylilies, allium, etc) could/should best be addressed in the FAQ at those forums, though answers could be supplied here or members could refer them to either the forum, or the FAQ at the different forums, providing they get some good FAQ set up too.

What else might we consider adding that is frequently asked about?

There are a lot of posts about Allium 166 matches) so maybe a general planting/growing FAQ would be in order here, with an additional suggestion to check out The Allium Forum and/or Allium FAQ.

Yes, and I think a section on which bulbs will grow in each region of the country or zone would be just wonderful. You could also put when to plant what in that section.

How to force bulbs is a common question. What to do with the foliage after bloom is another.

I like your idea of a critter section- what bulbs are deer/squirrels/pocket gophers less likely to eat.

It seems to me that there should be a bulb list with season to plant, bloom season, and perhaps planting depth? with zones or something.

I'm just throwing out ideas willy-nilly here.
Renee

How to force bulbs is a common question.
good idea...what bulbs should it maybe address...
daffidils...both those requiring chill and also the paperwhites
tulips
hyacinths
crocus
muscari (grape hyacinths)
What else is commonly forced and asked about?

It seems to me that there should be a bulb list with season to plant, bloom season, and perhaps planting depth? with zones or something.
I think zones would be best and some of then would be approximate, since the net gives various hardiness zones for some bulbs or different cultivars.

Do you think it should be just one list with all bulbs, or a list for each zone?

I'll be starting some threads and putting FAQ in the subject line, to start to compile some info.

I like the way the existing FAQ are set up, with a main link for example for Daffs and then it goes to all the daff questions. I thought it would be nice to try and organize the info similar to the existing format. I found out the format is called HTML anchor codes....something totally new to me.

I think this could almost get overwhelming, but try to keep in mind that they can continually be updated, or corrected as need be. Maybe an 'outline' would be in order after some more input/suggestions here, think?...Maybe a Google document that could be shared with all here.

Sue