FLOWERING BULBS

Flowering Bulbs are actually storage tanks for nutrients.They are tough plants with truly minimum of trouble from diseases or pests.

Bulbs are planted in the early spring, but some varieties can be planted at different times of the year, depending where you want your flowers to bloom. 

FLOWERING BULBS – Gardening Tips, Secrets & Facts 

There are two major categories of bulbs, Spring blooming and Summer blooming.There are also a few that bloom in the fall.

MOST COMMON FLOWERING BULBS –

  TULIPS (Tulipa)

Tulips are said to symbolize love and signal spring’s arrival. They are one of the most quintessential spring flowers. Tulip grow almost an inch a day even when you cut them. The stems will always bend toward the light and will bloom in bright light, closing back up when it becomes dark.

Tulip can be grown in every color except blue. Tulips can be divided into about 150 various species, but there are more than 3,000 naturally occurring and genetically cultivated varieties of the flower worldwide.

HOW TO GROW FLOWERING BULBS

Tulips like sun but will grow and bloom in part shade. Be sure to keep the bulbs cool if you are not planting them right away, in hot climates give them a month of refrigeration before planting time. Plant in wire cages if rodent are a problem.

Tulips can be forced to bloom indoors during the winter. Plant them in the flowerpot and then chill the pot for 2-3 weeks. After a few weeks bring the pot indoors and the tulips should grow and bloom.

Interesting Fact

• Red tulips represent “true love”, white tulips say “I’m sorry,” and purple tulips symbolize “royalty”.
• At one point in history, tulips were the most expensive flower. In fact, in the 1600’s the flowers were more valuable than most people’s homes.
• The Netherlands are the largest producer and exporter of tulips worldwide, growing and exporting nearly three billion bulbs each year !

  HYACINTHS (Hyacinthus Flowering Bulb ) 

Hyacinths are spring-flowering bulbs with long, narrow leaves that are folded lengthwise. The bulbs produce plants that are 8-12 inches high. They have a wide range of colors such as orange, red, yellow pink. Hyacinths make a great looking houseplant. They like full sun to partial shade and a well drained soil.

HOW TO GROW

Plant hyacinths as early in fall as possible (in warm areas refrigerate the bulb for a few weeks and plant in late fall) Grow in full sin or light shade.

Interesting Fact

• The wild Hyacinth is a native of Turkey and the Middle East, along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Hyacinths were grown in Europe in the time of the Greeks and Romans.
• In the Victorian language of flowers, the Hyacinth flower symbolizes sport or play. The blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity.

  CROCUS-(Crocus)

Of all the small spring bulbs the crocus is most people’s favorite. There are 80 different crocus species that originate in all different parts of the world. Crocuses will usually bloom in the spring but are not as pretty, but wait until the early fall and you will see nicer flowers appearing.

HOW TO GROW

Crocuses are trouble free permanent plantings that multiply by themselves. Crocuses like full sun or part shade. Soil must be well drain. Plant them about 4” apart, 4 inches deep in early fall. Best to plant the bulbs in late summer and allow them to bloom in the early fall.

Interesting Facts

• Saffron is a product of the crocus. This popular spice is a product of C. sativus, the Saffron crocus

  DAHLIA (Dahlia)

Dahlias are one of those plants with endless flower classifications. The flowers can be as small as an inch across and as large as 12 inches. Their blooming period is from midsummer to the first frost. They are colorful and long lasting as cut flowers.

HOW TO GROW

Dahlias can be started from seeds.(they can be also propagated from steam cuttings or dormant tuberous roots). Grow dahlias in full sun or light shade,in a soil rich in organic matter (add some lime if your soil is very acid). They do require 12-14 weeks before they will bloom.

Dahlias tend to do better if planted in a container.

Interesting Facts

• The flower heads on dahlias can grow to be 1 ft. in diameter!
• Dahlias can be found in nearly every color except blue!  Breeders are still trying to create a dahlia with beautiful blue blooms.

  BEGONIA- (Tuberhybrida)

Begonias will bloom all summer until the first frost. They can be any color except blue. To grow the largest flowers from a begonia plant, just pinch off the smaller buds on either side of the larger one.

Begonias will start to go dormant usually in August, so do not fertilized them or you will interfere with their dormancy period, they need to have time to store up food for the next season.

HOW TO GROW

Begonia seeds are among the tiniest in the gardening world. To plant begonias, start the tubers as early as February, setting them in trays of moistened peat moss.

Water lightly and wait for them to sprout little pink buds. When is no danger of frost, you can move the pots outside.

The steams of all begonias are fragile and will not stand heavy dog and cat traffic, so plant them in a safe spot. (They are started from tubers, which many refer to as bulbs).The tubers and steams can both rot if the soil is too wet. Put begonias in a spot where they’ll get plenty of bright light to keep them from getting leggy, but do not put them in direct sun .

Interesting Facts

• Begonias can be annual or perennial.
• Begonia seeds are among the tiniest in the gardening world.

  DAFFODILS-(Narcissi)

Daffodils are the most popular of the spring-flowering bulbs. Narcissi have been classified into groups.

Here are the major ones. Trumpet naricissi produce one flower per steam; Double narcissi are any that have more than one row of petals,(they tend to be very fragrant); Jonquils are hybrids and have as many as six flowers to a steam; Tazetta narcissi have many flowers on a stem and are fragrant, others groups are Poeticus, Actaea, Geranium, Paper white;

HOW TO GROW

Give daffodils full sun or light shade. They prefer a well-drained sandy loam. Plant large varieties at least 6 inches apart and at least 6 inches deep. Do not cut the foliage down until it turns brown because if you removed them too soon you will remove too much of the food supply and the plants will not have stored enough energy. They are excellent container bulbs and look great in pots or window boxes.

Interesting Facts

• These yellow flowers are unparalleled in their appeal for novice gardeners. Part of this has to do with the natural pesticides that these blooms possess. Daffodil bulbs contain poisonous crystals which only certain insects can eat with impunity.
• Squirrels will stay away from your garden if you plant these bulbs. Just be careful not to let your dogs dig around them. They can, unfortunately, make your pets sick. There are at least 25 different daffodil species and up to 13,000 different hybrid varieties.

  GLADIOLUS (Gladiolus)

Gladiolus are popular flowers. They tall brightly colored flower spikes are showy in the garden, and last a long time when cut.Gladiolus come in all colors but blue- and sizes vary from 6-foot spikes to the dwarf “baby glads”

HOW TO GROW

Gladiolus grow from corms. These beautiful flowers are relatively easy to grow but are not hardy enough to survive a cold winter outdoors. Gladiolus should be planted after all danger of frost has passed, (around mid-May)

Gladioli need well-drained soil and like a sunny location best. They will normally bloom in about 8-10 weeks after you plant them. They should be watered weekly during hot dry weather.

TIP-When cutting gladioli be sure and leave at least 3 or 4 leaves at the base of the plant.

Interesting Facts

• Gladiolus express strength of character, remembrance, faithfulness, and moral integrity.  Although the gladiolus is a perennial flower, which can be dug up and stored through winter in cold climates, the flower does not have a true bulb, as other perennials do.
• The gladiolus bulb is called a corm.

  IRIS (Iris)

Irises can be planted as soon as the frost is out of the ground. They come in a rainbow of colors: gold, white, yellow, pink, orange and all shades of blue. All iris flowers have three upright petals. The Netted iris and the Danford iris are the easiest to grow.

HOW TO GROW

Some iris, (“bearded iris“), grow from rhizomes. “Siberian iris” have fibrous roots, and “Dutch iris” grow from bulbs. They like light, moderate fertile soil and need water during their growth period.

If a number of your irises have rotting leaves and have bore, holes in them, it is best to dig hem up and discard them or it will get to all the plants. If you mix powdered sulfur into the soil it should stop the root rot and other diseases.

Interesting Facts

• Iris takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.
• Irises come in many forms, shapes, colors and sizes and the sword-like foliage is attractive when the plant is not in bloom.

PHOTO CREDIT pexels.com unsplash.com  pixabay.com

Source Book of Beautiful Flowering Bulbs