Caring for Flower Bulbs
The tricks to successful bulb growing are pretty basic. (Just give the bulb what it wants) :-)
What do Bulbs Want to Grow
Bulbs want full sunshine.
While there are a few that will tolerate shade for the most part, you’re going to find that a minimum of six full hot sun hours a day is the minimum to grow a great bulb. That’s always assuming you want them to live for years; if you only want a single season’s show, you can plant them anywhere.
Bulbs demand superb drainage.
The fastest way to kill most bulbs is to overwater them. Many bulbs are native to areas where summer rains are almost non-existent (tulips for example) and when we keep them well-watered in our summer gardens, they tend to rot away.
Bulbs require a period of growing their leaves after blooming.
So cutting off leaves before they go brown naturally is a surefire way to stop your bulbs from thriving. Similarly, tying up the leaves to get them out of the way is only marginally better. I’ll repeat this advice throughout the articles. You have to let those leaves produce enough energy so the bulb can develop a flower bud for the following season. Without that sunshine being stored up, there will be no flowers the next year.
Feeding Bulbs
Most bulbs do quite well with a yearly feeding of compost. They are not overly greedy feeders.
Common Bulb Problems and Questions
Sometimes your bulbs just don't bloom.
Growing organic flower bulbs here and this will expand as questions come in on this topic. For now, it has two basic tips. (that's all you really need I suspect) :-)
Storing Flower Bulbs
Storing flower bulbs always gets questions and here's the basic guidelines. While the easiest way is to store them in the ground, sometimes winter gets in the way.
Specific guidelines for most common tender bulbs are here.
Planting and Moving Bulbs Questions
Here's how to plant bulbs
Can you plant spring blooming bulbs in the spring?
How to move flower bulbs
Here's what to do if you forgot to plant your bulbs last fall
Tulip 'Apricot Beauty'
Need to Ask a Question About Bulbs?
If you have a question about growing bulbs that's not covered in the website (CHECK SEARCH FIRST) then this is the place to ask it.
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Calla Lillies flower appears to have bulbs?
My calla lillies appear to have bulbs growing in the flower. Do I plant these or leave them alone to drop?
Doug says it sounds as if your plant is setting ...
If you want to ask about caring for flower bulbs, click here
