Caring for Bulbs

Shower you Love on those Bulbs! Read more to know about this.

Caring for bulbs is very similar to caring for your babies! You have to give them all the attention in the world and shower them with love. With this article you will learn all that you need to know about parenting and by parenting we mean rearing your flower bulbs.

What are Flower Bulbs?

A flower bulb is an underground storehouse and flower factory. Tubers and roots are easily distinguished from bulbs and they have no protective layer and are really just enlarged stem tissue. They come in different shapes from cylindrical, to flat. Bulbs can be divided into two groups: spring-flowering and summer-flowering. Another way to divide bulbs are into hardy and tender varieties. Spring-flowering bulbs are hardy bulbs and are generally planted in the fall. Most summer-flowering bulbs are tender bulbs. They cannot survive harsh winter conditions and must be planted in spring. Bulb flowers are among the most popular and best loved in the world.

Steps involved in Bulb Care

Preparing Soil

Properly preparing the soil for bulb planting is important. Good soil drainage is essential in raising bulbs. If you have a soil with a high clay content, it can be improvised  by adding compost, coco peat or some other organic material.

Fertilization

Both spring and summer bulbs need phosphorous for root development. The phosphorus needs to be mixed in the soil below so it can be utilized by the bulb roots area. Do not fertilize spring flowering bulbs after they have started flowering. This can lead to bulb rot and sometimes shortens the life of the flowers.The optimum pH range for bulbs is 6 to 7.

Planting Location and Length

Always consider the light requirements of the plant. Many summer blooming bulbs require full sun or partial shade. Spring plants grow best on a hillside and when planted on a south slope.

The rule of planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs are tall. Planting depth is measured from the bottom of the bulb.

Watering Bulbs

Watering helps settle the soil in the planting bed and also provides needed moisture to start rooting. Avoid over-watering at planting time since this can result in bulb rot and other diseases. For both spring and summer bulbs. Shallow watering will not do the job.

Lifting Bulbs

Sometimes you have to go through the bother of lifting the flower bulbs out of the ground every year, storing them for summer and then replanting again in the fall.  The truth is that it really doesn’t improve the bulbs performance at all.  Leaving your bulbs in the ground will cause most varieties to multiply giving you even more bulbs next spring.

Aftermath

After the blooms from the flower bulbs have faded and gone, “dead-head” them by cutting off the spent blooms. This will also help you in maintaining your garden.

Dare touch those leaves!

Remove dead flowers from bulbs but DO NOT remove the leaves until they die down. The period after the end of flowering is when the bulb replenishes its reserves and sets the buds for the following year’s flowering. If you remove the leaves at this period then it be a major issue for the growth.

With these handy tips and tricks you can give all the care needed to your bulbs and see them bloom and be their proud parents. Ensure that you keep a checklist in your mind of all the DOs and DONTs before and after planting  of your bulbs. Keep in mind of the climate and season while planting spring and fall flowering plants as otherwise they will not bloom and will get ruined. Do share all your lovely experiences of yours and don’t forget to spread the word, after all the more we grow the more we help!