Learning how and when to grow flower bulbs can be useful if you’re trying to establish new flower plants. I have used bulbs to establish beautiful houseplants and flowers that I later used for flower arrangements and house decoration. Establishing flowers from bulbs is significantly easier than establishing flowers from seeds. I would go as far as to say it’s as easy as propagating plants and flowers from cuttings.
Flowers and Plants Grown from Bulbs
When most people think about flower bulbs, the vast majority consider daffodils or other comparative blossoms. However, the number of houseplants and flowers that can be established from the bulb is extensive.
Examples of common flowers and plants that produce rhizomes, tubers, or corms include tulips, hyacinths, and snowdrops. Other plants to consider include agapanthus and hippeastrums, dahlias, cannas, and different lilies, irises, begonias, anemones, and amaryllis.
Bulbs are responsible for bringing to life the new plant. They also perform the crucial role of storing food that is needed for the flower to grow after the period of dormancy. After the leaves die and the conditions are unfavorable, the plant goes dormant. Accordingly, when the conditions become favorable, the new plant has everything it requires to push new shoots.
How to Grow Flower Bulbs
Most flower bulbs need nutrient-rich, well-draining and moist soil to grow successfully. They also require sufficient amounts of light. Although many flowers bloom in the Spring, there is a large assortment of flowers that makes it possible to have different blooms almost every month of the year.
Tulips are some of the best and beautiful flowers to establish from bulbs. To establish tulip bulbs, in a temperate area, first store them in the fridge for one to about two months. Plant them during the coldest months of the year. When establishing the bulbs in cold areas, plant them in late Autumn.
Tulips do well in the warm summers and like alkaline soils. It’s important to note some of the problems of tulip flowers including attacks by aphids. Tulips can also suffer from a fungi infection known as tulip fire. The condition results when the tulip flowers are exposed to too much moisture. Tulip flowers produce bright and pretty flowers and they are well worth the effort.
Mimicking the Flowers Natural Habitat
To get the best results when establishing flowers from bulbs, it’s advisable to mimic the plant’s natural habitat. This does not apply to bulbs only but all flowers in general. You don’t have to go to great lengths to create a similar environment, usually, one of two adjustments are enough.
For example, daffodils are meadow plants and love a lot of sunlight. They will naturalize effectively in the garden or lawn and blossom ahead of schedule before the grass becomes excessively competitive.
You should hold off on mowing the lawn immediately the flowers die. You can wait for about six weeks, to allow the plants to generate food on the leaves and store it in the bulbs that will support next year’s new growth.
When working with forest bulbs and woodland bulbs such as bluebells and snowdrops they do best in semi-concealed or partial-shaded locations. If you have some deciduous trees in the garden or yard you can establish them under the trees.
Spring-blooming bulbs are best planted close to walkways and paths. People can admire the Spring flowers without leaving the path or can enjoy the joy of flowers from a window.
Growing Flower Bulbs in Containers
The majority of the common flower bulbs can be grown perfectly in pots, planters, and containers. However, the bulbs require about four inches ((10 cm)) of soil beneath them and about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) above them. Establishing bulbs in very small containers will limit their growth and essentially the growth of the plant.
Bulbs can also be planted in pots and containers before they are buried in the yard or garden. Most gardeners use this method to avoid hoeing the bulbs accidentally during the weeding season. Others just mark the area with bulbs to avoid the same problem.
Establishing bulbs in pots and containers is also used by gardeners who are struggling with rodents that destroy their bulbs. If you plant the flower bulbs inside wire cages, the rodents can’t get to them.
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Conclusion
The majority of the bulbous flower types and varieties are tolerant and grow easily. I have found great success in establishing flowers from bulbs. Not only is it cheap but I am sure of exactly the flowers and blooms that I will get. However, as always experiment and find what works for you and your particular situation.
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