Feb
10
Posted under
Flower bulb care
The information about bulb flowers presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about bulb flowers or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.
Bulbs are among the most attractive, and easiest to care for, flowers in the garden. A bulb garden in full bloom can be a wonderful, attractive sight for any gardener.
Another great thing about bulbs is the sheer variety in which they come. There are bulb plants to satisfy virtually any taste, and bulb plants come in a staggering variety of colors, sizes, shapes and textures.
Even within bulb families, there is quite a bit of variety. The humble tulip, for instance, boasts a variety of different shaped blooms, from the traditional bell shaped to a number of more exotic varieties. With all these varieties to choose from, finding just the right bulbs for your garden can be difficult. We are, therefore, providing this guide to popular bulb flowers, including their optimum growing conditions.
Crocus
Bulb Type: Corm
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Dahlia
Bulb Type: Tuberous Root
Sunlight: Full sun; partial shade in hot climates
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Gladiolus
Bulb Type: Corm
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Hererocallis (Daylily)
Bulb Type: Tuberous Root
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growing season
Hyacinthus (Dutch Hyacinth)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Iris
Bulb Type: Rhizome
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growing season
Lilium (Asiatic and Oriental Hybrid Lilies)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering is required. The root zone must never be allowed to dry out.
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Narcissus (Daffodil, Narcissus)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
Tulipa (Tulip)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods
No matter what types of bulb flowers you choose to plant, if you follow the instructions carefully and give them the growing conditions they need to thrive, you will be rewarded with many seasons of beautiful blooms from these spectacular plants.
When word gets around about your command of bulb flowers facts, others who need to know about bulb flowers will start to actively seek you out.
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Dec
31
Posted under
Flower bulb care
Bulbs are a great addition to any garden as they will provide color year after year and can even provide additional flowers to be divided and planted in another part of the garden. Unlike, annuals, bulb flowers do not need to be planted each year.
Bulbs are hardy in nature and there is a color, shape or size that should suit any gardening need. Here’s some favorite garden bulbs and their planting needs.
Crocus
Crocus bulbs are often the fist blooms we see in early spring or at the end of winter. Their tubular shaped flowers range in size from 1” to 3″ long. Crocuses are planting in almost every garden and have a wide range of colors to suite any taste. Other types of crocus, such as the saffron crocus, bloom instead in the fall, and the flowers can rise from the bare ground weeks, or even only days, after the bulbs are planted. Crocus bulbs should be planted in the fall. Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and space 3 or 4 inches apart. Crocuses require well drained soil, regular watering and will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Dahlia
Dahlias have a long bloom time from summer through fall and like many other bulbs come in a large variety of colors, sizes and shapes.
These flowers are so diverse that there are varieties with flower sizes ranging from 2 to 12 inches and from under a foot to 7 feet tall! Plant dahlias in spring after threat of frost has passed. Plant between 4 and 6 inches deep with spacing of 1 foot for short varieties and 5 feet for the tall variety’s. Dahlias like full sun unless you are planting them in a very hot climate where they might do well with a little shade. As with most flowers, make sure these are watered regularly.
Galanthus Nivalis
This plant is more commonly called the snowdrop and is one of the first plants to bloom after winter. They are short plants about 6 inches tall and have two bell shaped flowers. They thrive in colder climates. Plant snowdrops in fall, dig down 3 to 4 inches and plant 3 inches apart. These flowers like full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Water regularly during the growing cycle.
Daffodil
The daffodil may be the most easily recognizable of all bulb plants, and it rewards its gardener with a generous display of beautiful blooms. Besides the traditional white and yellow varieties, daffodils also come in shades of orange, apricot, pink and cream. Daffodil bulbs should be planted twice as deep as they are tall, and they should be spaced between six and eight inches apart. Daffodils benefit from full sun and regular watering during their growth and bloom periods.
Tulip
Tulips are a favorite flower around the world and one of the most easy to recognize. These are among the most hybridized of all flowers, with hybrids available in a staggering array of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Tulips bloom from mid spring to late spring with different varieties having different bloom times. Tulips should be planted in fall and each bulb should be planted about 3 times deeper than the size of the bulb.A 2″ wide bulb would be planted 6″ deep. It is important to leave sufficient space between the planted bulbs as well, from four to eight inches depending on the size of the bulb.
Gladiolus
Gladiolas are among the most popular of all bulb plants, and their distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike. Gladiolas are best planted in the spring, but only after the soil has warmed. Gladiolas do best in full sunlight and they should be watered regularly during their blooming and growth phase. In much of the country, gladiola bulbs can be left in the ground over the winter months, but many gardeners choose to dig them up and store them during the winter. If you decide to take this approach, it is best to dig them after the leaves have turned yellow. The bulbs should be placed in a single layer and stored in a cool, dry and dark place to dry for two or three weeks. After the bulbs have dried sufficiently they should be stored in nylon stockings or onion sacks and kept in a cool and well ventilated place.
Hemerocallis
Hemerocallis is the scientific name for the daylily, and it is one of the most well known types of bulb plants on the market. Daylily hybrids can grow as tall as six feet and bloom in the spring and summer months. The daylily produces flowers ranging in size from three to eight inches, and they are available in a wide variety of colors. The daylily is actually a tuberous root variety of bulb, and they are best planted during fall or early spring. Daylilies should be planted between inch and 1 inch deep and space between 2 to 2 inches apart in the garden. As with other varieties of bulbs, it is important to water daylilies on a regular basis during their growing season.
Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)
The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most popular, of all the varieties of bulb plants. The Dutch hyacinth blooms in the spring and features the well known foot high spires with their small bell shaped and very fragrant flowers. Hyacinths come in a wide varieties of colors, including red, pink, buff, white, blue and purple. The Dutch hyacinth grows best in colder areas, and it can last from year to year. In these cold water climates, the hyacinth is best planted in September of October. It is best to plant hyacinth bulbs four to five inches deep, and to space them from four to five inches apart as well. Hyacinths grow best in full sunlight, and they benefit from regular watering, especially during their blooming and growth periods.
Iris
The most frequently seen variety of irises are the bearded varieties. Bearded irises are striking plants, and they appear in a dazzling array of colors and combinations of colors. Irises appear in a variety of sizes as well, with very small varieties and very large ones as well. Irises should be planted in July or August in cold climates and in September or October in warmer areas. Irises are actually rhizomes, and they should be spaced from one to two feet apart, with the tops placed right below the surface of the soil. Irises grow best in full sunlight or light shade, and they benefit from a regular watering schedule during their growing season.
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Dec
28
Posted under
Flower bulb care
In case you are just starting out gardening, or you have a number of years of gardening experience, there is every possibility that you may consider planting bulbs. Most seasoned gardeners always make it a point to grow bulbs due to their toughness, convenience, and vivid hues.
Bulbs are capable of unfailingly blossoming several times in very season without the need to replant them, and if you properly schedule and tenderly plant them, you can enjoy those gorgeous bulb hues from the end of winter to about June.
After the bulbs are planted, they require very little maintenance and are quite simply are placed in the garden area or in containers.
Then, what exactly are bulbs? These are plainly, a kind of a nursery meant for the plant seed or embryo; now, in this nursery, adequate food and shelter are made available to the plant embryo. The moment the bulb is planted in the soil, there is nothing much to do save for watering it regularly, observe it slowly growing, and appreciate the attractive hues on display by early February or March!
So, now we come to the issue of selecting the suitable kind of bulbs for your garden. In the first instance, as usual, you should consider the environment in which the plant is to grow. When the groundwork for that is completed, you need to reflect on the possible colors you prefer to flaunt in your garden and the right time you desire your garden to be in full bloom.
A majority of gardeners propose tulips since they occur in a kaleidoscopic range of hues, virtually spanning from black to white. Then there are daffodils, which are also an excellent selection, appearing in yellow hues or in intermingling shades of white and yellow.
Still another popular preference of the bulb gardening variety are crocuses, which occur in yellow, white, or purple shades. Of course, you should give free rein to your imagination and fashion bulb blends to produce a captivating display of brilliant colors.
Then again, if you prepare meticulously, you can possess a garden that blooms nearly all the time, by planting myriad bulb variants. Crocuses, tulips, winter aconite, snowdrops, and daffodils all bloom early in the spring season.
Grecian windflowers and Grape hyacinth tend to blossom in the middle of spring, while Persian buttercups and lilies tend to blossom in early to the middle of summer. Begonias, amaryllis, eucomis, dahlias, caladiums, and elephant ears all bloom in summer, even as meadow saffron blossoms in the fall. It is important to commit to memory that the bulbs that tend to bloom in spring should be carefully planted in autumn, while the ones that bloom in summer as well as autumn should be gently planted in spring.
After you have resolved the kind of bulbs you wish to grow, the time has now come to set off to the gardening outlet to pick up the bulbs. In the first instance, bulbs are also known as rhizomes, tubers, or corms, and hence if you come across these tags, you can safely take them without much ado. Always opt for the biggest and most compact bulbs that you can get hold of; gardening specialists will inform you that the larger bulbs bring forth larger blooms.
Moreover, squishy bulbs are generally not in good condition and tend to bloom feebly or will not produce any blooms at all. Positively pass up blooms that have scars or cracks, as this too, signifies sick plants, and you never should choose bulbs that already are growing roots; such bulbs, in all probability, will not blossom satisfactorily once planted in the soil.
By now, you have selected your bulbs, given them the once over, and carried them home. Then the next step is that in case you do not wish to plant them at once, ensure they are stored in a dry, cool place, not exposed to direct sunshine, until such time you are all set to plant them in the soil or grow them in containers. When you are all prepared to plant, begin to hollow out the ground to make holes, which are three times the bulbs’ diameter that you are about to plant.
There are quite a few gardeners, who favor a structured appearance and hence plant the bulbs in precise rows.
In case you fall into this category, you need to acquire a bulb planter, which is a cylindrical shaped implement with a grip that helps to extract small tufts of the earth in a systematic and consistent manner.
There are other bulb gardening enthusiasts, who fancy the unaffected, natural appearance and will in fact, put in a couple or more bulbs into a single hole, trying to create a ‘clumped’ look.
Whatever the impression you wish to create, prior to putting the bulbs in the holes, you should ensure that a little quantity of fertilizer is placed in the holes and a light layer of soil is showered over it. Then put the bulb inside the hole over the soil layer (it should not have any contact with the fertilizer as it may spoil) with the end up and the flat side against the soil.
Pack the holes with soil, tapping it downward firmly; there should not be any air pockets and the bulbs need to be held in position by the soil. The planting conditions with regard to bulbs should be the very best since bulbs are lasting add-ons for your garden.
Finally, you can revel in the visual work of art that you have fashioned! However, preserving this stunning visual requires some effort. One common method of ensuring your bulbs are healthy and are blooming is to de-head them. This process entails taking out wilted flowers to encourage plants to bring forth more flowers. Always, commit to memory, especially where bulbs are concerned, that leaves should never be taken out until they begin to become brown.
In conclusion, remember that in warmer climes, most of the bulbs can be left in the ground in winter and they will not spoil. On the other hand, in colder climes, before the winter sets in, the bulbs need to be taken out from the ground and kept in a cool and dry place.
In fact, there are a few tender bulbs, such as dahlias, that are unable to survive the winter season, even when planted in warmer climes, and therefore should be taken out. Yet again, brush up on the subject and be aware of the bulbs’ requirements that you select for your garden.
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Mar
19
Posted under
Flower bulb care
If you’re seriously interested in knowing about Bulb Flowers, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about Bulb Flowers.
Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Bulb Flowers than you may have first thought.
Just about every flower gardener will work with bulb plants at one time or another. Bulbs are loved by gardeners for the ease with which they grow, their hardiness and the fact that they can bloom again and again for many consecutive seasons without the need to replant. With all these advantages, it is no wonder that bulb plants are so popular among both new and experienced gardeners.
Choosing the right bulbs, however, is one thing that many beginning gardeners have trouble with. After you develop and eye and feel for finding the best bulbs, however, you will be able to spot them from across the garden center.
When choosing bulbs for your garden, it is important to choose the firmest and largest bulbs. The size of the bulb is important, since large bulbs are more likely to provide many blooms. The firmness of the bulb is a good indication of its health, and bulbs that are soft or mushy are unlikely to bloom. Bulbs are particularly susceptible to water damage. It is important to choose a bulb that is not to soft, but it is also important to look for cracks or scars. Bulbs with cracks or scars may have become too dry to bloom. Likewise, any bulbs that have begun to spout roots should be avoided, as they are unlikely to bloom properly once planted.
How bulbs are planted in the garden is important as well. Most bulbs are best planted in the fall, most commonly in early to mid October. The goal is to get the bulbs into the ground six weeks before the ground begins to freeze, so obviously the best time to plant will vary from location to location.
Bulbs should be planted in a well prepared soil, and the depth they should be planted will be determined by the type of bulb. For example, crocus bulbs are generally planted four inches deep, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs six inches deep and tulip bulbs at a depth of eight inches.
A simple gardening tool called a bulb planter is great for achieving a more uniform look to the blooming garden. Bulb planters can be used to easily prepare perfect looking rows of flowers. Those gardneres who prefer a more wild and freewheeling look, on the other hand, often dig a single hole and plant several bulbs in it. This approach can lead to spectacular, if somewhat unpredictable, patterns once the bulbs begin to bloom.
It is important to use a small amount of fertilizer at the bottom of each hole you dig when planting bulbs. The fertilizer should then be topped with a thin layer of soil, and the bulb carefully placed on top of the soil. It is important not to place the bulb directly on top of the fertilizer, as doing so could damage the bulb. Bulbs are always planted with the pointed end stick up and the flat, rooted side lying on top of the layer of soil. After the bulbs are in place, the rest of the hole should be filled with soil and the garden should be given a thorough watering.
Even though bulbs are among the hardiest of garden plants, there are a few important things to remember. One important technique to become familiar with is deadheading. The term deadheading should already be familiar to those gardeners who work with perennials. Deadheading is simply removing spent blooms in order to encourage more blossoms to develop. This process is important with bulb plants as well. When working with bulbs, however, it is important not to remove the leaves from the plants until the leaves have begun turning brown.
Taking care of the bulbs over the winter is important as well. In warmer climates, many bulbs can remain in the ground over winter. It is important, however, to remove tender bulbs such as dahlias, even in warmer climates. These bulbs should be stored over the winter in a cool, dry location.
Bulbs are wonderful plants for any gardener, from the newest to the most experienced. Their combination of hardiness, color and beauty make them hard to beat for any flower enthusiast.
Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.
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Feb
25
Posted under
Flower bulb care 
Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Bulb Flowers than you may have first thought. When choosing bulbs for your garden, it is important to choose the firmest and largest bulbs. The size of the bulb is important, since large bulbs are more likely to provide many blooms. The firmness of the bulb is a good indication of its health, and bulbs that are soft or mushy are unlikely to bloom. Bulbs are particularly susceptible to water damage. It is important to choose a bulb that is not to soft, but it is also important to look for cracks or scars. Bulbs with cracks or scars may have become too dry to bloom. Likewise, any bulbs that have begun to spout roots should be avoided, as they are unlikely to bloom properly once planted.Bulbs should be planted in a well prepared soil, and the depth they should be planted will be determined by the type of bulb. For example, crocus bulbs are generally planted four inches deep, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs six inches deep and tulip bulbs at a depth of eight inches.It is important to use a small amount of fertilizer at the bottom of each hole you dig when planting bulbs. The fertilizer should then be topped with a thin layer of soil, and the bulb carefully placed on top of the soil. It is important not to place the bulb directly on top of the fertilizer, as doing so could damage the bulb. Bulbs are always planted with the pointed end stick up and the flat, rooted side lying on top of the layer of soil. After the bulbs are in place, the rest of the hole should be filled with soil and the garden should be given a thorough watering.Taking care of the bulbs over the winter is important as well. In warmer climates, many bulbs can remain in the ground over winter. It is important, however, to remove tender bulbs such as dahlias, even in warmer climates. These bulbs should be stored over the winter in a cool, dry location.Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.
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