Planting and Caring for Flower Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Michael McGroarty

Flower Bulbs: Bulb type flowers are really unique plants, because they spend most of their days resting quietly beneath the surface of the soil.

flower bulb

Flowers of all kinds are best when planted in groupings. Many people buy 25 or 50 bulbs and just go around the yard planting helter skelter.

In the early spring start thinking about where you would like to create a bed for flower bulbs.

When the bulbs come up in the spring and start blooming, you should clip off the blooms as they start to wither. This keeps the bulb from producing seeds, which requires a lot of energy, and you want the bulb to use all of its available energy to store food in preparation for the bulb’s resting period.

The rays from the sun are absorbed by the foliage and the food making process begins. In the case of a flower bulb this food is transported to the bulb beneath the ground and stored for later use.

So basically the leaves of the plant are like little solar panels. If you restrict them the flow stops.

Bending them over seems to work, but I’ve spent a lot of money on my bulbs. As the bulbs die back the annuals tend to grow and conceal them.

Forcing Flower Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Seth Miller

Genetic patterns control the growth of all plants. Of the few successful methods that help achieve this objective, forcing flower bulbs is an effective practice.Forcing flower bulbs at home is an exciting activity.

Prior to a flower bulb being forced, it is put in a pot and allowed to grow. The bulb is completely covered and grows within the pot. This prompts the growth of leaves and flowers. The entire process lasts for 3 to 4 weeks until the flower bulb blooms.

A number of spring flowers usually require a long rooting period and predetermined temperatures to produce a good root. This assists the successful forcing of flower bulbs.

It is important to mention that all flower bulbs cannot be forced.

Check out my other guide on gardening plants indoor and bonsai plants

Bulbs Gardening – How To Get The Best Results Out Of Your Bulb Planting Efforts

Executive Summary by: Lee Dobbins

Bulbs Gardening: Bulb planting can be one of the most rewarding things a gardener can do. As long as some simple ground rules (pardon the pun) are followed, bulbs grow easily and are very rewarding.

garden bulbs

Bulbs can be planted either in the fall or in the spring. Fall planting would be the preferred time to plant because that gives the flowers an opportunity to adjust to their surroundings, set their roots firmly, and bloom earlier in the spring.

Your bulbs will bloom later than those planted in the fall, but they will still put on an impressive show.

The majority of bulbs should be planted shallowly. Refer to the instructions on the bag or box for just how deep your bulbs should be planted. Be sure to fertilize and water thoroughly as soon as the planting is completed. If the bulbs have been planted in the fall, as the winter months progress, they will remain dormant in the ground.

If the stalk is cut off while it’s still taking in nutrients, in the following season, the flower will not bloom as well or may not bloom at all.

Add Color To Your Winter With Bulb Forcing By Following These Directions

Executive Summary by: Fred Myers

It is best to begin with fresh potting soil. It is not wise to purchase the potting soil
with fertilizer because your forced bulbs will be long gone before any benefit could be
derived from the fertilizer.

I would add some sand to the soil mix. The sand gives the soil the ability to drain faster and a forced bulb requires fast drainage. You can deposit this in a pot and use this measure to fill other pots for additional bulb forcing.

The pot should contain a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot. There will be no way to insert your bulbs if you stuff the pot with the soil mixture.

You must plant only one type of bulb in each pot because of the different flowering times. Bulb forcing in the winter months can certainly be fun.

Article You May Be Interested In Reading: gardens botanical and water garden supplies

Garden Bulbs – Choosing and Planting Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Keith Markensen
The term “bulb” refers to the below the soil growth or “protuberance” of a group of plants. Some “bulbs” are in fact “corms” or “tubers”.

garden bulb

• Planting Garden Bulbs

It is a good idea to fertilize flowering bulbs each spring, preferably with manure, taking care to prevent the manure from touching the roots or the bulb.

• Spring-flowering Bulbs

Of all the popular spring-flowering bulbs, the tulip has to be the leader. The purple flowering bulbs and of course the tiny yet simply beautiful snowdrop are equally beautiful.

• Summer-flowering Bulbs

These garden bulbs need the same treatment with planting and maintenance as the earlier flowering bulbs.

Some Favorite Garden Bulbs

Executive Summary by: Lee Dobbins

Here’s some favorite garden bulbs and their planting needs.

1. Crocus

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.

2. Dahlia

Dahlias have a long bloom time from summer through fall and like many other garden 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.

3. Galanthus Nivalis

This plant is more commonly called the snowdrop and is one of the first plants to bloom after winter. Plant snowdrops in fall, dig down 3 to 4 inches and plant 3 inches apart. Water regularly during the growing cycle.

4. Daffodil

Daffodils benefit from full sun and regular watering during their growth and bloom periods.

5. Tulip

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 garden bulbs as well, from four to eight inches depending on the size of the bulb.

6. Gladiolus

Gladiolas are among the most popular of all garden bulb plants, and their distinctive sword shaped leaves and funnel shaped flowers are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike.

7. Hemerocallis

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 ½ inch and 1 inch deep and space between 2 to 2½ inches apart in the garden.

8. Hyacinths (Dutch Hyacinth)

The Dutch hyacinth is one of the most instantly recognizable, and most popular, of all the varieties of garden bulb plants.

9. Iris

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.

Check out my other guide on new garden and gardens botanical