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How to Grow and Care for your Favorite

Flowering Bulb Type Plants

Growing bulb type flowers is a very rewarding task, considering the ease of planting and resulting flowers.
If you didn't get exact pranting direction with your bulbs, there are a couple general 'rules of thumb' you can usually rely on when it comes planting and growing bulbous plants.
1. The pointy end always goes up! (Yes, if you put the point down, your plant will still grow... upside down
    Yes, it will eventually get turned right side up and probably reward you with a crooked flower)
2. Plant the bulb 2-2½ times deeper than the size of the bulb. (Obviously, this rule doesn't apply to Amaryllis and Iris)
3. Remove spent flowers promptly, but allow the foliage to continue to grow until it dies back naturally.
    The foliage will produce the nutrients that are needed to provide the next years flowers
4. Most bulbs should be dug and divided in early spring, or in the fall when the plants are dormant
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What are bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers?

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers are each a storage unit for food that gives the plant the energy it needs to grow, bloom, and complete its lifecycle.
** Bulbs are the thickened underground storage organ of the group of perennials which includes Daffodils, Tulips, Lilies, Narcissus and Amaryllis. Bulbs grow in layers, like an onion. At the very heart of the bulb is a miniature version of the flower.

** Corms are thick underground stems which produce the new roots, leaves and flowers during each growing season. Corms look a lot like bulbs on the outside but corms do not grow in layers. They act as the base and food source for the flower stem. As the flower grows, the corm is used up and shrivels away. Before dying the corm will produce new baby corms. This group includes Crocus, Gladiolus and Tuberous Begonias

** A Rhizome is a modified plant stem which grows horizontally under the surface of the soil. New growth then emerges from different points of the rhizome. They will continue to grow and creep along under the surface producing lots of growing points. Calla Liles, Cannas, Bearded Iris and Water Lilies all grow from rhizomes.

** Tubers are flat underground stems which have a tough leathery skin and several eyes which are the growing points where the plants will emerge. This group includes Dahlias, Begonias, Caladiums and Anemones
Agapanthus Agapanthus Agapanthus don't like their roots disturbed and may not bloom very well until the plants re-establish themselves
Allium Allium flavum Blue-green to silvery-green foliage; golden-yellow, violet or pure white flowers from May through June
Amaryllis Hippeastrum Amaryllis is the easiest of all bulbs to force into bloom. The flowers appear in all shades and combinations red, white, pink, salmon and orange.
Caladium Colocasia esculenta Caladium is a frost tender, perennial tuber which is grown for its colorful foliage rather than flowers. The leaves are usually a combination of different shades of red, pink, green, white.
Chocolate Cosmos Cosmos atrosanguineus Chocolate Cosmos is a tuberous perennial which is hardy in USDA zones 7-10, but with excellent drainage and heavy winter mulching it will often survive the winters in zone 6.
Crocus,   Daffodil,   Grape Hyacinth,   Hyacinth,   Narcissus,   Scilla,   Snowdrops,   Tulips
Cyclamen Cyclamen persicum The most important criteria for success with growing a Cyclamen are cool temperatures, fresh air, and ample moisture.
Dahlias Dahlia Dahlia plants range in height from as low as 12 inches to as tall as 6-8 feet. The flowers can be as small as 2 inches or up to a foot in diameter.
Dragon Lily Dracunculus vulgaris Dracunculus vulgaris is known by many names, Dragon Lily, Voodoo Lily, Viagra Lily and the "tell it like it is" name of Stink Lily.
Easter Lilies Lilium While growing inside the home they are a source of beauty and fragrance, but soon the flowers fade and you are faced with the question of what to do with your plant.
Fairy lily Zephyranthes A Fairy Lily, , is also called a 'rain lily' because of its tendency in the wild to bloom after a rainfall.
Kafir Lily Clivia miniata Clivias will bloom better and more consistently when they are pot bound. The seeds MUST be removed from the pods and planted while they are still fresh.
Shamrocks Oxalis deppei Shamrocks are very easy to grow, but they do have a few requirements. They like cool air, moist soil, and bright light but not direct sun.
Tuberous Begonias   Begonias need bright, filtered light, with maximum light in winter. Allow the soil to only dry slightly between waterings. Provide additional humidity
Water Lilies   Generally, water lilies require a minimum of four to five hours of full sun each day to produce the most blooms.

Helpful Growing Advice
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
Forcing Bulbs to Bloom out of season
The best time to transplant Iris
Protecting Daffodils from a Late Freeze
Transplanting Bulbs