Tips for Successful Bulb Care and Flower Growth

Gardeners love bulbs because they are some of the easiest flowers to grow—when cared for correctly.

Tulips, lilies, daffodils and dahlias are just a few of the most popular types of bulb flowers that gardeners place in their flower beds every season.

Why are bulbs so popular? For one thing they grow quickly compared to most other seed flowers; and secondly, they are extremely colorful. When April roles around, there is nothing that says spring time more than a flower bed full of bright-colorful flowers. Therefore, many avid gardeners start their growing season off with bulbs.

Water is Important

Water is important to all growing plants, and bulbs need regular watering especially during the growing and blooming periods. Once you put that bulb into the ground, it starts the growing process and with certain types of bulbs, this process can last until fall. So you need a regular watering schedule.

Rainfall is heavy in some areas during spring, and that could mean hand watering the bulbs will be less of a process than in areas where it is drier. Water needs to reach the bulb root, which in most cases is 6 inches under ground. Putting mulch under certain types of bulbs before planting will help them retain and use the water more effectively.

If you are just purchasing new bulbs, there should be some care instructions that come with them. The instructions should state whether or not mulch will help.

***You should never use mulch on Bearded Lilies because it encourages rot.

Fertilizing is a Must

Speaking of mulch, fertilizing is an important step in order to have a successful and beautiful bulb garden. The fertilizer needs to go into the hole before you put the bulb in. Always place a slight layer of regular soil over the fertilizer before putting the bulb on top. Fertilizer should never touch the bulb or else it will die.

High nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to the bulb bed right at the beginning of the season if you want more blooms for your buck!

End of Season Care

If you are growing bulbs that aren’t removed from the ground at the end of the growing season, you should take a few steps to ensure that your flowers will bloom again next year.

As long as the leaves and stalks have green on them, leave the plant alone. Green means that the plant is still being fed. The longer the plant can feed, the better chances you have of growing gorgeous flowers next season.

Apply a fertilizer that is high in potassium and phosphorus when the flowers have begun to disappear for the season. Maybe use a brand that hooks to your hose so you can deep water the nutrients into the ground. If the fertilizer does not go 6 inches or more into the soil, you are not doing your plants any good.

As you can see, water and fertilizer are the key ingredients to grow beautiful full-blooming flower bulbs. Once spring starts approaching (February maybe), you might want to order your bulb supplies so you can jump right in as soon as the weather and growing season permits.