Many bulbs readily multiply by producing offsets without any help from the gardener. But as well as taking advantage of this, it is quite simple to grow more of your favourite bulbs using just a few other techniques, including scaling, bulbils, seed and division.
As the planting matures, the bulbs will divide and spread on their own. Eventually, the planting area may become crowded and produce fewer flowers instead of more.
In bulbs, these buds become bulblets, which grow up to become first offsets and then bona fide bulbs themselves. One way to multiply bulbs is to just dig them up sometime between early summer and now, and then snap off and plant out the offsets.
In their native habitats, tulips multiple once every 2 to 3 months. However, there are other species that only multiply once a year. Depending on the species you're planting at home, it can take anywhere from one to six months for the tulips to multiply.
Bulbs that you leave in the ground once they've stopped blooming can start growing their new root systems as early as mid-August. Some varieties also use this period to multiply. They grow more bulbs out of one and prepare themselves to give you an even more impressive flower show come spring.
Many bulbs readily multiply by producing offsets without any help from the gardener. But as well as taking advantage of this, it is quite simple to grow more of your favourite bulbs using just a few other techniques, including scaling, bulbils, seed and division.
Making sure you have the right amount for the space you are planning in helps ensure you get the right look! Generally, having too many bulbs isn't a big problem. You can always gift the extras to friends and neighbors. However, if you end up planting too few bulbs you may find yourself disappointed in spring.
Do I need to dig up my bulbs or can I leave them in the ground? Spring-blooming bulbs that are winter hardy, such as tulips, daffodils and crocus, can be left right in the ground. Summer bulbs such as dahlias, tuberous begonias and calla lilies, will not survive cold winters.
Short-lived bulbs: Most properly planted and cared-for bulbs will flower well for 3-5 years and beyond, but some thrive only for a couple of years or even one season before needing to be replaced.
Aim to plant in groups of at least six, as the more bulbs that are grouped together, the better the display.
Bulbs will likely require dividing every three to five years. The best time to divide bulbs is after the bloom has ended and the foliage starts to die back. Don't pull them out before the leaves die, or the bulb won't take in enough nutrients to survive until the following spring.
Bringing the Bulbs into Bloom
Forced bulbs under grow lights. A sunny window also provides adequate light for bulb forcing. When the bulbs have rooted, bring the pots out of cold storage and set them in a bright window in a cool room (one where the temperature stays below 65°F).
Most spring-flowering bulbs should be planted 6 to 8 weeks before the soil begins to freeze. In growing zones 4-5, the ideal planting time is mid to late October. Gardeners in zones 6-8 should wait until November. In warmer areas (zones 9-10), most spring-blooming bulbs must be chilled before they are planted.
After those bulbs finish flowering many wonder if it's possible to place the plants in the soil so they will bloom next year. The short answer is yes, but some of these bulbs will return better than others. Tulips and hyacinths, for example, always look their best the first spring after planting.
Each bulb will usually produce one or two flowers, which isn't enough to make much of a show if you plant them individually. But they sure are stunning in groups! Groups of at least 10 make the best display…and more than that is even better!
Caring for hardy bulbs
With good conditions, they will bloom every spring. Every three to four years, hardy bulbs should be dug up in the fall, divided and replanted. Rotting or dried up bulbs should be composted. New bulbs may be added at this time as well.
Water the Bulbs well following planting. This will help settle the soil in the planting bed plus provide needed moisture for the bulbs to start rooting. Fall planted bulbs must root before cold weather. Avoid over-watering at planting time since this can result in bulb rot.
Hardy bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, can be left in the ground to flower year after year. Examples of hardy bulbs are tulips, daffodils (Narcissus species and hybrids), iris, crocus and lilies.
The trick to ensuring bulbs are safe and happy all winter long is to keep them uniformly cool. So after you plant, it's valuable to put mulch on top of the soil. Not only does mulch keep the bulbs uniformly cool, but it also inhibits weed seeds by cutting off the light that encourages germination.
No, bulbs should not be soaked before planting because they are prone to rotting. Bulbs have tiny roots at the base and the idea behind pre-soaking is that perhaps the roots should be hydrated before planting. But, when planting in fall, there should be adequate moisture in the soil to provide what the bulbs need.
There is no real reason to dig up tulips bulbs each year, or at all. Most gardeners leave their bulbs in the ground where they were originally planted, and, are left to rebloom. Sometimes gardeners will dig up tulip bulbs but only when the plants seem to have offered fewer flowers.
Planting bulbs too deep can result in bulb rot and a bit of a delay in spring growth. In general, plant bulbs a depth 2-3 times their vertical diameter.
You can maximize your spring bulb display by layering several bulbs in the same planting hole. That way, you can dig once, but plant for a variety of blooms! The rule of thumb is that the larger the bulb, the deeper it's planted.
Most bulbs can be stored for up to a year, but tend to perform best when planted within six months of lifting. For tender bulbs, be sure to plant in the spring following the fall in which they were lifted-they will likely not have enough energy to survive past the warm season and into the following year.