If you don't plan on planting the healthy bulbs, make sure to dry them before putting them back into storage. Wet bulbs will contract mold if not dried or eventually planted. A bad bulb will have a soft, nearly squishy interior and mold or fungus somewhere on the exterior.
How to Tell If a Bulb Is Still Viable A good bulb will be about the weight of a golf ball. If a bulb is the same size but weighs closer to a ping pong ball, it has lost its moisture and is no longer viable. A papery feeling is another indicator a bulb is no good. Brown and mushy are other bad signs.
Check for the following signs: Soft or mushy bulbs: A dead bulb will often feel soft, mushy, or spongy when you press on it. Rot and mold: Look for brown or black spots on the bulb. White, fuzzy mold or other moldy growth indicates poor health.
Common bulb rot symptoms include: softening and water-soaking of the bulb tissue. yellow to brown discoloration. progression of symptoms from the neck to the base of the bulb.
As they deteriorate, the amount of light they give decreases and they get harder to start at turn-on. Eventually, they will either get noticeably dim, start flickering or not light at all when powered ON. When a fluorescent bulb has deteriorated, there will be a noticeable darkening at the ends.
If a lamp blinks after being turned on, it is a sign that it may be time to replace the light bulb.
An overheated bulb can catch fire very quickly, especially if it is a bulb that is near the end of its life.
Defining What Makes a Bad Quality Light Bulb
Dim, inconsistent illumination. Flickering or buzzing. Poor color rendering.
Empty your pot
Inspect your bulbs, only keep the ones that are look healthy and are of a good size. Discard those that are soft or rotten. Every few years bulbs double.
Both dry rot and wet rot require moisture to take root, but they look and act differently. Dry rot can take on a yellowish or sepia appearance, is dryer to the touch, and tends to spread over a larger area than wet rot. Dry rot turns wood a darker brown, shrinks it, and causes cracks across the wood grain.
A great way to check bulb health is to use what's known as the “bucket test.” This simple method consists of putting about a half-dozen bulbs in a bucket of water. Healthy bulbs will sink. The bulbs that float are the ones that you should throw out.
Bulbs that haven't been cured and stored properly can either rot or dry out in the bag. Inspect bulbs before buying (if possible) and before planting. Toss any that are soft and beginning to rot or that are papery and light-weight from drying out. The bulbs rotted in wet soil.
Many times the bulb will be "smoked" as well. The inside of the bulb will be a little blackened. Normally, if a bulb is just burned out, the rest of the lights will stay lit unless a tiny little wire that looks like a little hair at the base of the bulb has also lost connection.
When to change a light bulb. If the light appears dimmer, then it is sure sign that it will need changing soon. Once the bulb starts to fade, make sure you change it straight away, or ensure that you are stocked up with new ones ready to replace it.
Bulbs generally prefer average to loamy soil with good drainage. When planted in clay soils or following long periods of rain in early spring, however, they are susceptible to rot diseases caused by fungal pathogens such as those in the genus Fusarium.
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. These include tulips, freesia, Dutch iris, and ranunculus.
Discard any damaged bulbs. Wait until spring to divide the bulbs if they have multiplied. Any injury will increase the chance of rot while in storage. Most bulbs need a period of curing, or drying, before being put into storage.
Most light bulbs can be recycled! This includes CFLs and LEDs, even though CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. Incandescent and halogen bulbs are also recyclable in some areas. Check with your local recycling center for their specific guidelines.
The three main and most important characteristics you must match with the replacement bulbs are the lamps voltage, wattage and base. The secondary characteristics of your bulb are bulb shape, type, lumens, color temperature and life.
While incandescent light bulbs were built to last around 1,000 hours, the most enduring LED light fixtures have been tested to last as long as 100,000 hours. On average LED light bulbs will not have to be changed for at least 20 years.
Leaving outdated bulbs on for more than 24 hours will cause them to overheat, resulting in an accidental home fire. Our in-house lighting experts say LEDs and fluorescent bulbs are the safest. They're unlikely to cause a fire unless they've been fitted incorrectly.
When the bottom of a light bulb doesn't make a snug connection with the hardware in the light socket, it can cause electricity to arc between the socket and bulb. You may not know this is happening just by looking at the bulb, but arcing electricity can generate excess heat, leading to a blowout.
LED Light Bulbs
Cool to the Touch: LED bulbs emit very little heat, reducing the risk of burns or accidental fires, which makes them a safer option, especially around children and pets. Durability: These bulbs are highly durable and less prone to shattering since they are typically made of plastic rather than glass.