Bulbs
Amaryllis
Bulb Scales
The Corm
A corm is a solid mass of stem tissue with a terminal bud on top. Axillary or lateral buds are also produced at nodes on the corm. The solid stem structure of the corm is protected against injury and water loss by dry leaf bases that are similar to the tunic that encloses true bulbs. Gladiolus is a corm.
Caladium
Dahlia
Tuberous roots, such as dahlia, are true roots and lack nodes and inter-nodes. Buds are present only at the crown or stem end of the root.
Rhizomes are thickened horizontal stems growing along or below the surface of the ground. Underground rhizomes of canna and calla produce roots on their lower surface and send shoots above ground.
Florida's Climate
Well-drained Soil
Most bulbs thrive in a sunny location. Some, such as caladiums, do best in partial shade. Heavy shade should be avoided as it will cause thin spindly growth and poor foliage color and flowering. Bed preparation is important for successful bulbs. A well-drained soil is important. You should till and amend the soil with three to four inches of organic matter and fertilizer.
Dig holes to the recommended depth for the various bulbs and plant with points facing up. Firm the soil around and over the bulbs and water.
Water is Crucial
Mulch the beds to control weeds. Weeds that do grow through the mulch should be pulled before they become firmly established in the bed.
Fertilize once or twice during the growing season with a special bulb fertilizer. Bulbs such as tulips which are discarded after flowering do not need fertilizing since they have enough stored food to last through the blooming period.
Water is crucial when growing bulbs and it is important that they not dry out during growth and flowering.
Keep the soil moderately moist at all times except when drying off at the end of a growing period.
Good Cultural Practice
A good cultural practice is to remove dead blooms before seeds are produced. Flowering in the following season will be reduced if seeds are allowed to set. Removing seeds also adds to the aesthetic value of the plants and may prevent disease problems.
Many bulbous plants grow best if left in the ground year after year while others may become crowded and bloom poorly. Digging and replanting encourages more uniform and larger flowers.
True bulbs like amaryllis and hyacinth, develop miniature bulbs, known as bulblets, which grow into offsets. Offsets can be separated from the mother bulb and replanted into the beds. Depending on the kind of bulb, it could take several years before they reach flowering size.
Corms & Cormels
Corms, such as gladiolus, produce new corms on top of the old corms, which wither. Miniature corms called cormels are produced between the old and new corms. These can be separated from the mother corms and stored along with the new corms over winter for planting in the spring. Cormels also require two to three years to reach flowering size.
Tubers (caladiums), tuberous roots (dahlia) and rhizomes (canna, day lily) are propagated by cutting them into sections, each containing at least one bud. Tuberous roots that are broken off without a bud are worthless.
Bulbous plants can be moved anytime except when they are in bloom.
Some examples of bulbs, corms, tubers, tuberous roots and rhizomes and their flowering seasons:
Bulbs
Amaryllis – Spring
Amazon lily – Winter
Aztec lily – Spring & Summer
Blood lily – Summer
Crinum – Spring & Summer
Society garlic – Spring, Summer & Fall
Spider lily – Spring & Summer
Corms
Gladiolus – Three months after planting
Tritonia – Spring & Summer
Watsonia – Three months after planting
Tuber
Caladium – Summer to Fall
Glorioso lily – March to Summer
Elephant ears – Spring
Tuberous Root
Dahlia – Early Summer
Rhizomes
African lily – Summer & Early Fall
Butterfly lily – Spring
Cana – Spring to first frost
Day lily – Spring & Summer
