Hooray, your flower bulbs have arrived! What’s next? We previously wrote a blog post on the best way to plant flower bulbs—you can read it here. But how should you care for them after planting? That’s what we’ll cover in this blog post.
Some varieties require specific care. In this post, we outline the general guidelines that apply to most types.
Spring-blooming or summer-blooming?
We sell spring and summer-blooming bulbs in our online shop and physical store. Spring-blooming bulbs include varieties such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums, crocuses, and more. Examples of summer-blooming bulbs are dahlias, begonias, gladioli, ixias, lilies, and more. Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in the autumn and—as the name suggests—bloom in the spring. The earliest varieties emerge in February, while the last ones bloom in June. They are then followed by summer-blooming varieties; these can be planted from May 15th onwards—once the risk of night frost has passed—and bloom throughout the summer. Summer-blooming varieties flower roughly from June to November. Spring and summer-blooming bulbs complement each other perfectly, allowing you to enjoy beautiful flowers in your garden all year round!
Storage
Caring for your flower bulbs begins the moment your order arrives. Storing them properly until planting is a crucial part of this care, ensuring the bulbs remain in good condition. Always remove the bulbs—whether for spring or summer flowering—from the box upon delivery. Open the bags to allow air to circulate and place the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated area. Store summer-flowering bulbs in a frost-free location, and keep spring-flowering bulbs in a spot where the temperature does not exceed 25°C.
Watering
Once you have planted the flower bulbs, it is crucial to water them occasionally. You generally do not need to worry too much about early spring bloomers; after all, if it is cold and rainy, there is no need for you to water them yourself. However, the situation changes when the sun comes out. You may encounter dry spells in the spring or summer, and flower bulbs do not thrive in dry conditions—regardless of their stage of growth. From the moment you plant the bulbs, ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. This allows the bulb to gather enough energy to develop roots and absorb nutrients from the soil. If you have planted the bulbs in a pot, pay extra attention to ensure the soil does not dry out, as soil in pots dries out faster than soil in the ground. Consequently, bulbs in pots are more likely to suffer during dry spells.
Dig them up or leave them in?
Once flower bulbs have put on their spectacular display, the question arises: do you dig them up, or can you leave them in the ground? Let’s start with summer-flowering bulbs. Since most summer bloomers are not hardy, it is best to dig them up before winter sets in. Cut the stems back to about 10 cm, clean the bulbs, and let them dry for a few days. Once dry, you can wrap them in newspaper or store them in peat moss, sand, or sawdust. Store summer bulbs in a cool, frost-free place at a temperature of approximately 5°C to 10°C. Replant them in the ground anytime from mid-April to late May.
Spring-flowering bulbs are a different story; you can simply leave them in the ground. For varieties that naturalize, leaving them in place is actually better, as digging them up prevents them from spreading. Growers dig up their spring bulbs for a different reason: they are focused on bulb propagation, whereas at home, your goal is to enjoy the flowers. If you do want to dig up spring-flowering bulbs, limit this to tulips. You should usually only do this if the flower has become smaller than it was the previous year. Remove the flower as soon as it opens, but leave the foliage intact. Wait until the leaves turn yellow, then dig up the bulbs in June or July. After digging them up, remove excess soil and foliage, and place the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated spot at a temperature of 20°C. Replant them in the ground in October.
Now that you know the best way to care for your flower bulbs, you can fully enjoy the beautiful blooms they will produce! Haven't ordered any bulbs yet? Check out our spring range here and our summer range here.
