By Julie Christensen
Native to Africa , freesia ( Freesia ) make cheery , fragranthouseplants , welcome addition to cut flowered displays or lovelyperennial layer flora . Freesias are bulb plants , and grow from corm , to be more accurate . These small bulbs are fragile and require particular care to fly high , but the prolific , scented blooms are worth the extra attempt .
Freesias can be hard to find in Northern garden . look into reputable nurseries in the spring or set up them online . Freesia corm are normally sold in the fall in the south .
Growing Freesias Outdoors
freesia are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 only . In these ardent field , gardeners works freesia corms outdoors in the fall . To thrive , freesias need well - draining soil . They ’ll waste in soggy shape . meliorate gravid soils with compost , wash peat moss , manure or other organic material . Another option is to grow freesia in recruit beds .
Plant freesias 2 inch deep with the pointed ends face up . They should be space about 3 inch apart . Firm the soil thinly around them and water them well after planting . weewee freesias at least every week during the growing season in the absence seizure of rainfall .
Freesias will bloom for several weeks . During this time , you’re able to cut some of the blooms for indoor purpose if you wish . Once freesia stop blooming , the foliation will easy shrivel up and die . Do n’t edit it back fall when it is completely droop and yellowed .
If you live north of zone 9 , you ’ll require to alter your strategy slightly . Northern gardener must plant freesia outdoors in the spring , after the last expected Robert Frost . Give freesia well - draining , racy soil and works in full Lord’s Day . Water them as want to keep the soil evenly moist , but never soggy .
fall drop , you ’ll dig up the freesias as soon as the first light frost stamp out the leave of absence . turn over up freesia carefully with a digging fork or even your hands . Be very careful not to chip the corm , which can introduce disease and rot .
Gently remove the dirt and rubble from the corms . Discard any that seem morbid and place the remaining corms in a tray . Store them in a warm , dry location for up to three weeks to heal . Once the corms have dried , remove any cormlets , or side sprout . salt away the corms in a mark browned bag in a dark , dry place . Do n’t store them in a shed , where rodent are likely to feast on them .
Once spring get in , scrutinise the corm and fling any that are musty . Tuck the residue in the undercoat and start up the whole mental process again !
Growing Freesias as Houseplants
If all this sounds like too much work , freesia make first-class houseplants . Freesias are in the main farm as a wintertime houseplant ; implant in late fall through wintertime , they bloom from recent winter to outpouring , and enter a period of dormancy during the hot summertime months . To grow them as houseplants , plant 5 to 6 corms 1 in deep in a 12 - inch deal filled with light potting mix . Place the freesia in a bright , gay room . daylight temperatures should range between 60 and 70 degree , with slightly nerveless nighttime temperature .
Keep the dirt moist , but not soggy . Freesias will start blooming 10 to 12 weeks after planting . Some freesias can grow 18 inches tall or more , and need staking . After the blooms fade , allow the leaf to die back . Most multitude moil up the corms , cure them and pose them in storage , but you could also judge lay in them in their commode in a cool , dark , dry location .
Freesia Diseases and Pests
Freesias have few insect and disease problem . In fact , their two major enemies are dampness and cold . Keep them warm and reasonably dry and they ’ll usually ride out tidy .
More Information about Freesia Flowers
To check more about freesias , visit theMissouri Botanical Garden .
Read lay in Tender Bulbs and Bulblike Structures from theUniversity of Minnesota .
This YouTube videoshows you how to plant freesia corm / bulbs .
When she ’s not write about gardening , food and canning , Julie Christensen enjoys spend time in her garden , which includes perennial , vegetables and fruit trees . She ’s written hundreds of horticulture article for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several e - playscript .
