Share Your Favorite Flowers and Plants at The Bulb Room - Tips for Growing Bulbs in Zone 9 from Donna in Texas Gulf Coast
The Bulb Room is a great place to share photos of your favorite flowers and plants. From Amaryllis, Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths, Crocus, Callas, Bluebells, Bearded Iris, Dutch Iris, Freesia, Snowdrops, Caladium and Daylilies - there's something for everyone!
Donna from Texas Gulf Coast shared her experience with planting bulbs in zone 9. She has to refrigerate tulips, crocus, hyacinths and daffodils for 6-8 weeks before planting outside around Thanksgiving. Her amaryllis she grows in the ground and they stay there. She planted these last week for cut flowers and now waits until March/April for the blooms. Donna also saw some huge amaryllis bulbs at Walmart for $6.95 and bought three of them to put in pots for flowers in about 6 weeks.
Jon shared his experience with a wad of amaryllis bulbs that bloom a beautiful crimson red. He asked for help on dividing them as he wasn't sure of the process. Donna suggested either this month or November and asked if the foliage ever withered and turned brown in the fall - which would mean they were dormant and could be moved then.
Donna also mentioned that she had planted a gazillion bulbs in a small bed randomly placed due to running out of time. These included 100 daffodils, some tulips and hyacinths as well as ranunculus corms to go out in spring and dahlia tubers picked up from Aldi. She was surprised to hear that Jon got his bulbs from a supermarket and said maybe able to work out who packed them through the name 'black charm'.
Finally Donna asked what people grow on their soil during the many months their bulbs are dormant - when it becomes Weed City most of the year. The conversation ended here but hopefully we'll all have some early blooms come springtime!
What do you grow?
Amaryllis, Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinth, Crocus, Callas, Bluebells, Bearded Iris, Dutch Iris, Freesia, Snowdrops, Caladium, etc. Daylilies and other flowers for cut flowers.
How do you plant the bulbs?
I have to refrigerate tulips, crocus, hyacinths, and daffodils for 6-8 weeks before planting outside around Thanksgiving. My amaryllis I grow in the ground and they stay there.
Where did you get your bulbs?
I got my bulbs from Aldi. They source them from one of the bulb farms locally.
How much does it cost to use a shopping cart at Aldi?
It costs a quarter to use a shopping cart at Aldi but you get your coin back when you return the cart.
When do your bulbs bloom?
My amaryllis bloom around Easter. The Dutch Iris is in the round pots and the freesia in the rectangular pots and they usually bloom in March/April. The amaryllis bulbs from Walmart will bloom in about 6 weeks.
What do you do if there is a frost?
If there is a frost, I can move the pots indoors since amaryllis flowers will not tolerate a freeze.
Do you divide your amaryllis bulbs?
Yes, I divide mine either this month or in November when the foliage on them withers and turns brown which means they are dormant.
What do you grow on that soil during the many months your bulbs are dormant?
During the many months my bulbs are dormant, I grow various alliums, winter aconite, triplet lilies, a few squills, grape hyacinth and hyacinth outside in the ground.