Do all bulbs need to be potted after blooming ?

11 years ago

Here is the story. I went to Boston Flower and Garden Show in february. I was enquiring about some bulbs and the owner picked a handful of bulbs from the basket and gave to me for free! I came back home and realized that the packet of bulbs did not contain any piece of paper with any information! So, I do not know the name of my bulbs. All I remember is (1) The flowers were supposed to be white. (2) They are not daffodils. (3) The shop-owner asked me to keep them in water marbles and that they are self-sustaining. (4) They were supposed to be cheap. I got 6 bulbs, and they were supposed to be less than 2$. Can anyone guess the name ? I know I am asking a stupid question.. :(

My water marbles were not sufficient for them, so I kept them in plastic glasses filled with water. 4 of them grew quickly, 2 did not. Some of them started showing buds, but none of them bloomed. In April, I changed their water. The 2 that did not grow had got some black stuff on the roots. I cleaned them. But after that all of them started drying up and the water turned moldy. Now I cleaned them again, cleaned the glasses using bleach, and refilled with water. It is clean since 2 days. The bulbs look healthy.

Since, I am new to gardening, I dont have any clue what went wrong. Is it just that it is spring and the leaves are supposed to die? Is it just because of my horrible way of caring plants? Should I take the bulbs out of the water and dry them instead? Should I put them in soiled pots and expect them to grow leaves again?

Please help. I don't want to kill them due to my ignorance.

Thanks for any help!

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

11 years ago

Have a look at Paper White Narcissus and see if that is what you had. They can only be grown for one flowering in marbles. After that the bulbs are exhausted. In cold climates we usually throw them out. In warm climates they can be planted in the garden. When in marbles they must not be covered by water. The water level should be low so they can grow roots down into it but it mustn't touch the base of the bulbs. Without a picture it is impossible to say if your bulbs are healthy or not.

ps Another possibility is Hyacinths. They can be planted out in cold climates and survive.

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
I agree with floral - your free bulbs sound very much like paperwhites. These are considered to be almost throw-away bulbs, grow rapidly in water, blooming and filling the house with their distinct scent and then most usually, being tossed after blooming.
swagatika_msj thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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purslanegarden
11 years ago
While some plant bulbs can grow 1 season in water, for long term growth and care, I think the ground or potting medium is better. For example, some Christmas amaryllis bulbs are put into a vase with a bit of water and rocks for a decorative look but in spring, they would do better to be planted in soil.
swagatika_msj thanked purslanegarden
swagatika_msj
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

@flora_uk, Here are the photos of the bulbs.

Your guess is right, I had immersed the entire bulb in water except the tip. I guess, that was my mistake.

When I brought the bulbs, they did not have roots, now they have roots.

So, I guess, I need to take them out of water and store them or throw them. (Yesterday, they started growing green fungus on their roots again). What should I do now with them? How should they be stored?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
If you live somewhere with no frost you could plant them outside in the garden. Personally I would throw them. I never bother to store them as they won't grow outdoors where I live and they are exhausted after growing in only water. I would buy a few new ones in the Autumn and research how to grow them correctly with either water or bulb fibre. Here's a link to start you off. http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/g-90-paperwhites.aspx
swagatika_msj thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
swagatika_msj
Original Author
11 years ago
thank you for your help.