Bulbs are among the most interesting, most beautiful and easiest to grow of all flower varieties. Tulip bulbs were once so prized in Holland that it led to one of the best known financial bubbles in history, and even today, tulips are a leading export from that part of the world.
Even though bulbs are not quite so highly prized today as they were in 17th century Holland, they are still loved for their scents, their colors and their shapes, and gardeners love the fact that most bulbs are hardy and easy to grow.
Many of the most popular varieties of flowers are actually grown from bulbs, including tulips, crocuses, daffodils, irises, lilies, daylilies, dahlias and snowdrops.
One thing all bulb based plants have in common is that they grow from structures located under the ground. These underground structures provide the nutrients and energy the plants need to grow.
Even though bulb based plants are collectively known as ?bulbs?, there are actually five distinct types of bulb plants ? the true bulb, the corm, the tuber, the rhizome and the tuberous root. This article will provide examples of each type.
The True Bulb The true bulb is in reality an underground stem base containing an embryonic plant. The embryonic plant contained within the steam base already contains the leaves, stems and flower buds, all ready to burst forth once optimal growing conditions are provided. This setup allows the plant to lie dormant during adverse conditions, and thus to survive droughts and other environmental challenges.
The embryonic plant contained within the stem base is surrounded by scales (modified leaves that overlap in a manner reminiscent of reptile or fish scales). At the bottom of the bulb is a basal plate; this basal plate holds the scales together and produces the roots of the plant.
Examples of true bulbs are such popular flower varieties as daffodils, tulips and lilies. True bulb varieties of plants are susceptible to dryness and must be handled carefully. When properly cared for, however, individual bulbs can live for many years without being planted.
The Corm A corm, like a true bulb, also contains a stem base, but the tissue of the base is solid, and it lacks the scales seen in true bulbs. The roots grow from a basal plate which is located at the bottom of the corm, and the growth point is located at the top of the corm.
Popular types of corms include gladiolas and crocus. Each corm lasts for a single season, and as the corm shrinks away after blooming, a new corm forms on top of it. In addition, small increases, called cormels, are produced around the base of the corm's basal plate.
The Tuber Like corm and true bulbs, a tuber is actually an underground stem base. Unlike corms and a true bulbs, however, the tuber does not contain a basal plate. Instead, the roots of the tuber grow from both the base and from the sides. A tuber will have multiple growth points spread out over its top surface.
The Rhizome The rhizome is actually a thickened stem that grows either partly or completely underneath the ground. The largest growth point on a rhizome is located at one end, and additional growth points are located along the sides. The most well known rhizome is the bearded iris.
Tuberous Roots Unlike other types of bulbs, which are actually specially adapted stems, the tuberous root is not a true root. Instead, fibrous roots designed to absorb nutrients and water grow from the sides and the tip of the tuberous root. Most tuberous roots grow in a cluster, and swollen tuberous parts radiate out from a centralized point. The growth points of a tuberous root are found on the bases of the old stems and not on the roots themselves. Dahlias and daylilies are the best known examples of tuberous roots.
That's the latest from the understanding flower bulbs authorities. Once you're familiar with these ideas, you'll be ready to move to the next level.
If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole understanding of flower bulbs from informed sources.
Now that we've covered those aspects of popular bulbs, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.
Flowering bulbs are among the most popular of all ornamental plants, and they have enjoyed striking popularity for many years. Bulbs are renowned for their hardiness, color and variety, and there are enough types of bulbs to please even the most discriminating gardener.
With so many bulbs to choose from, it can be difficult to choose the right ones, so we present here a quick rundown of some of the most popular varieties of bulbs for the garden.
Crocus bulbs typically bloom in early spring or in late winter, and they feature tubular shaped flowers ranging in size from 1•1/2" to 3" long. Crocuses come in a rainbow of colors, and they are a staple of many gardens. Other types of crocus, such as the saffron crocus, bloom instead in the fall, and the flowers can rise from the bare ground weeks, or even only days, after the bulbs are planted. It is important for crocus bulbs to be planted as soon as they become available in the fall. The best way to plant crocus bulbs is two to three inches deep, with a spacing of three or four inches between bulbs. Crocus bulbs should be planted in good quality soil with good drainage, and they should be provided with full sun or partial shade and watered regularly during their growing and blooming seasons.
Dahlias bloom from summer through fall, and they also come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes. The size of dahlia flowers can range from two to twelve inches, and the height of the plants themselves can vary from just under a foot to more than seven feet for certain stake varieties. It is best to plant dahlias after the last frost of the spring, and the roots should be set between four and six inches deep. Tall dahlia varieties should be spaced four or five feet apart, while shorter ones can be spaced from one to one and a half feet apart.
Dahlias should have access to full sun, but in areas where the summers are very hot they may benefit from partial shade as well. It is important to observe a regular watering schedule during the bloom and growth cycles of the dahlia.
Dahlia bulbs can be left in the ground if the winter temperatures do not go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but most gardeners prefer instead to dig the dahlia bulbs up at the end of each growing season. To do this, you should wait until the foliage has yellowed, then cut the stalks back to approximately four inches. The clumps of the roots should be permitted to dry in the sun a few hours, then placed in boxes in a single layer and covered up with either sawdust or dry sand. The bulbs should be stored in a cool dry place over the winter and replanted the following spring.
Galanthus Nivalis The galanthus is more commonly known as the snowdrop, and it is one of the first plants to bloom at the end of the winter. These plants are typically six to eight inches in height, and they feature one bell shaped flower on each side of the stalk. Snowdrops are best suited for colder climates, and the bulbs are best planted in the autumn of the year. The bulbs should be planted from three to four inches deep and about three inches apart. Snowdrops typically do best in full sun or partial shade, and they like regular watering during their blooming and growing cycles.
Those who only know one or two facts about popular bulbs can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here.