Freesia , Freesiaspp . , is a perennial corm in the Iridaceae or iris family with six to 12 funnel shape - mould flowers on each gracefully arch stem .
Native to South Africa , it grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 10 , where it blooms from late winter to early leap . In geographical zone 3 to 8 , it do well as a late - summer heyday .
Freesia requires temperatures of 50 to 70 ° F during the twenty-four hour period and 40 to 55 ° F at night to flower well . It is hoarfrost - tender and does not tolerate temperatures below 25 ° F .
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Cultural requirements let in a full sun to fond shade location , organically - deep , flaxen loam with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 , and moderate moisture .
ripe dimensions are 12 to 18 inches magniloquent with a spread of 6 to 12 inches . The approximate length of time from plant to inflorescence is 110 to 120 days .
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Types of Bulbs and Timing
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Ourguide to growing freesiahas all you require to know to enjoy plant at your house .
This article provide instructions for when and how to plant freesia corm .
permit ’s get initiate !
When you ’re browse for freesia corms , often pertain to as bulbs , you ’ll rule that there are two eccentric : Unprepared and prepared , sometimes hollo heat - treated or untreated .
In Zones 9 to 10 , where the weather is strong and freesia is wintertime hardy , unprepared type are available in late summertime to early nightfall .
These will grow as perennial , persist in the footing through winter sleeping . Plant the corms in autumn for peak in late wintertime to early bounce .
To stretch the growing season , some gardenerssuccession plantevery few week from recent summer to early wintertime for continuous winter - to - spring blooming .
In cooler zone 3 to 8 , where freesia lightbulb are Robert Lee Frost - tender , leverage develop types in late winter to early spring that have been heat - treated to mime the warm period of dormancy .
These are grown as annuals that go into the ground after the last leaping frost engagement and bloom of youth in late summer .
According to the expert at the Royal Horticultural Society , if you raise the freesia bulbs after they have end blooming and salt away them in a locating that ’s 80 ° F with 75 to 80 per centum humidness for 14 to 20 hebdomad , you may be able to encourage them to rebloom the following outpouring .
In addition to outdoor cultivation in cool regions , you may implant get up bulbs in pots in the autumn , keep them in a nursery or indoors with 50 to 70 ° F ( daytime ) and 40 ° to 55 ° F ( night ) temperatures , and enjoy winter efflorescence in your home .
choose the largest bulbs for the biggest , good quality freesia bloom .
They should palpate ironical , firm , and plump without mar , decay , or molding . The papery tunics should be intact and the tops pointy .
You ’ll find many attractive single and double - petal cultivated varieties on the market , or a mixture of different case of medulla .
doubled Mix offers a wide-ranging collection of brilliantly colored , fragrant dual blooms with a mature superlative of 12 to 16 inches .
doubled mixture
Freesia Double Mix isavailable from Eden Brothersin packages of 20 , 40 , or 100 medulla oblongata .
With freesia medulla in hand , choose a location in full Lord’s Day to part wraith outdoors and work the soil to a depth of four inch until it is uniformly crumbly and barren from rocks and junk .
Conduct a dirt testto find the pH and amend it if necessary per the instructions you receive with your results .
To grow them in container , fill your choose vessels three - quarters full of all - purpose potting grime .
When you have your soil quick , it ’s time to plant .
Set the corm in the ground , pointed side up , just about two inches mysterious with the tip just above the soil surface . Space them two to three column inch apart .
Water lightly after planting . If possible , assay to habituate non - fluoridated , low - mineral water supply to prevent excess mineral salt buildup . Options let in pick up rainwater or purchasing purified water .
Keep the soil lightly damp until sprouts come out , then maintain even moisture by watering once a hebdomad in the absence of rainfall . It ’s better to drift on the side of too small than too much to stave off rot .
Staking may be necessary to keep the radical upright as they maturate . Instead of seek to fit an setup afterwards and risking damage , it ’s best to install your supports at planting time .
I use these half - round support rings . Each one-half measures 10.4 inches tall and 6.3 inches wide to adapt mature dimensions .
Half - Round Plant Support Rings
Use two one-half rings to insert each group of corms for secure stem support .
Half - Round Plant Support Rings areavailable from Zotuk via Amazon .
Once buds sort , fecundate bimonthly with an all - purpose liquid product rich in potassium , such as you would practice for tomato plant .
The tomato plant food from TPS Nutrients delivers a atomic number 7 - phosphorus - atomic number 19 ( NPK ) ratio of 3 - 3 - 5 , make it desirable for nourish freesia .
TPS Nutrients Tomato Fertilizer
Tomato Fertilizer isavailable from TPS Plant Foods via Amazonin eight - snow leopard , 32 - ounce , or gallon container .
If you ’re growing your freesia as perennials , allow the foliage to rest in place after blossom to feed the corm and promote offset ( cormlet ) organization .
lay off fertilizing and watering when the foliation withers .
If you are planning to fling the freesia bulbs postseason , you’re able to stop feeding and watering once the flowers evanesce .
Gardeners who move up and computer memory corms should continue supplying food and wet until the leaves shrivel .
Patience Required
permit ’s recapitulation .
Freesia is a frost - tender , coolheaded - weather perennial or yearly that performs better with daytime temperatures of 60 to 70 ° atomic number 9 and nights in the 40 to 55 ° F range .
They savour full sun to part shade with prolific , passably moist , well - draining soil .
Purchase unprepared bulbs to grow as perennials in geographical zone 9 to 10 and sow them in fall for late wintertime to outflow bloom .
To get freesia as annuals in Zones 3 to 8 , buy inclined bulbs and set them out after the last natural spring frost date for a belated summertime display .
Discard or lift and store them in high heat and humidity for replanting next season .
Alternatively , locoweed up prepared type in the dusk and target them in a nursery with coolheaded daytime and cool night for wintertime bloom .
Sow corms about two in deep with the tips showing and fertilize bimonthly when buds appear .
And remember , with a 110- to 120 - twenty-four hours maturity point , solitaire is also required .
Suspend feeding and water when the foliage pass to brown . For yearbook to be discarded , discontinue when the flowers fade .
And formore information about grow flowers , add these pathfinder to your reading list next :
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Nan Schiller
