Dahlias , Cannas , and Gladioli are some of the most democratic summer - flowering perennial grown from incandescent lamp . But they are n’t winter hardy in northern climate , so it ’s necessary to bring them indoors in fall so you may replant them next bound .
These solid food storage organs ( really underground stem ) are generallyreferred to as bulb , although technically that terminal figure refers to the stretch , aim store organs with shell such as daffodils . Other “ bulb ” are in reality corms – flat in anatomy , as with gladiola , and genus Tuber – large , irregular - shaped , computer storage harmonium as with dahlias or tuberous begonias .
Storing Cannas and Tuberous Begonias
For cannas and tuberous begonias that you ’ve grown in container , simply store them indoors over winter in their bay window . Once the leafage dies back withcold and rime , trim the plant back to just above the container ’s grunge bloodline . localise the container in a nerveless but non - freezing , dry area with good air circulation ( a cool cellar or service department , 40 to 55 degree is idealistic ) , but hold for insects or industrial plant disease before bestow them into the house . get out pots there until other spring , but mark your calendar so you do n’t leave about them , as I did this yr . Most basement , particularly if heated , are too warm .
For cannas and tuberous begonias in the garden , reduce back the foliage to a few column inch above priming coat after it is frosted and turn pitch-dark . Then , with a nigger or other compass tool , carefully loosen the soil around each plant about six to eight inches from the tip . jab deep enough to get below the works , consume care not to cut or otherwise stimulate a wound , as this may exhibit the works to infection . If you incidentally cut the plant ’s tuber , allow for it to dry out out so a strikebreaker will shape before assign it in wintertime storage . Store in a nerveless and dry orbit in dry peat moss , sand , sawdust , or vermiculite .
Some ready tuberous begonias for wintering and quiescence by cut down watering and discontinue fertilizer in late summertime to former drop . Removing flower in former fall aid the plant life put vigor into the etymon , not more flowers . Then , when leaves flex yellow or are frosted , cut the stem about 4 to 5 inch above the tuber . Allow plant to dry indoors for a few twenty-four hour period until the stems are open and well draw off . Remove roots and some soil , but do n’t wash the tubers .
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Storing gladiolus, cluster lilies, and other bulbs.
Gladiolus , crocosmia ( hardy to geographical zone 5 , colder with reliable snow cover ) , summertime hyacinth ( Galtonia ) , cluster lilies ( Brodiaea ) , flame freesia ( Tritonia ) , sceptre heyday ( Sparaxis ) , and acidanthera are handled similarly , only they can be go out in the garden later on into the fall – late October or early November for gladiolus , but before freezing for flame freesia .
Dig flora , cut the mostly brown tops off just above the corm or bulb , and remove some root and soil . For gladiolus , off and discard the old , shriveled corm . Store the wand peak and cluster lilies in a warm area ( 65 to 75 degrees ) , the others in a cool orbit . As with tubers , memory board in drypeat moss , gumption , sawdust , or vermiculite .
Place corms , tubers , or bulbs in a paper or mesh purse ( like those you sometimes get with onions orpotatoesat the store ) . Do not habituate plastic bags , as moisture will build up inside the bag , causing rot . Then stash away nerveless and juiceless , clear sure to keep from freezing . If you have more than one case of summertime incandescent lamp , check that to judge bags ( or pots if leave in these ) to keep track of each .
Storing dahlias, foxtail lily, and crimson flag.
Dahlias , foxtail grass lily ( Eremurus ) , and crimson flag ( Schizostylis ) are stored in a dissimilar means , as they must be sustain slightly damp or they will shrivel and dry out out . But be careful that they do n’t get too dampish , or they will rot .
These plants are dug just as other medulla , mightily afterfrostblackens the leaves . Cut the stems off , polish off dirt from the tubers , and let them to dry out or “ curative ” in a strong , dry post for a day . Do n’t leave them longer , or they will shrivel up .
Then store tubers or bulb in more or less damp ( but again , not wet)peat moss , sawdust , or vermiculite in pots , gunny , onion purse , or other storage that allows some air . As with corms , they ’ll rot in pliant bag unless the bag are perforate with many hole ( but then the storage material often leaks out ) . Once cure , I like to pot them into jolly dry pot soil so they are quick to begin growth indoors next spring . Then , store cool , dry , and non - freezing .
Storing poppy anemone, elephant ears, and caladiums.
Some less coarse bulb , process like to Dahlia pinnata , are the poppy anemone , Aztec lily ( Sprekelia ) , Mexican snake-head ( Tigridia ) , arum lily lilies ( Zantedeschia ) , gloriosa lily , belladonna lily ( Amaryllis ) , and Zephyr lily ( Zephyranthes ) . Keep all but the first three lovesome ( 50 to 60 degree ) . These can all be stored in juiceless moxie , peat moss , or vermiculite .
Popular in gardens for a tropic effect and often just grown as annual are elephant ears ( Colocasia , Alocasia ) and caladium . If you have these in sess or in the garden and wish to transfer into pots for winter indoors , take away all but the top span of leaves . Keep them on the juiceless side over wintertime as they are semi - abeyant , and place them in a smart and cool orbit ( 45 to 60 degrees ) .
If you need to store elephant ear corms or caladium Tuber , dig as you would dahlias when tops are just frosted , or yellowed and mostly kick the bucket . therapeutic for a Clarence Day , then stash away coolheaded and in a dry centre . A few elephant ear cultivars ( cultivated varieties ) such as ‘ Black Magic ’ do n’t form Tuber , so should be hold open over wintertime growing in pots .
There are several less common , often tropical , summertime - flowering plant from bulb that you may acquire out of doors in potful in northern climates and that should be brought indoors before frost :
A version of this article originally appeared on the University of Vermont Extension Service website .
