Houseplant Care

Caring for Tender Bulbs

Houseplant Care

Rupert Foxton-Smythe
June 22, 2020
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Discover the secrets to caring for tender bulbs and enjoy a year-round display of vibrant blooms in your home and garden.

Some of the most popular house plants are grown from tender bulbs.

Key Information:

Some of the most popular house plants are grown from tender bulbs. By keeping to their natural cycle of rest and growth, you’ll get colourful blooms year after year. By choosing carefully, you can have tender bulbous house plants in flower all year round. On the patio, tender bulbs add late summer and autumn colour, to follow the early summer colour of herbaceous perennials.

Bulbs store food and water during a plant’s active growth, so it can survive a long period of rest, or dormancy. If you feed and water a bulb all year round, you’re not being kind but preventing dormancy and harming the plant.

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How bulbs work

Bulbs store food and water during a plant’s active growth, so it can survive a long period of rest, or dormancy. If you feed and water a bulb all year round, you’re not being kind but preventing dormancy and harming the plant.

The annual cycle usually consists of growing leaves, flowering, dying back, resting and starting up again. Exceptions include Hippeastrum and Nerine flexuosa, which flower before leaves appear; and Scarborough Lily and some Haemanthus, which are evergreen.

Not all bulbs grown as house plants are tender— plants such as Hyacinth, Tulip and Daffodil are grown from hardy bulbs. If you have bulbs of which you are unsure, check with a nursery.

Potting and repotting

The best time to pot dormant bulbs varies from plant to plant, and also according to whether natural or forced flowering is wanted. Pot up specially prepared Christmas-flowering Hippeastrum in early November; in December, for flowers in late winter; and in February, for flowers in spring. Pot Cape Cowslip, Nerine flexuosa and Scarborough Lily in summer, most Haemanthus in spring, Sprekelia in February, and Easter Lily and Forest Lily in autumn.

Use a soil-based potting mixture, and pots just large enough to hold the bulb. For large bulbs, such as Hippeastrum, use a 12.5-15cm (5—bin) pot. For small bulbs, such as Cape Cowslip, plant 5 or 6 in a 12.5cm (5in) pot.

Haemanthus, Sprekelia, Cape Cowslip, Nerine flexuosa and Scarborough Lily like their ‘necks’ above the potting mixture. Leave the top half of Hippeastrum and Forest Lily bulbs exposed. Cover Easter Lilies with 5cm (2in) of potting mixture, and keep dark, cold and just moist until growth appears.

Most bulbs flower best when slightly pot-bound, so repot every 3-4 years. Between repottings, top-dress Hippeastrum and Haemanthus when starting into growth. Carefully scrape away the top 1.5cm (1/2in) of potting mixture, and replace with fresh.

Watering

Bulbs never like being waterlogged, even in full growth. Let the potting mixture dry out a little between waterings, but give Easter Lily, Forest Lily and Cape Cowslip steadily moist potting mixture. Use tepid, not cold, water. After flowering, water moderately until the leaves start to turn yellow, then gradually reduce watering. During dormancy, water very sparingly—just enough to keep the bulb from shrivelling. Evergreen bulbs need a bit more water when resting, and keep Forest Lily bone-dry. To start bulbs into growth, water sparingly until growth is well under way, then gradually increase the watering.

Feeding

Feed most bulbs every 2 weeks when actively growing. Start 2 weeks after the first full watering, and continue until after flowering, then switch to a potash-high fertilizer for 6-8 weeks, or until the leaves start to die back. Start feeding Hippeastrum after flowering and continue feeding until the autumn.

Propagating bulbs

Most bulbs naturally produce offsets, or bulblets. These emerge from around the base of the mother bulb and gradually become small bulbs. The easiest way to make more plants is to remove the bulblets when repotting, and pot them up separately. Treat as you would the mother plant, but it may take a couple of years for the bulblets to reach flowering size. This is still quicker than raising from seed, which can take up to five years.

Planting bulbs

Cover Easter Lily hulk with 5cm (2in) of compost. Hippeastrum and Forest Lilies like to be half-exposed, while Cape Cowslip, and Scarborough Lily like only their necks exposed.

Potting large bulbs

To flesh out shrivelled roots of Hippeastrum, soak them overnight in a shallow dish of water. This will also help to promote growth in the bulb. Plant a Hippeastrum bulb in soil-based compost in a pot just large enough for it. Provide broken pot rubble in the base of the pot for good drainage.

Bulbs to consider

Summer

Forest Lily ( Veltheimia)
Nerine (Nerine flexuo.sa)
Amaryllis
Easter Lily (Lillian longi(larion)
Guernsey Lily (Nerine surniensis)
Pineapple Flower
Sea Lily (Ptincratilim)
Spider Lily
Sprekelia
Summer Hyacinth (Cialtonia)

Winter

Cape Cowslip (Lachenalia)

Spring

Cape Cowslip
Easter Lily (Lilium longillorum)
Forest Lily (Veltheimia) Haemanthus Hippeastrum

Autumn

Haemanthus
Scarborough Lily (Valium)
Summer
Easter Lily
Scarborough Lily

Haemanthus, or Blood Lily, can be made to flower between spring and autumn. It must be grown from seed.

The very popular Narcissus can be propagated by rooting the bulbs either on moist pebbles or in potting compost.

I managed to keep my Easter Lily alive, but the second year’s flowers were disappointingly small. What did I do wrong?

Nothing. It is better to discard or plant Easter Lilies in the garden after forcing, as they can’t be forced again.

My friend’s Hippeastrum flowers much earlier than mine everyyear. Why?

The warmer the room, the earlier you can start it into growth. For Christmas flowering, 21°C (70°F) is needed; for late winter flowering, 13°C (55°F); and for spring flowering, 10°C (50°F).

More Information on Caring for Tender Bulbs

Caring for Tender Bulbs: A Guide to Beautiful Blooms

Tender bulbs are a popular choice for houseplants, offering vibrant blooms year after year when their natural growth cycle is properly maintained. By understanding the needs of these bulbous plants, you can enjoy a continuous display of colors and fragrances in your home or on your patio.

One crucial aspect of caring for tender bulbs is to respect their dormant period. These bulbs store essential nutrients and water during their active growth phase, allowing them to survive extended periods of rest. It’s important not to overfeed or overwater them throughout the year, as this can disrupt their natural cycle and harm their overall health.

The annual cycle of tender bulbs typically involves stages of leaf growth, flowering, dying back, resting, and regrowth. However, some varieties, like Hippeastrum and Nerine flexuosa, bloom before their leaves appear, while others, such as Scarborough Lily and certain Haemanthus species, remain evergreen. It’s worth noting that not all houseplants grown from bulbs are tender; some, like Hyacinths, Tulips, and Daffodils, come from hardy bulbs.

Potting and repotting are essential steps in maintaining healthy tender bulbs. The ideal time to pot dormant bulbs varies depending on the plant and whether you desire natural or forced flowering. Use a soil-based potting mixture and select pots that are just large enough to accommodate the bulbs. For larger bulbs, like Hippeastrum, opt for 12.5-15cm (5-6in) pots, while smaller bulbs, such as Cape Cowslip, can be planted 5 or 6 in a 12.5cm (5in) pot.

Watering is a critical aspect of bulb care. While bulbs should never be waterlogged, it’s important to keep the potting mixture slightly moist. However, Easter Lily, Forest Lily, and Cape Cowslip prefer steadily moist soil. During dormancy, bulbs require minimal watering to prevent shrinkage. Evergreen bulbs have slightly higher water needs during their resting period, while Forest Lily prefers bone-dry conditions. Gradually increase watering as the bulbs enter the growth phase.

Feeding tender bulbs is crucial for their optimal growth and blooming. When actively growing, most bulbs benefit from regular feeding every two weeks. After the first full watering, start feeding and continue until after flowering. Switch to a potash-high fertilizer for 6-8 weeks or until the leaves begin to die back. Hippeastrum, in particular, should be fed after flowering and throughout autumn.

Propagation of tender bulbs is relatively easy, as many bulbs naturally produce offsets or bulblets. These small bulbs emerge from the base of the mother bulb and can be separated and potted individually during repotting. While it may take a couple of years for the bulblets to reach flowering size, this method is faster than growing from seed.

By understanding the unique requirements of tender bulbs and following proper care practices, you can enjoy a stunning array of blooms throughout the year. Remember to respect their dormancy, pot and repot them appropriately, provide adequate water and nutrients, and consider propagating them to expand your collection.

For more information on caring for tender bulbs, visit the http://www.houseplantsguru.com/caring-for-tender-bulbs.

About The Author:

Rupert Foxton-Smythe

Horticulturist and avid plant enthusiast.

Rupert Foxton-Smythe is a seasoned horticulturist and avid plant enthusiast with over three decades of experience in the field of botany. As a leading expert at Houseplant Guru, Rupert brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for all things green.

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Caring for Tender Bulbs