Freesia is a fragrant and graceful flower, which grows from a bulb. Freesia would make a beautiful addition to a bouquet, you most people grow freesia for display. Freesia can be grown in the ground or in a pot, and they flower about 12 weeks after planting. After freesia blooms, freesia will continue to flower for months.
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Part 1 of 3: Planting Freesia
Step 1. Decide when to plant your freesia
Freesia grows from tubers that must be planted at a certain time in order to grow well. Freesia growing season depends on which zone you live in. Refer to the growing zone finder map to determine when to plant freesia specific to the area where you plan to plant.
- Freesia are hardy in growing zones 9 and 10, meaning they will survive the winter in these warm areas. If you live in one of these zones, you should plant your freesia bulbs in early fall to give them time to grow roots and become established.
- If you live in a cooler growing area, freesia will die in winter, if you plant it in summer. You have to wait until early spring, after the last frost time has passed. That way the fragile bulbs will grow and survive.
Step 2. Choose bulbs that are large and dense
Freesia tubers are also known as corms (tubers), shaped like green onions. Buy them at the nursery the same day or just days away from the day you plan to plant them in the ground. If you live in a cooler growing area, wait until spring to buy freesia bulbs.
Step 3. Prepare the planting medium
Choose a place that gets full sun. Freesia will not thrive in the shade. Freesia requires full sun to grow well and has a long flowering season. Choose a planting spot that gets at least eight hours of full sun a day. The soil should be moderately fertile, but you usually don't need to improve soil conditions to change the pH (acidity). However, freesias need well-draining soil. Freesia needs a lot of water, and if water stagnates around the tubers and roots, it can cause them to rot.
- Once you have selected an area to plant, check for drainage by digging a hole and filling the hole with water. If the water is sitting in the hole and draining very slowly, you will need to find another place or add material to the soil to help it drain better.
- If you choose a planting site with poor drainage, loosen the soil to a depth of 30 cm and mix with compost, peat, or other organic matter to raise the bottom of the dug up to 7.5 cm.
Step 4. Plant the tubers
Dig holes 2, 5 or 5 cm deep, 7, 5 to 10 cm apart from each other. Place the freesia bulb with the pointed end up in the hole. Cover the tubers with soil and pat gently, then water thoroughly. Shoots will appear in two to three weeks.
Step 5. Consider planting in a pot
If you want to grow freesia in pots, choose a pot with sufficient drainage holes and fill it with planting media in standard pots. Plant the bulbs 5 cm apart from each other 5 cm deep. Place the pot indoors after planting, and move it to a place with full sun when the plant begins to sprout.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Freesia
Step 1. Fertilize the freesia shoots
When you see the first shoots appear, you can help them start growing well by feeding them a fertilizer rich in ash salt, such as comfrey pellets. Spread the pellet near the base of the shoot and press it gently into the soil. This step isn't necessary, but it can be helpful if the soil you live in isn't very fertile.
Step 2. Attach the stake to the plant as it starts to grow tall
When they reach a height of 15 to 20 cm, freesias need support to keep them from falling. Attach small stakes to each plant, and slowly lean the freesias against the posts. Check the stumps regularly to make sure they provide adequate support to the plant.
Step 3. Water the freesia during the growing season
Since freesia is grown in full sun, the soil will dry out quickly. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, during the growing season. After about 120 days, the freesia will flower. Continue watering well until the flowers disappear, at which time you can reduce watering until the plant dies and falls.
- Water the freesia in the morning, so that the soil where it grows will dry before nightfall. If water stays around the plant overnight, mold can begin to grow.
- Water around the base of the freesia, it is better than watering the leaves and flowers, so that the plant does not cook in the hot sun.
Step 4. Wait for the leaves to turn yellow before removing them
After the flowers have disappeared, let the leaves continue to grow. Wait for the leaves to turn yellow before removing them. The leaves will continue to provide energy to the plant until it dies. The stored energy will help freesia grow strong next year.
- After the time of the first frost, "lift" the freesia by cutting the leaves and stems to 2.5 cm from the ground.
- This step is not necessary if you live in a hot area and the freesia leaves never turn yellow and die.
Step 5. Dry the tubers or leave them in the ground
If you don't live in a zone 8 or 9 planting area, you'll need to dig up the bulbs and let them dry over the winter, then replant in the spring. Otherwise, the tubers will not survive the winter. Dig up the tubers and store them in a cool, dry place for the winter, then replant them after the last frost has passed.
In the warmer climates of planting zones 8 and 9, you can leave the bulbs in the ground. The plants will reappear in the spring, having survived the winter
Part 3 of 3: Cutting Freesia
Step 1. Cut freesia at the peak of its flowering
Freesia plants will continue to flower after cutting, so there's nothing wrong with cutting and bringing the flowers to enjoy indoors. Use a sharp knife to cut and cut diagonally toward the base of the stalk, leaving the stalk a few inches.
- Do not use scissors to cut freesia, as the scissors pinch the stem instead of cutting it neatly. A neat cut will ensure the freesia lasts a long time, and does minimal damage to the freesia plant.
- Freesia in a pot can also be cut. Avoid bringing the entire pot indoors, because without enough sunlight the freesia will die.
Step 2. Provide clean water and waste food
Freesia can last up to weeks if you feed them flowers. Fill a vase with clean water and add a packet of flower food from the nursery. Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon of sugar syrup to provide food for the flowers. Add food every time you change the water, this can be done every few days.
Step 3. Keep the vase bacteria free
Another way to ensure flowers last a long time is to use very clean vases without residue from previous flowers. Just a little bit of bacteria can cause flowers to rot much faster. Additionally, in addition to using a clean vase and changing the water every few days, try adding a teaspoon of bleach to the water before you change it. Bleach will kill bacteria and keep flowers fresh much longer than if you didn't use bleach.
Tips
- A good way to make sure your outdoor soil is well drained is to look at it a few hours after it rains. Any area where the water is stagnant is not a good area for growing freesia.
- If insects bother you, avoid using chemicals, as this will damage the flowers. It's best to just use a fly trap or just take the insects out of the plant manually.
- Freesia does not grow well in hot climates.
- Two bamboo poles 60.96 cm high are very good to be used as pillars to support the freesia. Secure the freesia stems with twine or thick twine.
- The flowering period can be extended by placing the plant in a cool place.
- Always plant freesia bulbs with the small ends facing up.
- In order to bloom beautifully in January, start planting freesia in pots in August and September.
- Consider installing a fence to keep pests away from plants.
- Do not store tubers in a closed container or wrap it too tightly, as this will rot the roots.
