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another newbie question - freesias
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Posted by ann_in_houston z9 Houston (My Page) on Fri, Apr 28, 06 at 10:23
I bought some freesia bulbs through the mail and I wonder if they are going to mature and bloom or not. I planted them according to the directions on the bags, but the foliage doesn't look like the ones in the pictures on the site. It looks like tall blades of grass. I don't see any signs of stems or further growth of any kind. I know you have to be patient, but the site also says they bloom in the spring. Does that mean they have all of May before it isn't spring anymore? I just hope I didn't get gypped. Does this sound right to those of you who grow freesias? I will post this on the bulb forum as well. TIA
Ann |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: another newbie question - freesias
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| I forced freesia this winter, so I'll share my experience. Yes, the leaves look like blades of grass. Mine were very floppy and dangled over the sides of the container. I'm not sure if they were supposed to look like that or if it was a result of growing it indoors. Freesias take a long time to flower once you've started the bulbs. You should look it up, but I think it is something like 90 days. Mine are flowering now, and I started them in January or so (can' remember). When it is time for them to flower, they will send up a "stem," at the tip of which your blooms will emerge. My flower stems were floppy too, like the leaves. The fragrance is terrific! Kind of lemony. |
RE: another newbie question - freesias
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| Thanks, that's very encouraging. The floppiness of the leaves was part of what was worrying me. Mine are outside, and it sounds like ours are behaving much the same way. Mine were planted in early March, so I hope it wasn't too late. I don't know how the timing works for bulbs. I do know that the nursery didn't ship them until late February, so I thought it was the right timing. We'll see, I guess. Thanks again. |
RE: another newbie question - freesias
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| These normally bloom in winter and early spring in warmer areas that have them in the ground. Since you planted later, they'll come up later but hopefully will be back on schedule next year. They don't like heat so you can bet they'll complain to you when they do bloom that first time this year! LOL I know when my potted ones finally bloomed that first time in June/July here, I had them in the shade! They are cool temperature-prefering subtropicals. |
RE: another newbie question - freesias
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| I grew them with ease in Phoenix AZ but they won't live through winter here in Portland OR. :( Love the fragrance and the potted ones sold as gift plants don't ever last long. |
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