Freesia

[Call_Me_Bob]

i have some freesia bulbs. does anyone know how to get them to grow?

[Tindomul]

Interesting group. Natives of South Africa, grown for the great fragrance. In the Iris family. I await further responses. Where did you get these from?

[Call_Me_Bob]

my mom. she had some she bought when they were in flower, and then she forgot about them. she told me i could have the bulbs if i want them, and i do!. the smell is LOVELY

i didnt know they were in the iris family

[Izzie]

Philip (king of orchid growing) has helped me in the past. Perhaps he will chime in.

[camille1585]

Freesia are quite easy to grow (and easy to find in france), we have some flowering every summer. we usually plant them in april (they can only tolerate temps down to about 25°F) in a light and well draining soil about 3in deep and about 4in apart. Plant them in the sun or light shade. They despise soils that stay wet too long, and usually the bulbs will rot. They usually flower for us in July-August. Once all the leaves dry up in the fall, pull up the bulbs and store them in a cool, dry and dark spot. They must be pulled up unless you live in an area that only gets light frosts during the winter.

They smell very nice too, sort of like jasmin.

[Call_Me_Bob]

what would be in the soil? alot of sand?

[camille1585]

Not necessarily a lot of sand. If you have heavy soil you can replace some with potting soil and a little sand mixed in. You can also grow these in pots otherwise.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Camille kinda beat me to the punch.

They're not difficult to grow here either. South Africa has a climate similar to ours here in Southern California.

They're winter "dormant". Leaves come out during the spring. They bloom for a short period of time during the summer months. The tubers grow underground during "dormancy".

Let the soil dry out between waterings.

Use a free draining potting mix. You can add stuff like pumice to the mix the loosen the humus up.

Crushed sandstone mixed with humus is the natural soil from South Africa. I think they grow in seasonal grasslands.

[Call_Me_Bob]

is it okay to have them potted all year round? and bring them in with my chids? i would have them in store-bought potting soil, is that okay? or would i need to add sand to that?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Add sand and pumice, then I think you're okay.