| Care of of bulb after planting outside for summer I want to restart it....How big a pot should it go into and should the root be trimmed off...? |
| Usually the bulb is rested for about 8 weeks prior to being replanted. You can leave it in the container to rest, or you can uproot it. Keep it dry and cool, but not cold. Some people set it in a dark cool closet, for example. Once the foliage has browned, trim it off. Also trim the roots once they have completely shriveled. If some are still firm after the resting period you can plant it with those intact, shorten them a bit if necessary to fit the pot. You would use a relatively small pot, just an inch or two wider than the bulb itself, along with a well drained potting mix. Plant the bulb very high so that a third of it is above the soil line. Place it in a bright location. Water only lightly until it comes into active growth again, then water a bit more and fertilize with a water soluble fertilizer such as 10-10-10 plus minors. Once the blooms are faded, trim off the bloom stem by cutting it at the base.Your goal is to keep the foliage growing vigorously all summer so it can replenish the bulb. I hope this helps. |
