Post a reply

Avatar for keithp2012
Oct 24, 2014 9:32 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
So I usually store my frost sensitive bulbs in my basement during winter. It's cool, but I have a dehumidifier running due to it being unfinished and we get occasional water leakage from rain. Last year my bulbs all dried out by spring and died, I kept them in a shelf in the dark. Am I supposed to put them in a sealed ziploc bag with something (ex. Dry potting soil or sawdust)? Should bag be airtight or open for ventilation?
Image
Oct 25, 2014 3:17 AM CST
Name: Jo Ann Gentle
Pittsford NY (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Heucheras Hellebores Container Gardener
Birds Region: New York Avid Green Pages Reviewer Irises Garden Ideas: Master Level Lilies
It depends on what type of bulb you are storing but I doubt any bulbs like a sealed containment. They have a tendency to rot from their own moisture if inclosed.
I have never had any luck with winter storage, maybe because our basement is too warm.
I had best luck with Asiatic lily bulbs in pots with potting soil , stored in my attached garage. These were in big boxes surrounded with wadded newspaper for insulation.
Image
Oct 25, 2014 5:09 AM CST
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Also curious what kinds of bulbs you're storing, some are sensitive and others store easily. Dahlia tubers are the only ones I've had trouble with.

Do you grow your tender bulbs in pots or in the ground?
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Image
Oct 27, 2014 3:33 PM CST
central Illinois
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2017
I usually store mine dry in their pots in basement w/ avg. temp around 60°.
Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.
Avatar for keithp2012
Oct 27, 2014 8:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
All tender ones are grown in pots.

Elephant ears, voodoo Lily, dahlia, amaryllis.
Image
Oct 28, 2014 4:50 AM CST
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
I've stored all of those except voodoo lily dry in pots successfully. Have never grown voodoo lily, but I believe dry in the pot would be good for those too.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Image
Oct 29, 2014 10:37 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Agreed since you had a problem with them drying too much before. If left in pots, you could give a small sip occasionally to prevent that, then repot in spring if needed.

Mine were usually in the ground for summer, when I used tender bulbs while in OH (same as Neil, all but the lily.) When digging them up to store in basement, I would leave most of the dirt that stuck to them, and sit clumps in open plastic bags (free and handles = easy to carry.) This also made it easy to give a small sip if they started looking too dry.

A shelf might not work as well as sitting on the floor, where it's colder.

Good luck for trying again!

To enable, you might also like these...
Cannas
Calla lilies
the potatoes of sweet potato vine
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for keithp2012
Oct 29, 2014 5:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Keith
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Zinnias Plays in the sandbox Roses Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener
Region: New York Native Plants and Wildflowers Lilies Seed Starter Spiders! Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Someone also mentioned peat moss in a brown paper Bag and one bulb per bag, and check monthly.
Image
Oct 30, 2014 8:14 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Yes, if you ask 10 people, you should get at least 6-7 different responses. Lots of options, depending on so many variables, styles...

That bag thing sounds like a lot of extra work (and expense) to me, as an opinion. I also wonder, how would one moisten them if they do seem dry? Would you open each bag and check? Peat becomes hydrophobic when thoroughly dry, making it very difficult to moisten again, and paper bags disintegrate if they get/stay moist. Knowing my style, I would expect myself to make a huge mess with that. Might work fabulously for others!

Whatever you choose, believing it will work can make a huge difference. Vibes matter!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.