Happy Spring

 

Lilies, Hyacinths, and Tulips 

Spring Bulbs are showing up in the stores in full bloom.  They are beautiful and fill our homes with promise of the summer months to come.  With Easter coming so early, the lilies, hyacinths and tulips are the ones we will see the most of and  I thought we should talk briefly about these and how to care for them.

Lilies 

The lily is a tribe of plants called Lilium.  It has 2 large families called Oriental and Asia.  The lily that I have pictured here is called a Stargazer Lily and has become very popular over the years.  It is a  hybrid Lilium Oriental and is known for it's fragrant smell.  This lily usually blooms in the mid to late summer so if you have received one as a gift, there may be a possibility that you can get it to bloom again in the fall.

First you will have to let the plant complete the blooming. This plant wants full sun and will need to be put there to help feed the bulb.  With fertilizer, the blub may continue to bloom for a long time.  When it starts to look bad, stop watering and force the bulb into dormancy.  We have spoken before about how a bulb needs to rest so you know what to do.  If this is the first time you are reading my blog, cut off the faded greens and let the bulb rest in a shady area.

You can make your bulb bloom again inside but if you have a garden go ahead and plant it outside.  Lilies are hardy from zone 5 to zone 9.

Hyacinths 

The other heavy scented flower that you will see at this time of year is the hyacinth.  It's Latin name is Hyacinthum but you will rarely see this used.  It is a true spring bloomer and is easy to start from bulbs that you will buy in fall. 

If you get a hyacinth as a gift, give it lots of sun and do not over water it.  Plants that are over watered may collapse from the weight of their flowers. 

I have read that you cannot get a hyacinth bulb to bloom again but I have seen them bloom many times when planted in the garden.  This probably because they are fertilized when they are in the garden.  If you want to try to get a hyacinth blub to rebloom you will have to be sure that you fertilize.  The best time to do this is after the bloom and before the greens fade.  After they fade you can cut off the greens and repot in fresh soil.  The blub should be planted 3x the size deep and in soil that has good drainage.  Keep in a cool place and do not water until you see new growth. 

Tulips

Of all the flowers that you may receive as a gift this is one of the few that I will tell you to enjoy and then forget about it.  A tulip will continue to grow as it ages and so if you are picking you own tulips choose one with short stems.  Most of the tulips you will buy in bloom will have been forced. and it b is not one that you can easily rebloom after it has been forced.  If you want to keep the tulip bulbs you can find a place in your garden where they can regenerate unnoticed.  It will take two to three years before you see blossoms again.

 
I hope that this posting has answered any questions you may have.  If you have more, please post it here or email me at houseplantsos@gmail.com . I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,
kkjones