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Garden Joy Flower Bulbs

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Upon arrival

Open all cartons/crates immediately after arrival, as the bulbs need fresh air. Do not store the bulbs in closed boxes, as this will create condensation and cause the roots to rot. Always check bulbs directly after arrival and take notes of possible problems. If there are any problems, be sure to contact your sales representative immediately. If bulbs cannot be planted immediately, they should be stored in a dry, ventilated, dark, cool location, preferably at a temperature around 50-60ºF. All bulbs should be planted in autumn to bloom next spring.

Plant Location

Both sunlight and drainage are essential for the performance of your flower bulbs. Bulbs need ample sunshine to store energy to flower in spring. A lot of varieties can be planted under deciduous trees. These varieties will satisfy their light needs before the trees leaf out. Variety-specific light needs can be found in the following pages. Never plant bulbs in a location where water collects. This may cause bulbs to rot or freeze. We advise improving heavy soil areas by digging in organic matter such as compost.

Planting and Maintenance

Don’t worry too much about which end is up on a bulb. Roots will grow down and shoot up. Excavate the area you want to plant and loosen up the soil on the bottom. Drop the bulbs in the bed or hole and replace the soil. It is important to plant at the correct depth, directly after planting the bulbs water thoroughly if the soil is dry. Then, do not water until the soil starts to become dry or is on the dry side of moist. Take a small sample of soil in your hand; if it doesn’t form a ball but crumbles, you need to water it. Stop watering after the bulbs bloom. Please read the special planting instructions per variety on the next pages.

Fertilizing

The bulbs we ship already have a flower ready for next spring; there is no need to fertilize for one year's use. If you want your bulbs to naturalize, you could fertilize them in early spring and next fall. Contrary to what some may think, modern-day bone meal is not a good, complete fertilizer. Most bone meal today has been so thoroughly processed that much of the essential nutrients have been literally boiled out. Also, dogs and other critters can sniff it out and will be tempted to dig. We have a special bulb fertilizer available for naturalizing plantings. Please contact our customer service for more information.

What to do after your bulbs bloomed

Most of our customers remove bulbs right after they have bloomed. They will fill the beds with annuals, etc. It is possible to keep the bulbs in the ground for another spring. A lot of spring flowering bulbs will go dormant in summer/winter and will return next spring. If you want to leave the bulbs in the ground, make sure you do not cut the leaves. The foliage needs to die back naturally in order to store energy for next spring. In the case of Tulips, it will help to remove the seed heads to encourage the bulb to flower again next year.

Outdoor Varieties

 Group  Planting Depth  Sun  Remarks
 Allium  Scan the QR code on the bag  Full Sun  Plant in full sun and well-drained soil, preferably sandy soil.
 Anemone  2" deep  Half Sun  Prefers a partly shaded location, will tolerate full sun in northern regions.
 Camassia   6” deep  Full Sun  Will thrive in damp, even wet soil. Cut back leaves when completely yellow.
 Chionodoxa  3” deep  Half – Full Sun  Can be naturalized by letting seeds disperse after blooming.
 Crocus  3” deep  Half – Full Sun  For earliest bloom put in a protected, sunny location.
 Daffodils  Scan QR code on bag  Full Sun  Daffodils face the prevailing direction of the light they receive.
 Eranthis  2” deep  Half Sun  If left undisturbed Eranthis will seed itself out.
 Erythronium  4” deep  Half Sun  Prefers an evenly moist woodsy soil. Use compost or leaf mold in your soil.
 Fritillaria imperialis  6” deep  Full Sun  Prefers a sandy soil with plenty of compost or leaf mold. Fertilize in early spring.
 Fritillaria meleagris  4” deep  Half Sun  Plant in partial shade and evenly moist soil.
 Galanthus  3” deep  Half Sun  Plant as soon as possible. Might show leaves in fall but will flower in early spring.
 Hyacinthoides  4” deep  Half – Full Sun  Good naturalizer, will seed out when left undisturbed.
 Hyacinths  5” deep  Full Sun  Wear gloves when handling. Hyacinths may irritate your skin.
 Iris  3” deep  Full Sun  Plant carefully, try not to damage the fresh Iris.
 Leucojum  6” deep  Half – Full Sun  Snowflakes are naturally found in damp meadows on river banks.
 Muscari  3” deep  Half – Full Sun  Might show leaves in fall but will flower in early spring. Little blue mold is normal.
 Puschkinia  3” deep  Half – Full Sun  Undemanding bulbs, make sure soil is well- drained
 Scilla  3” deep  Half – Full Sun  Good naturalizer, will seed out when left undisturbed.
 Tulips  Scan QR code on bag  Full Sun  If you are not looking for a perfect display but several years of returning flowers; plant 2“ deeper, fertilize in early spring, remove the spent flowers, let foliage wither completely and avoid summer irrigation.

 

Indoor Varieties

Amaryllis

Plant each bulb in a 6 or 7 inch pot. Use any commercial potting mix and keep 1/3 of the bulb above soil level. Water thoroughly after planting, water sparingly until growth is clearly underway, then water thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry. Put the pot inside in a sunny spot and turn the pot every once in a while for even growth. A room temperature between 60 and 75 ºF is ideal. The warmer the room, the faster the growth. In an average room, flowers will appear 8-10 weeks after planting.

Paperwhites

Use any type of pot, at least 3 inches deep. Use any commercial potting mix, set the bulbs closely together and leave just the necks exposed. Water thoroughly after planting, water sparingly until growth is clearly underway, then water thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry. Preferably use a draining pot. If the bulbs sit in the water, they may rot. Place the bulbs in a cool spot for approximately 2 weeks (50 ºF) and move them to a warmer, sunny spot when shoots emerge from the bulbs. Rotate the container frequently as flowers lean towards the sunlight. Support the flowers if necessary. Paperwhites generally bloom 5-6 weeks after planting.

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