How to Grow Freesia Bulbs

Freesias is an African native plant that can be grown at home under the right conditions, a lot of people actually think about freesias as wedding flowers and other floral arrangements. Freesias plants are available in a rainbow of colors, including red, pink, yellow and purple. A lot of people actually consider the pink and red flowers to have the headiest fragrance. The healthy Freesias plants will produce 5 to 7 tubular flowers per stem all actually pointing in one direction like fingers. The plant foliage is narrow and grass-like. Below is the basic information about Freesias plant;

The botanical name: The botanical name is Freesia spp.

The common name: The common name is Freesia.

The plant type:   The plant is perennial bulb.

The mature size: The mature size is about one to two feet tall.

The sun exposure: The plant prefers full sun to part sun.

The soil type: The plant does well in rich, moist, well-draining soil.

The soil pH: This should be  neutral.

The blooming time: The blooming time is spring, summer.

The flower color: The flower colors are white, pink, orange, red, yellow, purple blue.

Plant hardiness zones: USDA hardiness zones 9 to 10.

The native area: The plant is native to Africa. 

Freesias varieties

There are different varieties of Freesias. The following are the varieties if Freesias;

-         Freesia Belleville variety: The Freesia Belleville has double pure white flowers.

-         Freesia 'Golden Passion' variety: The 'Golden Passion' has yellow flowers with a high bud count per stem as many as ten flowers.

-         Freesia 'Oberon' variety: The Oberon has a brilliant red and yellow bicolor flower.

-         Freesia Royal Blue variety: This particular variety has a bright lavender flower with white throats and delicate purple veining.

How to grow Freesias bulb

Under normal condition Freesia bulbs enter their active growth phase during the fall, this simple means this is the best time to plant them. Just make sure you choose a sunny garden bed with soil that is rich but not heavy. Also a sandy garden loam amended with compost or humus is also good. The Freesia bulbs are small and they don’t require deep planting. Make sure you place them only about two inches deep with the pointed end facing up.

Furthermore, the Freesia plants will look best when they are grouped in at least 5 to 7. You can space the bulbs about three inches apart, and then water the planting area of the Freesia bulbs very well. The Freesia will start blooming about twelve weeks after planting the bulbs.

The Freesia plant stems are thin and they can’t always support the weight of the flower heads, most especially varieties that produce double blooms. The Freesia plant will need a grow-through staking system that has a grid to support the flowers and leaves, this will help to keep the plants upright. Actually the plant will appear to decline after is active blooming period. The Freesia plants are probably entering dormancy, they are not dying, and you don’t actually need to discard them. Once the plant foliage becomes yellows you can trim it off.

Light requirement

Like I said earlier Freesias bulbs grow best in full sun. On the other hand, the plant can also tolerate a planting location that gets a little morning shade. If you are growing the Freesia bulbs indoors, a sunny window that faces south is the best location.

Soil requirement

The best soil for freesia plants is well-draining soil. The soil can be amended with organic material, such as compost or peat moss in other to improve drainage. If you are planting in a container a regular potting mixes is ideal.

Water requirement

Make sure you keep the soil moist but not soggy as new sprouts are growing. You need to water the plants around once a week once they are flowering, after then reduce watering to allow the soil to dry out when the plant foliage turns yellow and begins to wilt.

Temperature and humidity requirement

Actually this plant are not cold-hardy flowers, freesia plants are typically planted in early spring as annuals in areas outside their growing zone. All the same freesias do need a nighttime temperature that is around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to form buds. If you don't actually have access to a cool greenhouse you can move the freesia plant in containers into an unheated garage or shed each night, this is important to promote the flowers. This plant prefers about 40% to 50% humidity.

Fertilizer requirement

Immediately the first sprouts emerge from the soil you can apply a balanced flower fertilizer. Make sure you keep the plants in full sun. You can fertilize them again when the buds appear.

Freesias Propagation

To propagate the freesia flowers dig up the dormant bulbs in the summer. You will actually notice the small bulbs forming as offsets from the main bulb. You need to gently remove them and then plant and care for them. Don’t forget that flowering might not start until one to two seasons later.

How to Grow Freesias in Containers

The Freesia plants does best as an individual specimen in containers because of their specific growing conditions and requirements. Make sure you select a container with adequate drainage holes, and then fill the container with well-draining potting mix. Make sure you plant the bulbs around two inches deep with the pointed end up. Also make sure you space them few inches apart. After that water the soil very well and then set the container where it will receive full sun. Make sure you keep the soil moist, and expect flowers around twelve weeks. 

Pest and disease control

Freesia plants are like any other plants that also face some pest and disease challenges. The following are the pest and disease that attack freesia plants.

-         Aphid on freesia plants: Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck the freesia plants causing the leaves and flowers to emerge twisted. Aphid’s insects on freesia plants are very simple to get rid off if you can spray or wipe them away daily until their population is gone. Ants sometimes farm on aphids, you can place these ants as baits nearby anytime you are plagued with aphids.

-         Slugs and snails on freesia plants: Slugs and snails can actually wreak havoc on your garden with their nighttime visits leaving chewed leaves and flowers behind. If you suspect these land-based mollusks just go out into the garden at night with a flashlight to confirm your suspicion, then begin to handpick as many as you can find. Also you can place a beer traps around your garden in shallow dishes, ensure you clean them daily. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the freesia plants can also help.

-         Bacterial soft rot on freesia plants: This particular disease is caused by bacterial infection. This disease will start out as tiny water-soaked spots on the leaves, the stems or blooms, then it will later enlarge and dry out, leaving a gray, black or brownish spot behind. Most times in a very wet conditions the sick freesia plants may also exude a brownish mass of bacteria. Actually there is very little you can do on the freesia plants once the disease has set in, but reducing moisture around the freesia plants with very mild infections can slow the progression. One of the best things to do is to discard or destroy any infected plants in other to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

-         Fusarium wilt in freesia: Fusarium wilt is one of the most frustrating garden diseases, this disease is incurable once it has started. This fungal pathogen lies dormant in the soil where the freesia plants is planted waiting for its chance to infect the plants. When the conditions are too wet or the freesia plants are overfertilized, you will begin to notice that your freesia plants will begin to wilt despite the sufficient care. The yellowing of leaves and the general decline that follows will lead to the death of the plant. Make sure you improve your garden drainage and solarize the soil and try again next year.