Florida Bulbs - Ask Extension
Hello. I brought some bulbs home from Florida. Don't know what they are, but they're growing. What do I do with them when it starts to get col...
Knowledgebase
Florida Bulbs #275413
Asked September 03, 2015, 2:46 PM EDT
Hello. I brought some bulbs home from Florida. Don't know what they are, but they're growing. What do I do with them when it starts to get cold here in Chesapeake?
ps: Got them from a dear family member. Having them here is like having a part of her here with us.
Thanks so much
Chesapeake County Virginia
Expert Response
Can you send a picture of the bulbs? <personal data hidden> We can then identify them and make the best recommendation.
For most tropical bulbs you can bring them in pots into the home. When/if the foliage starts to die down withhold water and let the pots dry out until you see new growth or start watering weekly in late winter/early spring.
If you have them planted in the ground some bulbs/corms like Caladiums you can dig up in fall when they start to die back or look bad. lay them out in the sun to dry any remaining foliage, knock off the soil and remove the dried foliage then store the bulbs/corms in shredded paper or sawdust in a cool area that doesn't freeze (best around 45F)
But again please do send pictures of the bulbs to me at <personal data hidden> and we can identify the plants.
Our office is at 310 Shea Drive, Chesapeake VA 23322 (planetarium building)
For most tropical bulbs you can bring them in pots into the home. When/if the foliage starts to die down withhold water and let the pots dry out until you see new growth or start watering weekly in late winter/early spring.
If you have them planted in the ground some bulbs/corms like Caladiums you can dig up in fall when they start to die back or look bad. lay them out in the sun to dry any remaining foliage, knock off the soil and remove the dried foliage then store the bulbs/corms in shredded paper or sawdust in a cool area that doesn't freeze (best around 45F)
But again please do send pictures of the bulbs to me at <personal data hidden> and we can identify the plants.
Our office is at 310 Shea Drive, Chesapeake VA 23322 (planetarium building)
Hello again. Not sure if you will get these photos. Not much to see yet. I put the small bulbs in the ground a couple months ago and the 'leaves' promptly died. To my surprise, the 'leaves' grew back. They are about 8" high and feel like soft, thin rubber. The actual flower is close to the clip art sample. Except, there were only four pale pink petals. One single flower (1.5 inches) per plant. I looked at hundreds flower images on the computer but the clip art sample is as close as I could find. These four little bulbs are very important to me. They came my Mother-In-Laws house. I dug them up when we were in Florida for her funeral. Funny, she said Florida was just too damn hot.
Hello again. Not sure if you will get these photos. Not much to see yet. I put the small bulbs in the ground a couple months ago and the 'leaves' promptly died. To my surprise, the 'leaves' grew back. They are about 8" high and feel like soft, thin rubber. The actual flower is close to the clip art sample. Except, there were only four pale pink petals. One single flower (1.5 inches) per plant. I looked at hundreds flower images on the computer but the clip art sample is as close as I could find. These four little bulbs are very important to me. They came my Mother-In-Laws house. I dug them up when we were in Florida for her funeral. Funny, she said Florida was just too damn hot.
I think they may be a Zephyranthes or rain lily bulb some of which are hardy outdoors here in the ground.
Here is a link with it in flower. 6-tepals not 5 though.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Zephyranthes_rosea.jpg
Here is a link with it in flower. 6-tepals not 5 though.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Zephyranthes_rosea.jpg
