Brilliant for their gorgeous spring colours, bulb flowers will bring joy to every green thumb, in far more ways than one.
And it’s the season right now to plant these special flowers.
Bulbs are a surprisingly tough, set-and-forget plant which will thrive in pots and in all types of soil.
They can be grown successfully across most of Australia, except for the far north.
For pre-planting preparation, make sure you select the healthiest bulbs you can find and plant them straight away or store in a cool dark place.
To flower at their best in spring, bulbs need a period of chilled weather, or similarly, a cool position.
Gardeners in warmer or sub-tropical climates will therefore need to force their bulbs to cool down by placing them in the vegetable crisper section of the fridge for six to eight weeks before planting.
Planting bulbs upside down is an easy mistake to make. The general rule of thumb is to always plant bulbs with their “pointy” end upwards.
The exceptions are the unusual ranunculus, which should be planted with their “claws” facing downwards, and anemone “corms” which can go in any way as they have no distinct tops or bottoms.
Planting depth is crucial as well and it’s different for every bulb.
But generally speaking, plant bulbs to a depth of twice their height.
Cooler climate bulbs will enjoy plenty of sunlight but be more careful in warmer areas and ensure they don’t catch the harsher afternoon sun.
Always allow all bulbs to die back naturally at the end of spring, without cutting back any dead foliage.
Bulbs growing in areas with mild winters will need to be lifted out of the soil and stored somewhere cool before planting again in autumn.
In cooler climates they can stay in pots or the soil all year round and, with a lifespan of several years, they will multiply and flower again every spring.
However, every few years, even these bulbs will have to be lifted and separated before being planted again.