Bulbous plant’s Guide and FAQs
Posted: September 7th, 2013, 4:30 pm
I have been reading, consulting and asking friends, educational intuitions and professionals for a better understanding of bulbous plants and I was trying to understand their behaviour, life cycle and climatic requirements with regards to our weather conditions.
I have read University’s published papers and also interacting (asking) those who studied, learned and practising/serving in this industry, my friend’s brother did his PHD in Agronomy from New Zealand and he is serving in Pakistan and another friend of mine is from Nepal and after completion of his education he served in Government intuitions and now settled in UK, and how can I forget to mention about Gardening Pakistan, I learned a lot from this forum and the members, thanks all.
By posting this thread, I’m not trying to give an impression that it has not been done before, all the information is available but I’m just trying to compile all the scattered information under one heading and I hope it would be a little help for beginners like myself.
I have been working on this document for a long time hence it’s a bulky document but very easy to understand, I can say one thing for sure, after reading this document you will be having a good understanding for a bulbous plant.
Contents
• What is a Bulb?
• Different types of bulbs.
• Difference between bulbs.
• Hardiness.
• Planting guide.
• Storing bulbs
• FAQ
What is A Bulb?
A flower bulb is really an underground storehouse and flower factory. Within the bulb is just about everything the plant will need to sprout and flower at the appropriate time. Split a bulb in half and you will see this clearly.
In the basal centre portion of the bulb are the leaves cradling a baby bud. (In many species, this bud already has the appearance of a flower while still in the bulb!) Surrounding the bud is a white meaty substance called the scales. In true bulbs, it is these scales which contain all the food the bulb will need to flower and thrive. Anchoring the scales and the floral stalk which holds the bud is the basal plate. This plate at the bottom of the bulb also holds the roots of the plant. The entire package is protected by a thin outer skin called the tunic.
This entire remarkable organism needs from humans is to be placed in the ground at the appropriate season of the year, given a liberal drink of water and then left alone. The bulb does the rest!
Different types of Bulbs (Bulb, Rhizome, Scally Bulb, Corm, Tuber, Pseudo Bulb, and Fleshy Roots)
Bulb
There are two types of true bulbs, tunicate and scally bulbs. The onion is typical of a tunicate bulb. This bulb is made up of concentric layers fleshy leaves, held together by the basal plate. The basal plate is a small crown that contains one or more shoots for the next season's growth. It is also where roots are formed. The tunic or skin is made up of old leaf bases. It not only protects the bulb from mechanical damage, but prevents it from losing water while dormant. Bulbs that form new roots every year (for example, Daffodils) should be stored dry, but those that have roots that persist from year to year, such as Hippeastrum, should be stored in saw dust or wood shavings. Care must be taken when planting and storing these bulbs that the roots are not damaged.
Certain bulbs use up all their food reserve to flower and grow and recreates a new bulb from the food stored from the current season's growth. Examples are several species of Allium and Daffodils. Others only use up fraction of the reserves, and the bulb gets bigger every year, for example, Hippeastrum. Propagation is either by seed or by detaching small bulbs (bulblets) produced on the side of the mother bulb. Certain species produce bulblets on the flowering stem or all along leaf axils of the stem (bulbil), for example, certain Lillium species. Propagation is also possible from detached scales.
Scally Bulb
Lily is an example of a scally bulb. In these bulbs, circular rows of swollen scales, packed loosely, store food for the next season's growth. As these bulbs lack a tunic, they can be easily damaged while being handled, and must not be stored completely dry.
Corm
A corm looks and functions like a bulb but fundamentally different from a bulb. It is made up of a swollen stem base of a shoot, wrapped with tunic from old leaf bases. There can be one of more growth eyes on the top of the corm. When growth starts, the old corm withers away and a new corm is produced in its place, on top of the old corm. Some corms produce numerous little corms (cormel) at the base of the new corm. These will germinate and grow into new plants, but may take several years to flower. Certain corms, for example Freesia, will produce corms along leaf axils of the flowering stem. Other examples of corm forming plants are Sparaxis and Gladiolus.
Most corms should be stored completely dry or they will rot.
I have read University’s published papers and also interacting (asking) those who studied, learned and practising/serving in this industry, my friend’s brother did his PHD in Agronomy from New Zealand and he is serving in Pakistan and another friend of mine is from Nepal and after completion of his education he served in Government intuitions and now settled in UK, and how can I forget to mention about Gardening Pakistan, I learned a lot from this forum and the members, thanks all.
By posting this thread, I’m not trying to give an impression that it has not been done before, all the information is available but I’m just trying to compile all the scattered information under one heading and I hope it would be a little help for beginners like myself.
I have been working on this document for a long time hence it’s a bulky document but very easy to understand, I can say one thing for sure, after reading this document you will be having a good understanding for a bulbous plant.
Contents
• What is a Bulb?
• Different types of bulbs.
• Difference between bulbs.
• Hardiness.
• Planting guide.
• Storing bulbs
• FAQ
What is A Bulb?
A flower bulb is really an underground storehouse and flower factory. Within the bulb is just about everything the plant will need to sprout and flower at the appropriate time. Split a bulb in half and you will see this clearly.
In the basal centre portion of the bulb are the leaves cradling a baby bud. (In many species, this bud already has the appearance of a flower while still in the bulb!) Surrounding the bud is a white meaty substance called the scales. In true bulbs, it is these scales which contain all the food the bulb will need to flower and thrive. Anchoring the scales and the floral stalk which holds the bud is the basal plate. This plate at the bottom of the bulb also holds the roots of the plant. The entire package is protected by a thin outer skin called the tunic.
This entire remarkable organism needs from humans is to be placed in the ground at the appropriate season of the year, given a liberal drink of water and then left alone. The bulb does the rest!
Different types of Bulbs (Bulb, Rhizome, Scally Bulb, Corm, Tuber, Pseudo Bulb, and Fleshy Roots)
Bulb
There are two types of true bulbs, tunicate and scally bulbs. The onion is typical of a tunicate bulb. This bulb is made up of concentric layers fleshy leaves, held together by the basal plate. The basal plate is a small crown that contains one or more shoots for the next season's growth. It is also where roots are formed. The tunic or skin is made up of old leaf bases. It not only protects the bulb from mechanical damage, but prevents it from losing water while dormant. Bulbs that form new roots every year (for example, Daffodils) should be stored dry, but those that have roots that persist from year to year, such as Hippeastrum, should be stored in saw dust or wood shavings. Care must be taken when planting and storing these bulbs that the roots are not damaged.
Certain bulbs use up all their food reserve to flower and grow and recreates a new bulb from the food stored from the current season's growth. Examples are several species of Allium and Daffodils. Others only use up fraction of the reserves, and the bulb gets bigger every year, for example, Hippeastrum. Propagation is either by seed or by detaching small bulbs (bulblets) produced on the side of the mother bulb. Certain species produce bulblets on the flowering stem or all along leaf axils of the stem (bulbil), for example, certain Lillium species. Propagation is also possible from detached scales.
Scally Bulb
Lily is an example of a scally bulb. In these bulbs, circular rows of swollen scales, packed loosely, store food for the next season's growth. As these bulbs lack a tunic, they can be easily damaged while being handled, and must not be stored completely dry.
Corm
A corm looks and functions like a bulb but fundamentally different from a bulb. It is made up of a swollen stem base of a shoot, wrapped with tunic from old leaf bases. There can be one of more growth eyes on the top of the corm. When growth starts, the old corm withers away and a new corm is produced in its place, on top of the old corm. Some corms produce numerous little corms (cormel) at the base of the new corm. These will germinate and grow into new plants, but may take several years to flower. Certain corms, for example Freesia, will produce corms along leaf axils of the flowering stem. Other examples of corm forming plants are Sparaxis and Gladiolus.
Most corms should be stored completely dry or they will rot.