How to Care for Freesia After Blooming
As an elegant representative of bulbous flowers, Freesia is deeply loved by gardening enthusiasts for its unique flower posture and delicate fragrance. Scientific care after the flowers fade directly affects the quality of reblooming the following year, mastering the management secrets during the dormant period allows the bulbs to store ample energy.
One, Post-Flowering Pruning and Nutrient Management
1. Timing of Deadheading
When 80% of the flowers in the inflorescence have withered, you can start pruning, using a sterilized scissor to cut obliquely from 2cm below the base of the flower stem to avoid infection of the cut surface by sap. Remove yellow leaves while retaining healthy ones to ensure photosynthesis continues.
2. Accurate Water and Fertilizer Control
After pruning, switch to a care mode: reduce watering frequency to once a week, keeping the substrate slightly moist. Apply a phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer (N-P-K=5-15-30) every half month, combined with seaweed foliar fertilizer to promote bulb enlargement.
Two, Handling of Bulb Dormancy Period
1. Proper Bulb Lifting Techniques
When 70% of the leaves naturally turn yellow (about 6-8 weeks after flowering), choose a sunny day to lift the bulbs. Loosen the soil around 15cm outside the pot edge with a gardening铲, gently lift the bulb from the bottom, and shake off the attached soil, then place it in a shady place.
2. Scientific Storage Method
After 72 hours of drying in the shade, wrap the bulbs with a mixture of perlite and peat (1:3), pack them in a mesh bag and hang them in a well-ventilated environment with a temperature of 15-18°C and humidity of 40%. Check for mildew every month and promptly remove any bulbs with lesions.
Three, Key Points of Bulb Replanting Techniques
1. Geographical and Climatic Adaptation
Plant in early September in cold northern areas, and in late October in warm southern regions. A 30-day low-temperature (5°C) vernalization treatment can significantly improve the uniformity of flowering.
2. Optimization of Substrate Formula
Use a mixed substrate of decomposed leaf soil: river sand: vermiculite = 4:2:1, with planting depth maintaining twice the height of the bulb and a spacing of 8-10cm. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the roots and cover with pine bark to keep moisture.
By following a complete care cycle management, Freesia bulbs can be used continuously for 3-5 years. Mastering the three core aspects of post-flowering nutrient accumulation, dormant period storage, and replanting environment control allows this delicate fragrance to bloom year after year.