Bulbs that will light up your greens

 Amarjeet Batth

Bulbs are valued for large showy flowers and beautiful foliage and are much easier to grow provided some basic garden activities are carried out regularly. These have short stems with fleshy leaves and underground storage. In larger spaces such as public parks and gardens, bulbs are traditionally planted in flowerbeds. When planting in flowerbeds, use one colour for visual harmony, synchronised bloom and uniform height. In a home garden, bulbs are grown along paths, pavements, in borders, or in groups. These are also very good pot plants but do not forget to rotate these periodically. If you have missed their plantation, now is the time to pick up from nurseries.

Spider lily

Known by the scientific name of crinum asiaticum, the tall bulbous perennials with strap-shaped leaves have scented spidery-looking pristine white flowers. Admired for their foliage as well floral beauty, these grow 6-8 inches across in a cluster of about 20 flowers or more.

• The plants, three to four feet tall, flourish in marshy areas in warm humid conditions (not water-logging) and are sensitive to extreme cold and dry weather.
• These are best suited for pots, borders, water bodies or as pool-side plants.
• Crinum bulbs are large, roundish, 12-16 inches in length with a long tapering neck.
• A stalk of flowers bloom for weeks, curving at the edge, some bell-shaped, some curved and some spidery-looking.
• Individual flowers last only for a few days but the whole flowering period unfurls over an extended period of time.
• Once the bloom is over, the plant does not die back. Wait for the new growth to appear, and then remove the old leaves. This is also the best time to repot the plant. Keep into consideration the size of the bulb.
• While planting, keep the tip of the bulb out of the soil. It is generally disease and pest-free bulbous plant.

Football lily

Scientifically known as haemanthus multiflorus, it is a 45-60 cm tall plant with oblong dark green smooth leaves. The football-like blood-red globular head is a multi-flowered umbel (flower cluster).

• A sunny spot with light and well-drained soil is best for its growth.
• It is a good idea to add leaf mould manure at the time of planting. Thereafter, it does well even without fertilisation.
• It is best suited for pots, borders and shrubberies.
• The bulbs are planted in February-March.
• These bloom once a year and the flowers last for 10 to 15 days.
• Keep the soil moist, but do not over water, else it can cause the rotting of the bulbs.
• Once the bloom is over, watering is withheld and the bulbs may lie buried in soil for years.
• In extreme winter, protect these from frost.
• The dormant bulbs should not be buried too deep in soil.
• Football lilies are deciduous, and not evergreen, so these should be allowed to rest. Multiplication is by division of bulb.

Amaryllis

Scientific name hippeastrum, the bulb has long-strapped shaped leaves with trumpet-shaped large flower. It appears in single, multi-coloured, with or without strips in white and brilliant shades of red, pink, salmon and orange colours.

• The plant grows about 60 cm tall and also best used as pot and as cut flower.
• In a garden, it’s planted in flowerbeds, at border, as edging plant and especially at a doorway.
• While planting in from September-October, keep the bulb neck up of the soil, and settle the soil around and firm it by pressing.
• Irrigate it regularly, just to keep the soil moist till the stem appears. As the bulb grows, irrigate it frequently.
• The flowers appear around mid-April. The bloom lasts for a few weeks. During growth and bloom, a light weekly fertiliser is beneficial. Once the bloom is over, reduce the water supply. Slowly the leaves will turn yellow and the stem will sag.
• Cut the flower stalk 1-2 inches above the bulb nose and take out the bulb from the soil and clear it and store it in a cool dry place for minimum six weeks till next plantation. Propagation is from seeds and bulblets.

Daylily

Scientific name hemerocallis, it is a tall 75-90 cm tall hardy perennial with grass-like leaves. The flowers are borne on long branched stem, which are large and trumpet-shaped.

• The bloom lasts only for a day and, therefore, it is popularly known as a daylily.
• It prefers a sunlight, rich soil and abundant moisture.
• It is best suited for growing against herbaceous border, along a stream or water body, ideally pool side.
• To enjoy bloom throughout the summer, mix the early to late flowering cultivars and plant according to variation of height, colour and flower shapes so as to make the garden interesting.
• Daylilies require only a light application of fertilisers, in addition to an annual dose of compost.
• Space these 12 to 18 inches apart and keep the crown about 1-2 inches below the soil surface.
• Overcrowding clumps should be routinely divided after three to five years age plants as it reduces flowering.
• Remove brown dry stems and stalks of spent flowers for a tidy and new look. Fresh bloom can be caused by removing seed pods.
• The plants are multiplied by division during March and the blooming period is end April-June.