Storing Flower Bulbs Over Winter

Depending on your location in the USDA plant growing zone, most tender bulbs such as Elephant Ears, Cannas, Dahlias, Gladioli, Lilys and others will need to be dug up and stored for the winter. Many who live in cold border zones, also refuse to take a chance with their heirloom Iris.

First be sure and dig the bulbs up very carefully and shake off most of the excess soil. Do NOT rinse them, or let them get near water. If they get wet at this stage, they will rot over Winter. Remember, your bulbs need to be stored in a cool, Not cold, dry location.
When deciding where to store your bulbs, there are 2 things that must be considered; do not let your bulbs freeze and don’t let the storage boxes / containers get wet. If you have a dry, cool secluded corner in the garage or basement, you may have the perfect storage spot.

blue iris in bloom

© 2007 photo courtesy L Watts

Many gardeners wrap their bulbs in newspaper and layer them in boxes. Others save cardboard egg cartons for storing smaller bulbs. Many Master Gardeners suggest dusting the bulbs with a fungicide before storing. Instead of using cardboard others claim the best way to store bulbs is by placing in dry peat moss or wood shavings, place in a brown paper bag. My Aunt used plastic milk crates (available at your local retailer), recycled netted onion bags or even a pair of old tights. No matter which method you use, be sure and label your bulbs before putting them to bed so you will know which bulbs are which in the Spring.

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One last storage tip;
Make sure you store your bulbs where wild critters can’t get to them. After taking all of the time and effort to dig up each and every bulb, there is no sense in letting your sleeping babies become a Winter feast for the squirrels !

© 2007 oOdles of infOrmation