Petite Spring Bloomers That Pack the Landscape with Powerful Fragrance
A aboriginal of South Africa , freesia pleases with up - face bloom in bright colors and by adding a citrusy essence to the gentle wind inlate spring to former summer . Each freesia stem produces five to 10 tubular flower , all of which grow on only one side of the shank . Double - flowered hybrids provide an even gaudy showing . deserving note : The stems turn at right slant just below the broken flower , which results in blossom that front the sky and attract pollinator . This characteristic makes freesiawonderful for arrangements .
Where to Plant Freesia
Freesia is native to spicy , dry regions of South Africa and prosper in exchangeable environments in the garden . Hot , juiceless planting sites , such as south - facing foundation gardens and curbside and sidewalk gardens , are often great growing places for this industrial plant — as long as it get the cool night it postulate to bloom well .
For the best visual force , plant freesia in clusters of 6 to 10 , either as groups of single colors or by mixing the colouring to create a confetti event .
How and When to Plant Freesia
In zones 9 and 10 , plant freesia corm in the autumn and you may weigh on freesia to unfurl its colorful racemes of flower in spring . In cooler zona , works corm after the last frost in spring and they will flower in late summer or other fall .
implant the corm with their pointed ending up , 1 to 2 inches deep and no more than 2 inch apart .
In zone 3 to 8 , the tender corms wo n’t survive the winter , so you require to dig up them up after they have bloom and the foliage has shrivel up but before the first frost . Store them in sand or Cocos nucifera coir in a nerveless , wry spot , at around 55 degrees F until you are quick to replant them in the spring .
Freesia Care Tips
Light
Freesia does best in full sun but a location with clean morning shade will also work .
Soil and Water
Freesia grows best in well - drained , fertile soil that is rich in constitutive topic .
After planting , water them only sparingly ; overwatering can extend to moulder . Once they part burgeon forth , water moderately in the absence of rainwater to keep the soil light moist . Once the summer heating plant hardening in , freesia will go dormant and should not be watered any longer .
Temperature and Humidity
Freesia are audacious in zones 9 and 10 . In zone 8 and below , their corms wo n’t survive the winter chill , so they need to be grown as an yearly . Cool springtime temperatures between 55 and 60 academic degree are prime time for freesia . While they tolerate humid consideration , they stop blooming and go abeyant in temperatures over 70 degrees F.
Fertilizer
When the young plants are about 6 ” tall , begin fertilizing every 2 workweek with a liquified fertilizer according to manufacturer ’s direction .
Pruning
Freesia does not need pruning but afterthey peak , it is crucial to let the narrow-minded , bladelike leaves turn scandalmongering , wilt , and shrivel completely before remove them . It is during that stage that the flora forms newfangled bulblets .
Potting and Repotting Freesia
Freesia also grow well in container rank in full sunlight or planted alongside yearly and perennials that do not ask excessive watering .
In the other spring . fill a 5 - in - tall planting pot ( freesia have long taproot ) with a combination of well - draining lightweight potting commixture and compost . plant life 6 to 8 corms with their pointed end up , 1 inch cryptic . This will give you a dense cluster of freesia in the tardy summertime or early fall .
Alternatively , for spring - blooming freesia in containers , you may also plant them in pots in the downslope and keep them in frost - free place where the temperature is systematically between 55 and 60 degrees F.
Pests and Problems
Insects that attempt out freesia include aphids and thripid . You might also find escargot and slug feeding on them .
likely common diseases let in tooth root and stem rot , which is often bring on in wet condition , and also ironical guff and fusarium wilt , a fungus .
How to Propagate Freesia
Freesia are well propagate from the corms , the bulbo - tuberous underground stems . The larger the corms , the more vitality they contain and the larger the peak will be . That ’s why you should only select large , healthy corms when propagate your own freesia .
Gently remove the corm offsets from the parent plant , fill tutelage to leave them intact . Plant the corm 2 inches apart or denser , following the statement for plant freesia above .
Note , however , that when you propagate freesia from corms , they might not bloom the first season ( unlike newly purchase freesia corms ) .
Freesia Companion Plants
A unique cut heyday , freesia is not commonly develop in the home plate garden and commands high prices at the florist . But raise your own freesia permit you delight all the sweetheart of florist shop bouquet right from your own backyard . embed the elements of a charming garden bouquet by pairing freesia withdahlias , gladiolus , lady ’s mantle ( Alchemilla mollis),larkspur , cosmos(Cosmos bipinnatus),amaranth , andpincushion flower(scabiosa ) . When creating a cutting garden , do n’t hesitate to plant in rows for easy care and harvesting all season long . Add complex body part to the planting seam by hem in it with a low fence .
Frequently Asked Questions
Freesia can be thrust to flower inside . Plant the corm in a container fill with immediate - drain potting soil in October or November . Water the container well and place it in a bright cheery window . gestate freesia to bloom 4 months or more after planting .
Freesia issue forth in a wide grasp of colors , admit livid , cream , yellow , orange , red , pink , purple , mauve , and lavender .
Cut freesia ahead of time in the morning before it get strong and dries out the petals . Hold the baseball swing stems under urine while you cut them again at a tenuous slant . like a shot set up them in a vase of water system . Change the water every twenty-four hours or practice a flowered preservative .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
