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All About Freesia - Planning, Planting, and Aftercare

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Longfield Gardens
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Freesias are one of the world’s most popular cut flowers. They are loved for their pure colors, long vase life, and sweet perfume.

Each of the graceful 12”-15” stems bears six to twelve trumpet-shaped blossoms. These flowers may be single or double and are available in many beautiful colors including white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, lavender and purple. Freesias will fill a room with their fresh, baby powder fragrance.

STEP 1 - KNOW

START WITH A BETTER BULB

It’s easy to see the difference in quality when you compare two freesia corms side by side. Larger corms contain more stored energy and will give you more stems and more blooms. 

 

STEP 2 - PLAN

Hardiness: Freesias are winter hardy in growing zones 9-10. In zones 3-8 the corms will not survive the winter outdoors, but they can be grown as annuals (see below).

Sun and Heat: Freesias may be grown in full sun or part shade. They grow best at 55 to 60°F, and may not bloom if temperatures rise over 70°F. If you are growing freesias in a greenhouse, keep the pots out of direct sunlight until they have sprouted. Then keep plants cool until after they finish blooming.

Moisture: Water the corms sparingly before sprouting, then water consistently, keeping the soil lightly moist. When the young plants are about 6” tall, begin fertilizing every 2 weeks with a liquid fertilizer. After flowering, keep the soil relatively dry so the bulbs don’t rot while they are dormant.

 

STEP 3 - GROW

WHEN AND WHERE TO PLANT FREESIA
 
In areas where freesias are winter hardy (zones 9-10), they should be planted outdoors in fall. Choose a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil that contains plenty of organic matter. Plant the corms pointed end up, 1” to 2” deep and 2” to 3” apart. Over time they will multiply.
 
In cooler zones, freesias are either planted outdoors in spring for late summer flowers or are planted in the fall, in a cool (55-60°F) greenhouse for winter flowers.
 
When planting in containers, choose relatively tall pots as freesias have a long taproot. Use a compost-enriched growing mix and consider adding some coarse sand or finely crushed stone to ensure excellent drainage. In a 5” pot, plant 6-8 corms 1” deep with the pointed end up. If using a larger pot, keep the bulbs about 1” to 2” apart.
 
TIPS FOR GROWING FREESIA
It can be helpful to know how a plant grows in its natural habitat. Freesias are native to South Africa, where they start growing in late fall when the weather cools and the rains begin. The plants bloom from late winter to early spring. After flowering, the foliage gradually withers and the corms are dormant during the summer months when the weather is dry and hot.
 
Newly harvested freesia corms are given a special heat treatment that mimics their normal summer dormancy period. Even with this treatment, the corms can be slow to break out of dormancy and it may take a month or more for them to start growing. Average time from planting to flowering is 110 to 120 days.
 
For a nice, full display of flowers, plant groups of at least 6 to 10 freesia corms positioned no more than 2” apart. Plant single colors together or mix them for a rainbow effect.
 
Like gladiolas, freesias usually need support to keep the stems upright. A circular support that surrounds the stems is ideal. Another option is to use slender bamboo canes or small branches and tie the stems in with twine.

 

STEP 4 - AFTERCARE

CARING FOR FREESIA IN ZONES 9-10

After the flowers have faded, cut the stems (not the foliage) back to about 1”. Allow the foliage to keep growing until it has yellowed. Then cut away the foliage. The corms can stay in the ground right where they are.

CARING FOR FREESIA IN ZONES 3-8

If you have planted the bulbs in the ground, cut back the stems after flowering and allow the plants to continue growing until the foliage yellows. Before the first frost, cut off the foliage and dig up the plant. Let the clumps dry in a protected place where they will not freeze. When the bulbs are completely dry, pull away the old corms and any other debris. Store the newly formed corms in sand or peat moss, in a dry, dark, cool (55°F) place until it’s time to replant.

If the freesia were grown in pots, cut back the stems after they fade and continue watering until the foliage begins to yellow. At that point, stop watering and move the pot to a sheltered location where the soil will stay dry. When the soil is completely dry, cut off the foliage and remove the corms. Pull away any old debris and store the new corms in sand or peat moss at 55°F.

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