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
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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