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Freesia

Filed under: — admin @ 9:03 am


I live in NJ and want to grow freesia flowers so bad. I have tried for the last 2 yrs with no luck can anyone help me?

Freesia a native of So. Africa can be somewhat difficult to grow. In zone 9-10 where summers are dry and winter are cool and moist, they can be grown year-round outdoors but go dormant in the summer heat.
In the north (NJ) plant the corms in the spring in well-drained, sandy soil. Apply a 1/2 strength fertilizer every 2 weeks from the time they set bud to the end of flowering. They should bloom in 10-12 wks. (Hopefully before the hot, wet summer) They do best in daytime temperatures of 60-70 degrees and night temps of 50-60. When the sweet-fragrant flowers start to fade reduce watering and let the foliage die back allowing the plant to dry out, dig up the corms and store in a cool dry place.

Freesia can also be started as a potted houseplant from late summer to early winter. It should be kept in a sunroom or greenhouse and watered lightly until new growth appears.

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2 Comments on Freesia»

  1. Heather
    I live around Ottawa, Ontario Canada. I have freesia bulbs to plant this spring and I was wondering if I have to dig them up in the fall like I do my glads.Can you help me please.

    Yes, you will need to dig them up in the fall as they cannot be grown outdoors in areas where the temperatures fall below 20 degrees F.

    Comment by Heather — 2/22/2008 @ 9:09 am

  2. I dug up a bunch of Freesia corms from the beds and put them in a pot. Now, they won’t bloom, but the ones that I missed from the bed bloom in Spring. What is wrong?

    When you dug up the freesia did you let the foliage turn yellow allowing the corms to ripen? If not, the new corms might not have developed enough strength to bloom again. After blooming, the corms eventually die back, this takes 4-6 wks. and then they go dormant for 3-4 mo. This same method has to be duplicated when planting in a container. To bloom freesias also require lots of sunlight and night temp. between 55-60 and day temps of 10 degrees higher which may not happen indoors

    .

    Comment by Sue B — 2/22/2008 @ 9:11 am

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