Storing tender bulbs for use next spring
By Bonnie Orr
WSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener
The bulb/cormer/tuber of semi-tropical plants will rot in the cold, winter soil. Now is the time to dig and store them for next spring. Dig with a spading fork or a pitchfork because shovels cut right through the bulbs, and that is so disappointing. In this way, you can find all the new little bulblets and save them, as well. (The small ones will bloom in two years).
After the bulbs are dug, trim off the dead foliage, shake off the dirt and let the bulbs dry in a protected place for a couple of days. Then shake off the rest of the dirt and cut off the dead or broken roots.
I have tried a number of ways to store my tender bulbs. I have stored them in soil, dry sand, plain paper bags and pet bedding. (I do not use peat moss because I object to the destruction of a Canadian ecosystem for the vanity of our gardens.) I prefer the pet bedding made from wood shavings and sawdust. Pet supply stores sell large, economical bales of the material. If you have extra after storing your bulbs, use it as the brown material in your compost pile or as mulch.
You will be so much happier in the spring if you have labeled your bulbs because, I assure you, you will not remember which bulb is which because all small, brown, pointy things look alike in April!
If you put all of one type of bulb in a labeled paper bag and fill it with bedding, the bulbs will be safe. Be sure to have enough shavings in the bag so the bulbs do not touch one another. Moisten the bedding slightly, and every few weeks add a sprinkle of water to each bag. We have more problems with bulbs shriveling and drying out here in the land of low-humidity winter than we do with mildew. Sometimes I check my bulbs just to fantasize about spring! Do not use net bags since the new roots will grow through the netting during the winter storage.
Store bulbs in a dry place that remains 40 to 55 degrees such as under the house, in your garage or in your wine cellar. Put a thermometer nearby to monitor the temperature especially when it is really cold outside.
Dahliasneed to be stored carefully because they are a large, moist tuber susceptible to mold. After digging, wash the tubers, dry them and separate them from the main stem/neck. Tubers stored too dry or too cold will be ruined. Check out Dahlia Society websites for more detailed information.
Because our winter temperatures seldom fall below zero degrees, Calla(Zantedeschia), Gladiolas, Crocosmia,Easter lilies (Lilium) and do not have to be dug if they are planted at least 5 inches deep and mulched well. Be sure to store Mexican shell lily (Tigridia pavonia) Kaffir lily (Schizostylis coccinea),rainflower (Zephyranthes drummondii), Acidanthera, peacock lily, Caladiums, and elephant ear (Colocasia esulenta)andCannas.
All your Oriental, regal and Asiatic lilies would appreciate a 5-inch layer of mulch made up of a mixture of chipped leaves, lawn clippings and some of the leftover pet bedding.
Use a sunny afternoon to dig and prepare your bulbs for storage; then dream about spring.A WSU Chelan-Douglas County Master Gardener column appears weekly in The Wenatchee World. To learn more about the local Master Gardener program, visit bit.ly/MGchelandouglas or call (509) 667-6540