Caring for freesias - how to really enjoy this flower with intense fragrance?
When you think of freesia, you probably think of freesia boxes , freesia bouquets for weddings and other special floral arrangements that contain them. Freesia can also be grown at home (under the right conditions), if you want to enjoy its wonderful fragrance. A wide palette of colors and an inviting fragrance make freesias some delightful flowers, which you definitely want in your home! With up to eight trumpet-shaped flowers, facing upwards, on leafless stems, freesias last a long time, both in vases and pots. If you want to know more about freesia, keep reading the article.
Contents:
- Caring for freesias
- Caring for garden freesias
- Caring for potted freesias
1. Caring for freesias
What characterizes a freesia?
The freesia bulb plant is easy to grow indoors, on sunny windowsills. Healthy plants should produce five to seven tubular flowers per stem, all pointing in one direction like fingers. Freesia leaves are narrow and grass-like. Freesia stems are thin and cannot always bear the weight of the flower heads, especially in varieties that produce double flowers. Therefore, a support system for flowers and leaves is needed to keep them in a vertical position.
How can you take care of a freesia?
Cut the flowers when the first flower on the stem is open, and the rest start to show their color. Expect fresh-cut flowers to last about 12 days in a vase, compared to five to seven days for store-bought flowers. The most important factors in caring for a flower are:
Freesias grow best if they get a lot of sun. However, you can just as well plant them in a place where they get a little shade in the morning. If you grow them indoors, a sunny south-facing window is ideal.
Well-drained soil is essential for freesia plants. You can amend the soil with organic materials, such as peat or compost, to improve drainage.
Keep the soil sufficiently moist, without exaggerating, as new sprouts grow. Then, water the plants once a week when they bloom. Reduce watering to allow the soil to dry out if the leaves turn yellow and begin to wilt.
Freesias are not cold-resistant flowers. However, the plants need night temperatures of around 10-12 degrees Celsius to form buds. If you don't have access to a cool greenhouse, moving containerized freesias to an unheated garage or shed every evening could be a big help to growing flowers. Furthermore, freesias prefer about 40-50% humidity - this could be difficult to provide in a dry climate.
Once the first buds emerge from the soil, apply a balanced flower fertilizer and keep the plants in full sun. Fertilize them again when buds appear.
2. Caring for garden freesias
Freesia bulbs enter their active growth phase during autumn, so this is the best time to plant them. Choose a sunny place in the garden, with rich soil. A sandy, garden loam, modified with humus or compost, is ideal. The bulbs are small and do not require deep planting; place them only about 5 centimeters deep, with the pointed end pointing up. Moreover, the plants look best when they are grouped, at least five to seven together. Freesias should start blooming approximately 12 weeks after planting the bulbs.
3. Caring for potted freesias
You can enjoy freesias even in pots! Here are some things to keep in mind:
It is important to choose a pot at least 7 centimeters deep, with drainage holes. Place the bulbs 5 centimeters apart, with the pointed tip up. Place the pot in a warm and bright place, where it can enjoy 27 degrees Celsius. Water the bulbs until you notice growth, then move the pot to a cooler place, at 16-18 degrees Celsius. When freesias are in full bloom, avoid placing them directly in the sun. After the flower season passes, let them wither naturally. If the freesias turn brown, stop watering them.
Therefore, freesias are wonderful decorative flowers, easy to care for, that leave an enchanting fragrance in the whole room or garden. Take into account their needs and take care of them properly. They will reward you properly!
Photo source: shutterstock.com
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