Why Begin with WILD FLOWER Seeds

With so many sources for live plants In the market these days, you might start wondering why some people would even bother growing his plant from a seed. This has got its own point but nothing still beats the satisfaction in growing something from its basic form- in this case, a plant from a single seed.

Self-satisfaction is one main reason why people still opt for wildflower seeds while there are so literally hundreds of other easier ways to put up a wildflower garden. The wildflowers from mail orders and garden centers are really great but these would never duplicate the satisfaction of the gardener if he knows that he accomplished one of the most vital happenings in the world- the growth of a plant.

Another reason is the money value. Seeds are far cheaper since there is not much investment on the part of the seller. Aside from this, the cost of shipping, storage, and handling costs and other extra payments will be eliminated since a) seeds require minimum space for strange and handling and b) wildflower plants are more difficult to transport due to bulk and care that must be dedicated for each plant.

The third reason why there is wisdom in buying wildflower seeds than choosing to more mature wildflower plants is the variety of choices. The diversity of wildflower plants in gardening centers could never equal the variety that could be offered if they were stacked in small packages.

So, if you are thinking of growing your own little garden of wildflowers, you might consider investing in wildflower seeds than live plants.

If you would give it a try, then you should know some of the basic knowledge in growing wildflower seeds. Fractions of this are the following:

Check for instructions- Before you begin with experimenting with your wildflower seeds, it is best that you check the instructions that come in the packages. This way, you will better identify which wildflower seeds must be soaked in water first, or which should be frozen first or which should undergo other sorts of treatments before beginning to scatter them in the soil. Also, carefully following the seller's instructions would also serve as your easiest way out of potential risks.

Gather all the materials needed- If the carpenters have their hammer, screwdriver, and stuffs that they would build things with, gardeners also need to have some specialized items that would help you grow your wildflower seeds into lovely flowers and plants. These include seed pots and trays, seed tray covers, potting compost, and other more common gardening tools.

Know the process by which your wildflower seeds would spring into its lovelier and more attractive forms- Like all living things in this sphere, wildflower seeds also have their lifecycle that has some basic succession like all other plants and some more species-specific processes that they undergo. To effectively grow wildflower seeds into their best shape, you have to know these processes and understand the principle behind.

If you are an experienced gardener, this really is no big deal for you as you have already seen the life that these creatures possess. But if wildflower seeds are your trial stage, you might want to do some researches to help spare you from beginner's failures.

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CROCUSES

A group of purple Crocus vernus, with one white specimen. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A crocus is a well-loved perennial flower that grows that grows to be 3 to 6 inches tall with yellow, purple, lavender and white cup-shaped blooms. A member of the iris family, the crocus is a hardy plant that commonly blooms in the spring, with the exception of a few species of crocus that bloom in the fall.

The crocus plant has over 80 species, about 30 of which are raised commercially. The most commonly planted crocus is the Dutch Crocus, also known as the crocus vernus, which also has the largest bloom. Other common species of crocus are crocus chrysanthus, which is one of the first to bloom in late winter or early spring, crocus sieberi, which is also fairly short and blooms very early, and the crocus tommasinianus, another early bloomer that comes in various shades of purple.

Crocuses can be planted both indoors and outdoors, in either flower beds, borders or containers. Crocuses do well with full exposure to sun and can grow in poor to average soils if the soil is well drained.

When planting crocuses outdoors, the best time to plant bulbs is in the fall when the weather is cool. It is also advisable to plant them where there will be little to no disturbance throughout the winter and plant them away from small animals that might take them as food, such as squirrels, mice and rabbits. A protected, sunny flowerbed is preferable. Be sure to plant your crocus bulbs under half an inch of soil in shallow holes. Grass cuttings, leaves and straw make an excellent mulch and should be used while growing the plants. The bulbs should also be watered throughout the winter when you are in a snowless area. If there is snow in your area, then water the crocuses until the first snowfall arrives. Shoots should become noticeable when the snow cover melts or in the early spring. Bloom times are in the early spring to early fall.

When planting indoors, be sure to plant the bulbs immediately in small pots containing a layer of small stones or gravel on the bottom, followed by sterile potting soil within an inch and a half of the top. Make sure you plant the bulbs with the pointed end up, an inch apart then cover with the soil. The next step is to water the bulb thoroughly and allow the pot to drain. Place the pots in a cold dark place, about 45 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit, for six weeks and check once a week for roots growing and appearing through the drain holes. Once the roots establish themselves, it is time to move the bulbs to a sunny place at room temperature. In three weeks the crocus blooms should appear.

Whether you grow them indoors or outdoors, the crocus will make a lovely addition to your home and/or garden.

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Flower Bulbs

Flower Bulbs - Photo: Pixabay

If you're seriously interested in knowing about Bulb Flowers, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about Bulb Flowers.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there's more to Bulb Flowers than you may have first thought. 

Just about every flower gardener will work with bulb plants at one time or another.  Bulbs are loved by gardeners for the ease with which they grow, their hardiness and the fact that they can bloom again and again for many consecutive seasons without the need to replant.  With all these advantages, it is no wonder that bulb plants are so popular among both new and experienced gardeners.

Choosing the right bulbs, however, is one thing that many beginning gardeners have trouble with.  After you develop an eye and feel for finding the best bulbs, however, you will be able to spot them from across the garden center.

When choosing bulbs for your garden, it is important to choose the firmest and largest bulbs.  The size of the bulb is important since large bulbs are more likely to provide many blooms.  The firmness of the bulb is a good indication of its health, and bulbs that are soft or mushy are unlikely to bloom.  Bulbs are particularly susceptible to water damage.  It is important to choose a bulb that is not too soft, but it is also important to look for cracks or scars.  Bulbs with cracks or scars may have become too dry to bloom.  Likewise, any bulbs that have begun to sprout roots should be avoided, as they are unlikely to bloom properly once planted.

How bulbs are planted in the garden is important as well.  Most bulbs are best planted in the fall, most commonly in early to mid-October.  The goal is to get the bulbs into the ground six weeks before the ground begins to freeze, so obviously, the best time to plant will vary from location to location. 

Bulbs should be planted in a well-prepared soil, and the depth they should be planted will be determined by the type of bulb.  For example, crocus bulbs are generally planted four inches deep, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs six inches deep and tulip bulbs at a depth of eight inches.

A simple gardening tool called a bulb planter is great for achieving a more uniform look to the blooming garden.  Bulb planters can be used to easily prepare perfect looking rows of flowers.  Those gardeners who prefer a more wild and freewheeling look, on the other hand, often dig a single hole and plant several bulbs in it.  This approach can lead to spectacular, if somewhat unpredictable, patterns once the bulbs begin to bloom.

It is important to use a small amount of fertilizer at the bottom of each hole you dig when planting bulbs.  The fertilizer should then be topped with a thin layer of soil, and the bulb carefully placed on top of the soil.  It is important not to place the bulb directly on top of the fertilizer, as doing so could damage the bulb.  Bulbs are always planted with the pointed end stick up and the flat, rooted side lying on top of the layer of soil.  After the bulbs are in place, the rest of the hole should be filled with soil and the garden should be given a thorough watering.

Even though bulbs are among the hardiest of garden plants, there are a few important things to remember.  One important technique to become familiar with is deadheading.  The term deadheading should already be familiar to those gardeners who work with perennials.  Deadheading is simply removing spent blooms in order to encourage more blossoms to develop.  This process is important with bulb plants as well.  When working with bulbs, however, it is important not to remove the leaves from the plants until the leaves have begun turning brown.

Taking care of the bulbs over the winter is important as well.  In warmer climates, many bulbs can remain in the ground over winter.  It is important, however, to remove tender bulbs such as dahlias, even in warmer climates.  These bulbs should be stored over the winter in a cool, dry location.

Bulbs are wonderful plants for any gardener, from the newest to the most experienced.  Their combination of hardiness, color and beauty make them hard to beat for any flower enthusiast.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

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Mulch Your FLOWER BULBS in the Fall for a Beautiful Spring Display

Flower Bulbs - Photo: Pixabay

Flower bulbs need a good, long, winter’s sleep. Like some people we know, if they wake up before they are fully rested they get kind of cranky, and then they don’t bloom well at all. 

Actually what happens is during a mild winter, the soil stays too warm and the bulbs begin to come out of dormancy early. They start to grow, and once the tips emerge above the soil line, they are subject to freezing if the temperatures dip back down below freezing. And that’s usually what happens. After the bulbs have emerged, they freeze and then don’t bloom at all, or if they do it’s a very sad display. 

Another reason this happens is that the bulbs are not planted deep enough. They may have been deep enough when you planted them, but as the soil goes through the freezing and thawing process, the bulbs can actually work their way up in the ground. One way to keep your flower bulbs sleeping longer, which will protect them from freezing, is to mulch the bed. 

In the fall just apply a 3-4” layer of well-composted mulch. This layer of mulch will do a couple of things. It will maintain a higher moisture content in the soil, which is good as long as the soil isn’t too soggy. Well composted mulch also adds valuable organic matter to the planting bed. Organic matter makes a great natural fertilizer.

A 3-4” layer of mulch also acts as an insulator. It will keep the soil from freezing for a while, which is good because you don’t want the bulbs going through a series of short cycles of freezing and thawing. Then when the temperatures drop below freezing and stay there for a while, the soil does eventually freeze. Then the mulch actually works in reverse and keeps the soil from thawing out too early. Keeping it in a frozen state is actually good because the bulbs remain dormant for a longer period of time.

When they finally do wake up it is springtime, and hopefully by the time they emerge from the ground the danger of a hard freeze is past and they will not be damaged. If you can keep them from freezing, they will flower beautifully. The extra organic matter will help to nourish the bulbs when they are done blooming, and the cycle starts all over again. 

We also plant annual flowers in the same beds with our spring bulbs. By the time the danger of frost is past and it’s time to plant the annuals, the top of the bulbs have died back and are ready to be removed. The mulch that is added in the fall also helps to nourish the annual flowers, as well as improve the soil permanently. Any time you add well composted organic matter to your planting beds, you are bound to realize multiple benefits. The key words here are “well composted”. Fresh material is not good.

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