In winter our garden and even the plants we have on the balcony are in a dormant phase. They reduce their growth a lot and we barely see any changes in them, but that doesn't mean that we don't have to continue taking care of them. Furthermore, with the arrival of cold weather it is also a good time to start preparing the garden with plants whose beauty we will enjoy in spring. Therefore, today we are going to talk about the winter bulbs.
Bulbous plants grow from a bulb, hence their name, which needs to spend a few weeks underground in order to grow and begin to develop shoots. Therefore, if we plant the bulbs now, by the time spring arrives we will have beautiful plants in our garden.
Winter bulbs that you can plant now
We are going to review five varieties that you can start working with in the coming weeks, and that In a few months they will fill your pots with life.
tulips
The tulip is one of the bulbous plants par excellence, and the best thing is that we can choose from a wide variety of colors and shapes. Of course, try to choose bulbs that look good, that they do not look damaged or have a dehydrated appearance.
The ideal time to plant tulip bulbs is autumn, but if you do not live in an extremely cold area You can do the planting in winter.
Prepares the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Make sure the substrate drains well and add some organic matter so that more nutrients are available for plants.
Place the bulbs about 10-15 centimeters from the surface, with the pointed end facing up. At the same time, leaving another 10 or 15 centimeters between one bulb and another so that the tulips can grow and air can circulate well between them.
Cover the bulbs with soil and press gently to remove any air pockets. Since we are talking about winter bulbs, You can add a layer of mulch to help conserve moisture and protect against frost.
Daffodils
Daffodils also grow from bulbs, and to plant them you can follow the same advice that we have seen for tulip bulbs. Of course, in this case, try to choose a location with full sun, because sometimes These plants love to receive natural light for many hours a day.
As for the soil, try to make it slightly alkaline. If it is not possible, Use commercial substrate to provide the plant with the most neutral environment posible.
After planting you can apply a little balanced fertilizer. Of course, once the flowers appear, do not use more fertilizers, as you could damage the bulbs.
Once planted, daffodils will continue to re-emerge spring after spring. Every four or five years you can dig and divide the bulbs that will have reproduced, so you will have more plants. But make sure you carry out this action after the leaves have withered.
Hyacinths
Hyacinths add visual interest and fragrance to your garden. They are planted through bulbs that you can place in pots or on land both in autumn and in the first weeks of winter. But it is important that you choose bulbs that look good, because this will directly affect the health and vitality of the plants that will grow from them.
You can plant them in a full sun location or one that receives some shade, but always ensuring that the substrate used has a good amount of drainage so that waterlogging of the roots does not occur.
In the case of winter bulbs of hyacinths, We recommend that you add some compost to the substrate to make it richer in organic matter so that plants can obtain the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.
If you do not add organic matter, you can provide a balanced fertilizer to the soil in early spring, before the flowers appear.
After planting, flatten the soil well so that there are no air spaces and apply a layer of mulch or mulch to the substrate. This will protect the bulbs from cold temperatures and help retain moisture.
When the plant dies, you can dig up the bulbs, store them in a cool, dry place and replant them again in autumn or winter.
Crocus
Crocuses are also winter bulbs, and within this family there are more than 100 different varieties that are responsible for filling the gardens with flowers and color during the spring months.
Although it is better to plant these bulbs in autumn, before frost arrives, you can also plant them in autumn if they will not be exposed to very low temperatures. Besides, You can add a layer of mulch over the substrate to protect them and provide warmth.
These are small but very resistant bulbs, and it is enough to plant them about seven or 10 centimeters from the surface. If possible, in a place where the crocuses that are born will later receive many hours of sun.
To achieve a much more attractive final result, you can plant bulbs of different crocus varieties together, But don't forget to leave about 10 centimeters between each other so that the air can circulate well between the plants and they will be healthier.
Crocuses are fast-flowering bulbs, soAnd don't be surprised if they are the first to start showing their beauty as soon as the rigors of winter pass.
Iris reticulata
The iris reticulata is a type of lily that barely reaches 10 centimeters in height, but It is very striking because of how beautiful and colorful its flowers are. So it is a good addition to your garden.
The bulbs can be planted from September, but nothing happens if we do it when winter has already begun, as long as we do not place them in an area that is too cold. Something that, in any case, we should not do, because these plants love to receive many hours of sun each day.
Not like others, Iris reticulata bulbs do not have to be planted very deep. Five to eight centimeters are more than enough, because they are not very big.
Once the planting is done, we are going to water moderately, ensuring that the substrate maintains humidity, but without becoming waterlogged.
With these five varieties of winter bulbs, your garden will be spectacular when spring arrives. So take advantage of these cold weeks to design and shape a garden full of life and color.