The only success I've known with freesias in this area is in a cool greenhouse where they bloom in late winter. Otherwise the winter is too cold and spring and summer are too hot for them.

Hi Donna, not really sure what to say, since they naturally died off here after it was done blooming, plus our area is really too hot and dry ..and it actually is still hot and dry though about 5 to 6 degrees lower now. I am still in baby steps myself growing this, still learning.

I would think it is not yet a lost effort for your freesias. My understanding with bulbs, those leaves, if still alive are just continuing to nourish the bulb. Who knows, it might just be a better show this coming Spring for you.

Was very unsuccessful with freesias this year.
However I realized that the bulbs I got perhaps wasn't properly prepared. Apparently they need a heat treatment to initiate bloom formation before growing on in cooler conditions. One of the articles below claims: "12 weeks at 30C (86F) after lifting – and then kept at not much below this until the frosts are over and they make it into the ground" . Obviously for those in a warm zone with a hot summer this isn't much of a problem as the bulbs will reset themself for the next season, but for those of us that need to buy new corms (or attempt to store them over winter) this could be a serious issue, resulting in no buds or poor growth .

Here is a few articles: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gar...
http://www.flamingoholland.com...

My freesias this October starting to wake up, so that's how the leaves look like as it re-awakens , will see how this goes:

William said:Was very unsuccessful with freesias this year.
However I realized that the bulbs I got perhaps wasn't properly prepared. Apparently they need a heat treatment to initiate bloom formation before growing on in cooler conditions. One of the articles below claims: "12 weeks at 30C (86F) after lifting – and then kept at not much below this until the frosts are over and they make it into the ground" . Obviously for those in a warm zone with a hot summer this isn't much of a problem as the bulbs will reset themself for the next season, but for those of us that need to buy new corms (or attempt to store them over winter) this could be a serious issue, resulting in no buds or poor growth .

Here is a few articles: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gar...
http://www.flamingoholland.com...

I'm experimenting with a bag of mix-color corms that flowered this summer. The corms plus cormels were dug up a week ago to dry. I've packed them into a brown paper bag with some saw dust, and I'm going to try keeping them at 21-28 degrees Celsius for the winter before planting them out in April next year for a month of cold.

Wishing you good luck, with your experiment, Phenolic . I hope the corms do not dry out too much in storage as I imagine that could be a problem at home as they are rather small.

All this talk of these have made me want to try them. I love anything that is fragrant.

I would treat them like I treat my other tropical tender bulbs. I plant them in pots and when it gets down to freezing in December I bring them inside and store the pots in the back of the laundry room that is never over 60 degrees. I splash a little water on top of the pot and the plants usually start to emerge about March-April.

Thanks, William! I'll post an update on how it goes. I think buying new bulbs is wasteful, even if freesias are relatively inexpensive.

Cinta said:All this talk of these have made me want to try them. I love anything that is fragrant.

I would treat them like I treat my other tropical tender bulbs. I plant them in pots and when it gets down to freezing in December I bring them inside and store the pots in the back of the laundry room that is never over 60 degrees. I splash a little water on top of the pot and the plants usually start to emerge about March-April.

Out of curiosity how are the summers like where you live? Are temperatures consistently above 25 ºC/77 ºF for at least 2 to 4 weeks? Do your freesias lose their foliage in summer or in fall?

I'm playing around with room-temperature storage since the foliage on my freesias stayed green through three weeks of 30 ºC/86 ºF daytime temperatures, and only just started dying late into the summer. It might have something to do with soil moisture, I think. I kept them well-watered the entire time.

Phenolic said:Thanks, William! I'll post an update on how it goes. I think buying new bulbs is wasteful, even if freesias are relatively inexpensive.



Out of curiosity how are the summers like where you live? Are temperatures consistently above 25 ºC/77 ºF for at least 2 to 4 weeks? Do your freesias lose their foliage in summer or in fall?

I'm playing around with room-temperature storage since the foliage on my freesias stayed green through three weeks of 30 ºC/86 ºF daytime temperatures, and only just started dying late into the summer. It might have something to do with soil moisture, I think. I kept them well-watered the entire time.

I have not tried it yet I just ordered them. My seasons are... March - May we are between 40 - 70F
May - July we are 70-80F
July - Sept we are 80- 90F
Oct - Dec 70 - 40s F
Jan- Feb 40s - 20s some nights we can go below 0

My freesias enjoyed the cool rain last Nov 2, but the stalks are not growing upright, rather floppy, they are nice and green though and have grown nicely since they first re-sprouted in Oct.

@Underthesun Rob...are your freesias showing some buds at this time? Mine is still all leaves..

No buds yet, just leaves. I can't wait until they bloom!

I do have some daffodils in bloom (and in bud).

Thanks Rob! Will wait patiently then At least I am not alone!

This time I don't have daffodils..only thing in bud outside is my Kniphofia sarmentosa.

Same here just leaves. I have the pots in the Sunroom. The leaves are not floppy so I guess they are getting enough sun.

Mine are in the ground. No sign of buds yet, just leaves.

@tarev I have flower buds appearing on some freesias.

Oh nice!!! Can I see how it looks like Rob @UndertheSun? My container has been having some unwanted volunteers, so am not sure if it is what it is..

I'll take some photos later today.

Yey! Thanks!

I took some photos of what I am seeing now in my freesia container..is this how their bloomstalk starts?

The leaves of my plant are ratty looking and I was not sure if what is growing are just volunteers of another plant.