In the Winter Quarter: Checking Stored Flower Bulbs

Most summer flowers aren't winter-hardy. That's why you overwinter them in a winter quarter. During their winter rest, you should regularly check the flower bulbs.

Spring bloomers are robust and can withstand a winter in the ground. Summer flowers, on the other hand, are sensitive to frost. To enjoy their beautiful blossoms again next year, the flower bulbs are dug up early enough.

As soon as the first frost sets in, dig up flower bulbs for overwintering. Trim the plant's stems and foliage and dry the bulbs. A first inspection should be done at this point. If there are any rotten or diseased flower bulbs, sort them out. Otherwise, they could infect other bulbs, especially young daughter bulbs. Place the remaining flower bulbs in their winter quarter. This should be a dark, well-ventilated room where no frost penetrates, but which also doesn't exceed a room temperature of 10 °C. A cellar is ideal for this.

Even with the best storage, diseases can arise. That's why you should regularly check the room temperature and humidity as well as the condition of the flower bulbs in the winter quarter. Some bulbs need to be kept moist during storage. Moistened foliage instead of sand or peat can be a solution for storage in these cases. But this is a balancing act, because too much moisture will lead to mold and rot. Therefore, the air in the winter quarter should also not be too humid. As soon as you discover new diseases, immediately sort out the affected bulbs before they infect the rest of the stock. Also, keep the temperature low in the winter quarter. If the room gets too warm, the bulbs could sprout too early.

As a rule, flower bulbs are stored dry and airy. The easiest way to do this is in a wooden crate lined with newspaper. Also, wrap the bulbs to protect them from bumps. In the winter quarter, don't stack too many bulbs on top of each other; otherwise, they'll squash each other. Alternatively, you can use sand or peat. You can also store the bulbs in these materials so they don't touch each other. However, the material must not be damp to prevent diseases from spreading. Moist foliage is an alternative for dahlias, gladioli, and begonias. Beware of mice: These small rodents love flower bulbs and tubers. To protect against these pests, you can secure the crate with wire mesh. That's how to successfully manage your winter quarter!