Expert: Laura Walker - 10/30/2005

Question
Ms Laura Walker,

I ve got some several different bulbs that flower from year to year.  The problems is that each time i store them i notice a reduction in bulb size.  I fertilize bulbs with 20 5 30 from blossoms formation till all green foliage dies down naturally. Usually i store bulbs in a dry cool place till next season or leave them in pots and put them inside in a dry cool place.  What i m doing wrong?

Answer
Michael,
It sounds like you are applying the same method for all bulbs in general when in fact they are all diverse in their own way when it comes to storing,planting and growth rate.

For example, Daffodils are very hardy bulbs that do not need to be dug up until you notice a decline in the number and quality of the blooms,meaning when they exhibit this you should dig them up and divide them because they are multiplying and crowding each other out.It takes a good 5 years for a batch of Daffodils to crowd like that especially if you plant them far enough apart where you know they should not crowd each other for quite some time and they will have lots of room to grow.
If you do decide to dig and divide Daffodils just gently use a spade and dig them up AFTER the green or most of the green from the foliage is gone.That would be approx. around late April,early May depending on your area which you did not state.
Climate is VERY important as well. Warmer zones have difficulty in growing Spring blooming bulbs because they need a cold chill of 32 degrees for at least 5 weeks straight before they will ever bloom.That is why you don't see many Tulips in the deep southern states. They use Amaryllis instead of Tulips because Amaryllis bulbs do not require a cold spell.
Tulips are vastly different from Daffodil bulbs. Tulips do not multiply like Daffodils.That is why you should use fresh Tulip bulbs every year. Some "perennial" Darwin Tulips may last as long as 3 years at the most.Then you will see a decline in number and quality of blooms and that's it for the Tulips. No need to dig them up and replant because you are just wasting time.Use fresh ones every fall when you plant other Spring blooming bulbs.
The little Grape Hyacinths are also very fast multiplyers like the Daffodil.
Most Spring blooming bulbs are left in the ground to grow and multiply into smaller bulbs that also bloom.

Summer bulbs planted in the spring for summer bloom like Gladiolas are subject to winter burn if you live in colder climates (zones under 6).I am in zone 6 Western Kentucky and I never dig up my Gladiolas.They seem to be doing fine,but they will also decline at some point and they are so inexpensive that it is best to plant fresh ones every few years.The same goes for Dahlias and Begonia bulbs.Treat them the same as Gladiolas.If you are in zones 7 and above you are okay to leave them but if you are in  zone 6 and under you will need to dig them up.

Just experiment to see what they will do if left alone.
Basically that is the best advice I give people on bulbs.Since climate is so diverse it is pretty much an experiment with bulbs at first.You will eventually learn what each one needs. A little research goes a long way too.
If you go to Google and type in the word "flower bulbs" you will get all the research you will need.Good luck to you!