From the tuberose, or polianthes tuberosa, a flower with a very intense fragrance is born, appreciated by most flower growers and also used to produce perfumes. It is a perennial bulb, native to Mexico, which grows in both cool and tropical regions, but requires more care in areas characterized by rather harsh winters.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Plant the Tuberose
Step 1. Decide where and when to plant the bulbs
The ideal period is the beginning of spring, after the last frost, but a warm climate is also necessary that allows a growing season of at least 4 months and a climate tolerance zone (USDA Hardiness Zone) corresponding to 8, 9 o 10. If the growing season is shorter, you should start growing her indoors in early spring and move her outdoors when night temperatures rise above 15.5 ° C.
- If you live in climate zone 7 or lower, you need to keep the tuberose indoors during the winter.
- Minimum winter temperatures in zones 8 to 10 range from -12.2 ° C to 1.7 ° C. The winter lows in zone 7 correspond to -17.8 ° C.
Step 2. Prepare the ground
This plant needs rich, well-draining soil. If you want to improve your garden soil, create a mix by adding some organic material, such as peat, compost, or old rotting manure. Spread this mixture forming a layer of a maximum thickness of 5-7.5 cm on the surface of the soil in order to raise it and prevent water from stagnating at the base of the plant.
- Tuberose grows best in soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7, but it adapts and develops quite well even in soils with pH as low as 5.5.
- You can also use a large, well-draining pot in place of the raised bed.
Step 3. Choose a sunny location
Plant the tuberose in a spot that is fully exposed to the sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Remember that this is a plant native to warm climates, so it should only be moved to a slightly shaded spot if it shows signs of wilting or dries up before the growing season is over.
Step 4. Dig a hole 5 cm deep
If you purchased a cluster of bulbs, plant it entirely. Space each bulb or group of bulbs about 6 to 8 inches apart to allow for growth.
Step 5. Water the bulbs abundantly once planted
You need to wet the soil a lot for it to settle properly around the plant.
Move on to the next section to learn how to care for growing bulbs and seedlings. They should start sprouting within a few weeks
Part 2 of 4: Caring for the Tuberose
Step 1. Water moderately until the seedling sprouts
Don't soak the soil, but wet it just enough to keep it from drying out completely. Within a few weeks, the first green shoots of the tuberose should begin to emerge and the root systems that allow the plant to autonomously manage a greater supply of water should develop.
Step 2. Water it sparingly during the growing season
As the tuberose grows, provide it with about 2.5-3.75 cm of water once a week. It is preferable to use this watering method rather than giving it small and frequent amounts of water.
- Wet it less in case of rain so that the total amount of water it receives each week is always about 2.5-3.75 cm.
- Be careful not to overdo it as the tuberose rots easily (for this reason it is important that the soil is well-drained).
Step 3. Apply a balanced fertilizer
An 8-8-8 fertilizer, containing equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, is best suited for tuberose. Choose a solid one and apply it to the soil around the plant every 6 weeks or use a liquid fertilizer following the instructions on the package.
Step 4. Feel free to pick the flowers if you want to keep them indoors
The flowers usually appear around 90-120 days after the bulbs are placed in the ground, usually in late summer or early autumn. If you take them to bring them indoors, you do not damage the plant and you can enjoy their fragrance in the home environment.
- If the cold season is approaching and the plant has not yet bloomed, transplant it into a large pot and place it in a warm spot in the house. Remember that the container must drain the water properly, so make a hole in the base (if it doesn't have one) and use a saucer or similar container to catch the water that tends to run down.
- Keep in mind that tuberose flowers are very fragrant. They reach the peak of their fragrance in the evening hours.
Step 5. Support the flowers if necessary
Flowers can weigh down the stems when they start to bloom, so you may want to add some support in these cases. Place a suitable trellis in the ground near the plant or use a cage to support the plant from all sides.
Step 6. Prune the tuberose to encourage growth
Even if you don't bring flowers indoors, cut any that wilt to encourage regrowth. However, do not remove the leaves if they are not completely yellowed.
Step 7. Stop watering when the flowers and leaves wither
When the foliage turns yellow or darkens, it means that the plant has finished its growth phase that year. Go to the next section to learn how to treat it during the winter or if you live in a climate tolerance zone of 8 or higher and expect a very severe cold season.
Do not apply fertilizer when the plant is not in the growth phase
Part 3 of 4: Transfer the Tuberose to the Closed during the Winter
Step 1. Evaluate the need to move the plant indoors
If you are in a climate zone of 8 or higher, the tuberose can stay in the soil all year round. However, if you live in a colder region (for example, zone 7), you can insulate the soil with a thick layer of mulch, which should be removed in the spring. In any other climatic zone, the bulbs should be moved indoors.
Zone 8 corresponds to a minimum winter temperature of -12.2 ° C. Zone 7 has a minimum winter temperature of -17.8 ° C
Step 2. Move the plant indoors before the first frost
Tuberose can survive a minor frost, but it's best not to take the risk. The first frost can occur in the fall or winter, depending on the climatic region you live in.
Step 3. Cut the foliage
Remove the yellow leaves and shorten the stem no less than 10-15 cm above the ground. Use a clean knife, preferably alcohol sterilized, to reduce the risk of infection.
Step 4. Dig carefully around the bulb
Remove a large clod of soil containing the bulb and clean it with a brush to free it of debris. Proceed gently and carefully, avoiding breaking the roots.
Step 5. Wait for it to dry
Keep the bulb exposed to the sun for 24 hours so it can disperse the moisture. If there is no sun, leave it in a dry place for a few days. Do not try to speed up this process by artificially heating it.
Step 6. Cover the bulbs with a soft material
Use a cardboard box, plant tray, or any other container and fill it with peat, sawdust, or vermiculite. Cover the tuberose with this material and be sure to keep it at a temperature of around 10 ° C.
Step 7. Adjust the humidity if needed
You can typically leave the tuberose dormant all winter. However, if you notice that the bulb is drying out too much, lightly moisten the material used to cover it, once or twice during the winter. Conversely, if you see roots sprouting, move it to a dry place.
Step 8. Plant it in the spring
Once the tuberose has spent the winter in shelter, you can replant it in the spring: new bulbs, close to the original one, will tend to produce flowers. After several years of growth, a cluster may be too large for appreciable flowering. In this case, detach the smaller bulbs and plant them separately, but be aware that some of them may not grow during the first year.
Part 4 of 4: Growing the Tuberose indoors
Step 1. Add potting soil and rhizomes
Get a 4-liter pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Fill it halfway with moist soil. Next, place the rhizomes on top and cover them with more potting soil so that they are positioned 8 cm from the edge of the pot. Finally, add about another 5cm of soil.
Step 2. Water the tuberose
Wet the soil until water runs out of the bottom of the pot. After that you will only need to water when the first and a half centimeters of soil is dry. Check it every couple of days to see if it needs water.
Also, it would be a good idea to fill the saucer with some gravel and pour water over it, then place the pot on the gravel. Also in this way you guarantee constant humidity to the plant
Step 3. Place the potted tuberose in a warm and sunny place
It is important to place this plant in a place that is exposed to the sun all day so that it can warm up. Try to keep the indoor environment at a constant temperature of 18-30 ° C. Look around for the ideal location.
Step 4. Fertilize
Dilute half a teaspoon of soluble fertilizer - preferably a 5-10-10 mixture - in a quart of water. Then water the plant with this solution every two weeks once it enters the growing season.
Step 5. Remove the rhizomes in the fall
In the fall you will need to remove the rhizomes from the pot. Separate the little ones from the older ones, then throw away the main one. Store small rhizomes in a cool, dark place until spring when you can replant them.
