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Bulbs Plants with Underground Structures

Bulbs Plants with Underground Structures. Bulbs are plants with underground structures Serve as storage organs Accumulate nutrient reserves for plant survival through dormancy Supply energy for its growth & bloom during the upcoming year. Five types of bulbs: True Bulbs Corms Tubers

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Bulbs Plants with Underground Structures

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  1. BulbsPlants with Underground Structures

  2. Bulbs are plants with underground structures • Serve as storage organs • Accumulate nutrient reserves for plant survival through dormancy • Supply energy for its growth & bloom during the upcoming year

  3. Five types of bulbs: • True Bulbs • Corms • Tubers • Rhizomes • Tuberous Roots

  4. True Bulbs • Underground stem that contains embryonic plant inside • These are surrounded by scales • Modified leaves that overlap each other (protects embryo) • A basal plate at the bottom of the bulb holds the scales together and produces roots • Protective papery outer skin called a tunic • Most of them produce offsets/increases • Division- separate these from the mother bulb

  5. Common True Bulbs Daffodils Tulip Hyacinth

  6. Corms • A swollen underground stem base, it’s composed of solid tissue rather than scales • Roots grow from a basal plate at the corm’s bottom; the growth point is at the top

  7. Corms have a tunic • Formed from the dried bases of previous season’s leaves • Each corm lasts for a single year • As it shrinks, a new corm, or cormel (small increases) forms on top of it • Division- separate healthy new corms from the old corms • Cormels may take 2 to 3 years to reach flowering size

  8. Common Corms Gladiolus Crocus

  9. Tubers • Similar to corms, they are swollen underground stem bases, but lack the corms organization • There is no basal plate, so roots can grow from all sides

  10. A tuber has multiple growth points scattered over its surface • Each is a scale-like leaf with a growth bud (eye) • Perennial tubers (i.e.: cyclamen, begonia) increase in size each year • Annual tubers (i.e.: potato) disintegrate as new tubers grow • Division of either kind- cut it into sections, making sure each has one or more growing points.

  11. Common Tubers Potato Cyclamen

  12. Rhizomes • A thickened stem growing horizontally partially or entirely below ground • Its roots grow directly from the underside • The primary growing point is at one end of the rhizome • Additional growing points form along the sides • Division- cut into sections that have visible growing points

  13. Common Rhizomes Bearded Iris Bamboo

  14. Tuberous Roots • A true root, thickened to store nutrients • Fibrous roots for the uptake of water & nutrients develop from its sides & tip

  15. Tuberous roots grow in a cluster • Swollen portions radiate out from a central point • Growth buds are at the bases of old stems rather than on the roots themselves • Division- cut the root cluster apart so each division contains both roots & part of a stem base with one or more growth buds

  16. Common Tuberous Roots Dahlia Day Lily

  17. Where do you buy bulbs? Retail nurseries (Home Depot, Green Arrow) Mail order catalogs On-line resources

  18. Buying Bulbs • Bulbs should be bought and planted during the dormant period • Dormant period: the time period when plants are not actively growing (growth is slowed down – usually during winter) • Dormant bulbs will not • have leaves or roots.

  19. Selecting Bulbs • Choose plump, firm bulbs that feels heavy for their size • AVOID any that are soft, squashy, or shriveled • Bulbs are graded by size • Larger ones usually yield more flowers, and are more expensive • Planting many bulbs over a large area for bigger effect earlier (Massing) is more economical using midsize bulbs- they will build up after a year or two and be the size of a large bulb

  20. Planting Bulbs • They need soil with good drainage (otherwise roots will drown and the bulb will rot) • For poor drainage soils: plant on a slope or in raised beds • Dig an individual hole for each bulb • Prepare a complete fertilizer (10-10-10) • In most soils, true bulbs should be planted about 3 times as deep as the bulb is wide.

  21. Caring for Bulbs • Water them while they are actively growing • This period begins after planting & continues until the foliage dies back, and flowering is finished • Water deeply enough to penetrate the root zone; roots grow beneath the bulb • At the beginning of growth, a high-nitrogen fertilizer needs to be applied to enhance the quality of the current season’s flowers

  22. After the bloom ends it is important to leave the leaves in tact with the plant until they turn yellow & can be easily removed • This is the time when the bulb replenishes the nutrients for the next growing season • Once flowering is finished another application of a complete fertilizer is important, 10-10-10 or “bulb food” high in phosphorus and potassium • These two nutrients must reach the root zone to be effective

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