Ethylene -  Do not store flower bulbs with fruit such as apples or pears prior to planting.  Ripening fruit produces ethylene, a gas which can cause "Flower Abortion" and other problems with flowering.

Spring Flowering Bulbs
Most bulbs should be stored in open trays and if a refrigerator is used, to ventilate it frequently.

Nonprecooled Bulbs - When fall planted bulbs have been purchased but not planted, they must be properly stored.  Normally, they should be placed in a cool [55-65°F (13-18°C)], well-ventilated and ethylene-free area.  Bulbs stored under these conditions do not receive any special preplant treatment and are called "Nonprecooled Bulbs".  Unless specified, e.g., Fritillaria, do not store bulbs in paper or plastic bags.


Precooling - spring flowering bulbs for utilization in USDA Climatic Zones 9 and 10 - Most spring and early summer flowering bulbs require an extended period (6 to 20 weeks) of low temperatures [35 to 50°F (2-10°C)] during the winter months to produce satisfactory flowering responses.  Thus, there are two classes of spring flowering bulbs for USDA Climatic Zone 9 ("Mid-South") and USDA Climatic Zone 10 ("Deep South").  First, there are some "nonprecooled" bulbs that can be planted in the fall without any special preplanting treatments and which will perform satisfactorily either as annual (one season only) or as perennialized bulbs.  Second, there is a group of bulbs that must be given a preplanting cold storage treatment in order for them to perform satisfactorily.  These bulbs require 8 to 10 weeks of "Precooling" (PC), i.e. dry cold storage at 40 to 45°F (5-7°C) in an ethylene-free refrigerator prior to planting.  These are subsequently planted in late November and December.  For specific information, on tulip cultivar performance in Climatic Zones 6 to 8, consult P.V. Nelsons 1988 Bulletin cited in the References.

When planting spring and early flowering bulbs in USDA Climatic Zones 7 to 10 the bulbs should be planted in an area that does not receive direct sunlight from late morning to early afternoon.  This helps to moderate the prevailing temperatures and provide a more suitable microclimate.

Summer Flowering Bulbs
Temperatures and moisture conditions are specific for each bulb species.  Storage conditions for bulbs in this bulletin are as follows:

Amaryllis belladonna - Store bulbs in peat or container at 55-70°F (13-21°C).

 

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) -  Prior to planting, store bulbs at 41-55°F (5-13°C) and do not let them dry out.  For container-grown plants, two systems are available.  They are:

Belamcanda chinensis - Store corms in dry sand at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Canna - Harvest rhizomes in fall, dry, and store in dry peat or vermiculite at 41-50°F (5-10°C).

Clivia - Before planting, store fleshy roots at 50-55°F (10-13°C) and keep from drying out.  As container plants, grow at 25% shade in the summer. Subsequently, to flower properly, they should be kept in a lighted area and receive eight to ten weeks at 50-60°F (10-16°C) in the fall or early winter.

Colchicum - Store corms in vermiculite at 63-68°F (17-20°C).

x Crinodonna - Store bulbs in slightly moist sand at 35-45 F (2-7°C).

Crinum -  Store bulbs in slightly moist sand at 35-45°F (2-7°C).  If grown indoors in a container, place in a bright, cool [55°F (13°C)] night temperature room.

Crocosmia (Montbretia) - Store corms in peat or vermiculite at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Montbretia (Crocosmia) - Store corms in peat or vermiculite at 35-41°F (2-5°C).