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

For storage, temperatures and moisture conditions are specific for each bulb species. For some flower bulbs, the precise storage conditions are known, while for others the precise conditions are unknown. The storage conditions for the bulbs cited below is based primarily on the information in the References cited at the end of this Bulletin. In addition, when grown in containers, it usually best to keep the bulbs in the pot and either place it under proper growing conditions in the home or in storage.

Achimenes - Leave rhizomes in container, dry out planting medium, and place at 60-70°F (16-21°C).

Acidanthera bicolor - Harvest corms in the fall, dry, clean carefully, and store at 55-68°F (13-20°C) with some ventilation.

Agapanthus - Two overwintering systems are available. They are:

• Leave fleshy rhizomes in container with slightly moist planting medium and place at 35-41°F (2-5°C).
  
• Place container in cool [35-41°F (2-5°C)] greenhouse and water sparingly during the winter. Return to growing area in spring.

Albuca - Leave bulbs in dry planting medium and store at 45-48°F (7-9°C).

Allium - If lifted, store bulbs dry at 68°F (20°C).

Alstroemeria - Leave tuberous roots in moist planting medium and store at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

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:

• Bring container plants indoors in the fall before the first frost. Since, it is not necessary to rest the plants, place them in a well lighted area at 50-55°F (10-13°C) for eight to ten weeks. Then return to a warm, well lighted growing area.
  
• In the fall, cease watering the planting medium and place plants in the dark at 41-55°F (5-13°C) for at least two months. Then water the planting medium and place in a warm, well lighted growing area.

Anemone coronaria (St. Brigid and de Caen) - Store tubers dry at 50-55°F (10-13°C).

Anthericum lilago - Do not dry out and store at 41-48°F (5-9°C).

Antholyza - Store corms dry at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Babiana - Leave corms in dry planting medium and store at 70°F (21°C).

Begonia (Tuberous Hybrids) - Harvest enlarged hypocotyls in fall, dry, and store in dry peat at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

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

Bessera - Store corms dry or, if container-grown, dry the planting medium, and store at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Bletilla striata - Store rhizomes in moist peat at 32-35°F (0-2°C).

Bloomeria - Store corms dry at 35°F (2°C).

Brodiaea (Triteleia) laxa - Store corms dry at 70-77°F (21-25°C).

Caladium - Harvest tubers in fall, dry, and store at 70-75°F (21-23°C). They do not tolerate temperatures below 70°F (21°C) for extended periods.

Calochortus - Store corms dry at 60-70°F (16-21°C).

Camassia - Store bulbs dry at 68°F (20°C).

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

Cardiocrinum - Store bulbs in moist peat at 35°F (2°C).

Chasmanthe - Store corms in dry peat or vermiculite at 60-70°F (10-21°C).

Chlidanthus fragrans - Store bulbs dry at 50°F (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).

Colocasia - Harvest tubers in fall, dry, and store at 70-75°F (21-23°C). They do not tolerate temperatures below 70°F (21°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).

Crocus (Autumn Species) - Store corms dry at 68°F (20°C).

Curcuma - When container-grown, keep planting medium slightly moist and store at 55-60°F (13-16°C).

Curtonus - Store corms in dry sand or perlite at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Cyclamen - Store enlarged hypocotyls in peat at 48°F (9°C).

Cyrtanthus - Store bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 41°F (5°C).

Dahlia - Harvest tuberous roots in fall, dry carefully (do not wash), and store in vermiculite or dry sand at 35-45°F (2-7°C).

Dietes - Store rhizomes in peat or vermiculite at 41-50°F (5-10°C). Place container plants indoors at 50-65°F (10-18°C).

Eremurus - Store tuberous roots in slightly moist vermiculite or peat at 41-45°F (5-7°C). Prevent from drying out.

Eucharis - Store bulbs in peat at 68 F (20°C). To induce flowering, the growing plants must receive at least four weeks at 80-85°F (27-29°C) followed by a minimum temperature drop of 14°F (8°C), e.g., down to 65-70°F (18-21°C). These temperatures must be very constant or bulbs may not flower. After twelve weeks at the lower temperatures, the plants should flower. Subsequently, the high temperature treatment should be repeated. Thus, the plants can flower twice per year. If water is withheld, the foliage will senesce and sometimes this will also induce flowering.

Eucomis - Store bulbs dry at 55-68°F (13-20°C).

Eucrosia - Place container or freshly harvested bulbs for two weeks at 90-95°F 32-35°C) and then store the containers or bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 70°F (20°C).

Freesia - Store corms or containers dry at 77-86°F (25-30°C).

Galtonia - Store bulbs dry in vermiculite at 63-72°F (17-23°C).

Gladiolus - Harvest corms after foliage dies. Store dry in mesh bags with good air circulation at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Gloriosa - Either store unplanted tubers dry in peat, perlite or vermiculite or dry out planting medium and place containers at 50-60°F (10-16°C).

Habranthus - Keep bulbs in planting medium and store at 41-50°F (5-10°C).

Haemanthus - Bring containers indoors and either store dry or continue growing at 55-65°F (13-18°C).

Hemerocallis - Store tuberous roots in moist peat or vermiculite at 35-45°F (2-7°C).

Homeria - Store corms dry at 41-50°F (5-10°C).

Hymenocallis - Place container-grown plants indoors and grow them at 55-65°F (13-18°C). To store unplanted bulbs, harvest them carefully leaving soil around the roots, and store dry at 60-70°F (16-21°C).

Incarvillea delavyi - Store tuberous roots or containers slightly moist at 35°F (2°C).

Iris (Rhizomatous) - Store rhizomes in peat at 35°F (2°C).

Ixia - Store corms dry at 68-77°F (20-25°C).

Kniphofia - Store enlarged rhizomes moist at 35°F (2°C).

Lapeirousia - Store corms dry or in containers at 41°F (5°C).

Leucojum autumnale - Store bulbs dry at 68°F (20°C).

Liatris - Store corms in moist peat at 35°F (2°C).

Lilium - Store bulbs in moist peat at 35°F (2°C).

Lycoris aurea, radiata, squamigera - Store bulbs dry at 45-55°F (7-13°C).

Milla - Store corms in moist 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).

Moraea - Store corms in peat or vermiculite at 35-50°F (2-10°C).

Nerine - Store bulbs dry or in container with ventilation at 35°F (2°C).

Nomocharis - Store bulbs in dry peat at 35°F (2°C).

Ornithogalum (Tender Species) - Store bulbs dry at 70-80 F (21-27°C).

Oxalis (Tender Species) - Store rhizomes or bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Polianthes - Store bulbs at 70-75°F (21-24°C).

Ranunculus - Store tuberous roots dry at 50-55°F (10-13°C).

Rhodohypoxis - Store corms dry at 35°F (2°C).

Sandersonia aurantiaca - Store tubers dry at 63°F (13°C).

Scadoxus - Bring containers indoors and either grow them as plants in a lighted area or store bulbs dry in the container at 50-58°F (10-14°C).

Schizostylis - No storage is preferred. If stored, place rhizomes in moist peat at 45°F (7°C).

Sparaxis - Store corms dry at 68-77°F (20-25°C).

Sprekelia - Store bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 41-55°F (5-13°C).

Sternbergia lutea - Store bulbs dry at 41°F (5°C).

Tigridia - Store bulbs in peat or vermicultite at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Triteleia (Brodiaea) laxa - Store corms dry at 70-77°F (21-25°C).

Tritonia - Store corms in peat at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Tulbaghia violacea - Store tuberous roots in moist peat at 45°F (7°C).

Vallota - Store bulbs in moist peat at 45°F (7°C).

Veltheimia - If possible, do not store bulbs. If stored, keep dry at 77°F (25°C). When bulbs are in containers place at 50-60°F (10-16°C) to overwinter.

Watsonia - Store corms dry at 35-41°F (2-5°C).

Zantedeschia (Calla Lilies) - Store rhizomes or tubers dry at 50-60°F (10-16°C). Take care not to injure the storage organs.

Zephyranthes - Store bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 50-60°F (10-16°C).