Bulbs

Bulbs form under the ground. It is a food storage unit that the plant develops to keep nutrition that it will use during dormancy or during droughts. The bulb can be scaly like a lily bulb, or it can form in layers like an onion.  In the center of a layered type bulb is a vertical sprout.

At the bottom of a bulb, is where the roots form. The stems and leaves form and emerge from the top. Bulbs collect nutrients from the leaves as they yellow and die back. Therefore, the leaves should not be cut until after they start to yellow and turn brown.

Bulbous plants reproduce by forming seeds or small bulbs that are referred as offsets, bulblets, or bulbils. These offsets can form on different parts of the plant. Onions can form bulblets in the flower head. Tiger lilies can form bulbils on the stems where the leaves are attached. Tulips form offsets at the base of the bulbs and they can also form seeds in the flower. The young bulbs can be removed from their parent and planted separately to grow as individuals. Flower bulbs grown from seeds will take much longer to produce a flower.

True bulbs include onions, garlic, shallot and other alliums in the Alliaceae family. They include lilies, tulip and others in the Liliaceae family. Amaryllis, Hippeastrum, Narcissus, and others in the Amaryllidaceae family are also true bulbs. In the family Iridaceae, Dutch irises and miniature irises in the subgenus, Hermodactyloides are all true bulbs. 

Generally, flower bulbs are planted twice as deep as they are tall.  With the pointed side up and the roots down. With some bulbs it is hard to tell which side goes up or down. In this case we suggest planting the bulb in the hole sideways. Most will know which way is up and will grow as normal. It is best to follow the directions that are given with the bulbs since they are not all created the same. If no directions are provided, follow the general rule of thumb given here.