“Why won’t my bulbs grow?”
 (Read 20+ times)
By Harold Sink
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Many questions are asked by beginner gardeners. The mystery is not so mysterious when you know the answers, or have experimented enough. The question about bulbs not growing well or at all can be resolved with a few adjustments.
The biggest reason bulbs may not grow in your garden may be that they were left out too long before planting them. If they are not properly stored they will dry out so much that they will not absorb the life giving water they need.
Some people also tend to leave their bulbs in the ground for too many years without separating them, which can also be a hindrance to their growth. Overcrowding of bulbs leads to less nutrients in the soil for them to live off of.
Sun/heat and water are not enough. Bulbous plants need nutrients from the soil just as we need nutrients from food.
When storing bulbs for a period of time, keep them in a cool unlit area. I have heard of gardeners using packing peanuts around the bulbs in a box. I prefer sawdust in a breathable container with bulbs.
Non-storage, but ground kept bulbs should be separated every two to four years depending on the type of bulb. Tulip bulbs can manage to still grow up to six years, but it is best to separate them every three to four years. Gladiolus bulbs should be separated every two years as they multiply very quickly.
Apart from storage, bulbs may not be growing in your garden due to compact soil conditions, pest infestation, and being too dry or wet. There is also the consideration that the particular bulbs are either getting too much or too little sun, too.
Before checking out soil conditions, check for signs of pests. Those cracks in the ground may not be from lack of water. You may have rabbits, moles or gophers, which are the most common burrowing garden pests. Then there are prairie dogs, armadillos and other pests that are a nuisance as well.
Investigating surrounding plants will also show signs of the creepy crawlies taking over your yard. Spider mites, aphids, ants, and so on will attack at leaves, stalks, and root systems leading to sickly plants. Boll weevils, bulb flies, grub worms, and woodlice are notorious for eating away at bulbs over a period of time.
A thorough soil test for not just ph balance, but also for larvae and eggs will be a great insight as to what is going on with your soil. Most colleges and universities will test your soil for free or a small fee. Garden centers will do the same, but may only check for what you need to amend your soil.
Once you have all of this information in hand, take action to rid the yard of the unwanted pests, especially if you don’t have the prey that normally would rid your yard of them. Toads, frogs, birds and garden snakes should be welcomed into any garden.
For all you know, you may only need to dig up the soil to loosen it up for proper drainage of water, and to allow the roots of your bulbs room to grow. You may have a slightly higher clay composition that is stunting the growth of the bulbs.
There are some bulbs that do well in clay, but not many fare all that well in it. One of the best ways to amend clay soil is to till it well and break down the clumps as fine as you can. Mix in leaves, and other matter that will quickly decompose as compared to wood chips, sawdust, etc.
Banana and orange peelings, cantaloupe and watermelon rinds, shavings of carrots, apples, and potatoes are just a few examples of other matter that will decompose faster. You can also use pre-decomposed bloodroot purchased from a garden center. You can also grow this plant as filler in your garden, and let it provide the nitrogen through its roots for the other plants.
Your bulbs will be thankful of your tender care when they find the soil meets their needs and they are being watered once in a while. Over watering is also an issue in keeping bulb plants growing. Too much water will cause disease and kill the plants.
Understand that some bulbs are smarter than we are. You may plant some newly purchased bulbs that don’t bloom the same year you plant them, but instead will grow out the following year. Some bulbs will go dormant if they feel threatened.
Yes, that sounds silly, but it is true. Plants are smarter than we think. The bluebonnet, a seed flower, may not grow flowers the first year if they were planted too late in the fall or too early in the prior year. This is just an example of how plants will choose when to grow.
Planting companion plants – plants that assist other plants in one way or another - will increase the growing of bulbous plants in your garden. As mentioned, bloodroot provides nitrogen, but so will bluebonnets and other such plants. Bluebonnet is a lupine, so just about any lupine may help your bulbs out.
Before purchasing or accepting anymore new bulbs, ask questions about them. What kind of soil condition were they growing in? How much sun did they get? Where did you, the seller, buy them? Proper research is a good idea.
Bulbs are a tricky lot of plants, but with enough information you can manage to grow them in your garden. Bulbs are also pretty much a low maintenance plant. Cutting down the leaf system when they stop blooming is a good idea in the late fall, unless they are of the winter variety.
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Author Bio Box: Harold Sink
 Personal Experience
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