FREESIAS FOR WINTER BLOOMING

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 19

FREESIAS FOR WINTER BLOOMING

THE BULBS MUST BE POTTED NOW. If freesia-s are required to flower in mid-winter the first lot of bulbs should be potted during the next two or three weeks. On no account should freesias be forced. Time lost at the beginning cannot be regained by the use of_ excessive fire heat later on. Five-inch pots will each take five or six bulbs. Uso a compost of loam and leaf mould, with a scattering of sand. The tops of the bulbs should be half an inch below the surface of tho soil; let the bulbs be set on a layer of sand, this will encourage a quicker root action.

When potted give a good watering, place in a cold frame, and cover with sifted leaf soil until top growth commences, and then remove the covering. Under these conditions growth will soon appear, then they should have all light possible. As the growth advances remove the plants to a shelf in a cool greenhouse, keeping them near the glass to encourage strong and healthy growth. On no account should the temperature rise above 50deg. When the flower spikes become visible extra fire heat can then bo used with safety, and occasional doses of weak liquid manure may be given. In due course some support will be found necessary; this is given by four neat sticks inside the edge of each pot, a few strands of raffia being tied round them. After the flowering season has passed gradually give less water, and place the pots containing the bulbs on a sunny shelf under glass.— 1 Popular Gardening.’