Flower bulbs, planting and care

Amaryllis is also known as Belladonna Lily. It has originated from South Africa. It is closely related to Hippeastrum, also known as Royal Dutch Amaryllis or Trumpet Lily or Night Star Lily. Amaryllis is distinguished from Hippeastrum by the solid flower stalk (scape) and lack of leaves while in bloom. The botanical name of Amaryllis is 'Amaryllis Belladonna L.' and it belongs to the family of Amaryllidaceae.

Major use of Amaryllis

Tulips are famous for their unmatched brilliance and attractive colours. The flamboyant tulips not only bring a splendid show to the garden but also have a great economic value. They occupy a prominent position among top ten cut flowers of the world. Today Holland is the primary source of tulip production in the world. Tulips grow well in temperate regions but do not grow well in the plains. The term 'Tulip' is derived from a Turkish word - Tulbend or 'Turban', which this flower resembles.

Choosing and Buying Tulip bulbs

Tulip flowers are generally propagated by tunicated bulbs or offsets. The bulbs should be checked for any infection, like discoloration, cuts or bruises or softness .Infected bulbs must be discarded.

Tulip bulbs initiate their flowering when they are properly forced (i.e. satisfy artificially log cold requirement).If unforced bulb is used then plant growth is slow and stem growth is inhibited. The Tulip plant produces flowers on very short stems and no uniform flowering occurs.

The various colors in Tulips and recommended cultivars are as below:

1. Single Early Tulips:

• Apricot Beauty- Apricot colour.
• Bellona- Golden yellow (Scented).
• Brilliant Star- Scarlet.
• Couleur Cardinal- Deep scarlet.
• Diana- White, centre cream.
• Pink Beauty- Deep pink, edged white.
• Prinses Irene-Orange with purple flame.

2. Double Early Tulips:

The Royal Horticulture Society has pioneered the classification of daffodils since 1908 and since 1955 it has become the International Registration Authority for the genus. Under the current system of classification daffodils fall into 12 division .Within each division daffodils are further distinguished by code colours.

White/ Whitish : W ; Orange : O ; Red : R ; Yellow : Y ; Pink : P ; Green : G

Normally one bulb is planted in 6-8 inch pot (15-20cm) of well draining mixture. The potting mixture consists of equal parts of loamy soil, sand and well rotten Farm Yard Manure(FYM). Before planting dip the bulb for 15 minutes in fungicides (0.02% Bavistin solution) to control diseases. Never use fresh manure or pine bark as a part of the medium. Plant the bulb with nose above the rim of the pot. Two third portions of the bulbs should be inside the potting mixture and nose of the bulbs should be planted in upright position.

Daffodils contain many chemicals toxic to mammals, including Oxalic acid and other alkaloids. These compounds and their precursors have antimiotic properties. Daffodil plants have been known to be toxic because of their narcotic, purgative and emetic properties when eaten. Their sap is a powerful irritant which can cause rashes on the hands and faces of flower pickers.

The best time of picking Daffodil flowers is when they reach 'goose-neck' stage i.e. when the flower has been bent over slightly. The spath has split, showing colour but before the perianth parts separate. Daffodil flowers intended for export market are picked earlier i.e. at the pencil stage. This may result in smaller flower which do not last as long. Cut flowers can be stored before dispatch to market without affecting their vase life either by keeping upright in water or wrapping in plastic films or flat in trays.

Daffodils are generally propagated through bulbs or offsets. They are generally sold as single nosed or double nosed bulbs. The double nosed bulbs are actually two bulbs fused together. An important factor determining whether or not flowering will occur is the size/weight of the Daffodil bulb. For Daffodils there is a minimum bulb weight required to ensure one flower per bulb is 10 gm. (approx). The Daffodil bulbs vary significantly in size among the various species and varieties.

Daffodils, the handsome and well known bulbous plants are the essence of spring. The bright golden yellow flowers bloom almost everywhere during Feb-March. Daffodils symbolize friendship because of their exclusive unmatched beauty. They are constantly recurring flowers, where climate is moderate. Daffodils often bloom in clusters. The term Daffodil and Narcissus are synonymous. Daffodil is the common name for all the members of the genus Narcissus (L).

Garden Tulips and their classification

The basis of classification of Tulips is their flowering season i.e. early, mid-season and late flowering. The official classification of Tulip lists 15 divisions. 11 divisions are of garden Tulips, another three divisions of cultivars derived from the species and the last comprising true species and their direct hybrids.

Division 1 and division 2 contain early flowering garden cultivars because they are first to bloom.

Tulip bulbs harvesting

Tulip is generally propagated by tunicated bulbs or offsets. Bulbs should be checked for any infection, like discoloration, cuts or bruises or softness. Infected bulbs must be discarded.

Tulip bulbs initiate their flowering when they are properly forced (i.e. satisfy artificially log cold requirement).If unforced bulb is used then plant growth is slow and stem growth is inhibited. The Tulip plant produces flowers on very short stems and no uniform flowering occurs.

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