Flower bulbs are plentiful on the market. But this way of propagating them in the garden is expensive. That can be avoided. Because if a few bulbs are already set, free propagation is possible at any time.

The easiest way is to propagate via onions

methods of propagation

It may surprise you, but most flower bulbs can be lured into new offspring in several ways. Some paths are labour-intensive, require skill or take a long time to flower afterwards. Luckily you have free choice between:

  • Propagation by onions
  • Division of the flower bulb
  • seed propagation

Propagation by onions

This method is most commonly practiced in private gardens. Because almost every flower bulb develops small brood bulbs sooner or later. Although they are attached to the mother bulb, they can easily be detached from it. You can encourage onion formation with a few measures. This is how this propagation method works ideally:

  1. Cut off the open flower head as soon as possible in the second year of flowering at the latest. However, leave the flower stalk and leaves on until they wither on their own.
  2. Repeat this procedure the following year as well.
  3. Dig the bulbs after flowering

out, the leaves should already be withered. There should now be small spawning bulbs attached to the large flower bulbs.

  1. Carefully break off the scallions from the mother onion or cut them off with a clean and sharp knife. The roots must remain intact.
  2. Put the little bulbs in the ground. Pay attention to the optimal planting depth and planting distance.
  3. Water the onions well.
  4. If the young flower bulbs want to bloom in the following vegetation period, remove the bud base early on. Instead, the energy should be used for onion growth.

tips

Cuts or fractures after separating the onions should be treated with a fungicide to prevent fungal diseases.

Division of the flower bulb

This method is only mentioned here with a few bullet points, because it is quite demanding and not the first choice in the hobby garden:

  • first dig up large onions and clean them
  • Scale onions are divided into individual scales
  • each scale is preventively treated with fungicide
  • then they are planted upright and covered with some soil
  • Shell onions are cut open lengthwise
  • the rounded placenta is halved at the end of the onion
  • after the fungicide treatment, both halves are planted

seed propagation

Seeds can easily be obtained from some types of flower bulbs. They must be stored in a cool, dry place until they are sown in spring. They are sown directly into the bed and kept moist. However, this method has a significant disadvantage: the plants obtained in this way often make us wait years for their flowers.

Category:

Vegetable garden