Even if freesias are now popular as ornamental plants for the garden, they are still very attractive houseplants. Be prepared, however, that your freesias are not an ornament all year round.
With a lot of care and sensitivity, freesias also thrive as houseplants
How to care for freesias in the apartment?
Freesias are not exactly easy to care for, but rather little divas. They like it warm, dry on top and moist at the roots. Therefore, you should only water these plants in the root area, i.e. close to the ground. Also, give your freesia a high-potassium fertilizer about every four weeks during growth.
It is important that you give the freesia enough rest after it has finished flowering. Let the foliage on the plant wilt, even if it doesn't look particularly pretty. In this way, your freesia can draw the energy contained in the leaves into the tuber and store it there. If you shorten the hibernation period by a few weeks, your freesia may bloom again much earlier.
What happens to my freesia in winter?
In winter or after flowering, the above-ground parts of the freesia plant perish. During this time, the plant is first watered less, then not at all. You can stop fertilizing at the end of the flowering period. If the leaves have dried up, you can cut them off. Only the tuber overwinters.
You can leave your freesia bulb in the pot in which it grew. But then the soil must be nice and dry, otherwise the tuber can rot and will not bloom again. If your freesia is in the garden or on the balcony, be sure to bring the plant into the apartment before the first frost.
The essentials in brief:
- Place the plant bright and warm
- Water and fertilize regularly outside of the hibernation period
- Store bulbs moderately warm, dry and airy during hibernation
- Flowering time changeable in the apartment
tips
Freesias like it dry on the flowers and leaves, but moist on the roots, you should definitely bear this in mind when watering.