The Disease of Bulbitus by Bobbie Brittingham

Now I lay them down so deep.
Waiting to wake from winter’s sleep.
Bringing forth a dazzling bright sight.
When spring breaks thru the long dark night.

Now you have to laugh at that. Really now. Come on, that is a ridiculous poem.

Yes, I agree. It is bad! But the reality is that planting bulbs in the fall is one of the most rewarding things anyone can do in the garden. The daffodil, tulip, lily, iris, crocus, hyacinth, scilla, allium, cassia, Muscari, are relatively easy to grow. The effort put into the correct planting is tripled when they start to poke thru the ground and the anticipation grows with each day as you watch them stretch their leaves toward the warming sun, enjoying the freedom from the cold. It is almost too late to plant now but as long as the ground is not frozen and you can get a spade in it you can put those little buggers in the ground.

I have been working diligently on the multitude of boxes of bulbs that started arriving in September. Why did I not heed the admonishment of my friends and NOT order so many bulbs? I CAN”T. I have this disease called Bulbitus. It is not my fault. I inherited this awful affliction. There is no cure. I guess I wouldn’t take a cure even if there were one. To me bulbs are really wonderful. Looking the catalogues and dreaming how beautiful they would look growing in my garden. When I come across a new one, it casts this mesmerizing spell over me, and I have to give in this addiction. Maybe I will order just a few. OK! That will hold me. Maybe a few more of the same variety or even a different one, because you should have more than a few to make a statement, and really, that is what I want anyway. So I add a few more to the order. Then I turn the page, and the same thing happens. I can’t get away from it. So I give into this stronghold the colorful bulb catalogue pages have on me. OK next…

Remember this started in September or really in March and April. The devious bulb company knows that as the spring garden starts to bloom, it is the best time to start grooming a gardener with this Bulbitus condition. They know we see where there is an empty space that should have a different color or size bloom to make the garden look like their pictures. NOT !!!! …. Never has any garden of mine looked like the pictures, and most likely never will. But these bulb companies keep sending the catalogue just to feed the addiction.

Now nearly December or rather it is December, and I have just planted the last of my bulbs. You must understand too that I have had this disease for a long time, and since I have not the slightest idea how to cure myself ( unless the bank forecloses ) the UPS , Airborne, and USPS, keep bring me these heavy boxes that I know can’t be for me because I already have several hundred or very possibly thousands . Must be a mistake. But a lovely mistake anyway … I will accept it.

Besides planting bulbs in the garden, I have planted most of the large pots that had annuals in them. You cab layer different bulbs in one pot. Start with the largest and latest blooming on the first layer about 6/8 inches deep and cover with soil and then build up another layer of different bulbs. Cover up each layer with soil. The earliest and smallest should be the last layer. Covering all the layers with soil, a good drink, and a little mulch or leaves will keep this pot in good condition. Leave it outside for the winter with a little protection. And then as the bulbs start to emerge in the early spring, bring the pot into a prominent place where you can watch them bloom their heads off. It is a little gem of a garden just for your enjoyment.

You can also force some bulbs to bloom earlier than normal by doing the same method and bring them into the garage or another like place as soon as they start to show a little green thru the soil. Keep cool and moist, but not freezing for several days to an about a week, then move the pot inside to a sunny location and have the fun of beating mother nature to the punch.
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The gorgeous amaryllis is another great bulb to grow and takes near to nothing as far as work. The only thing is not to plant it too deep and not to over water it. They can rot easily with too much water. After it blooms cut the stalk off and treat it like any other house plant. In the late spring, you can put it outside, water and fertilize as a good gardener should. Then in the fall cut the leaves off, let it dry out in a cool dark location for a resting period of six to eight weeks or more if you forget where it is, as I always do. Then start to water a little leaving in a cool place with a little more light. When green shows again take inside, and it will bloom all over again.

The amaryllis will be ok in the same pot for about two years but will outgrow it by a third. It could even have a few off spring attached ( as they usually do ) to the mother plant. These can be removed and planted the same as the parent plant. It will take a year or two for these young ones to bloom, but they will. THEN if you keep this up you too will have more than you know what to do with. I have found a good solution to this dilemma. They will do very well in a pot or in the ground for a striking summer bloom. Plant as you would any other summer bulb. Grow in a large pot with other big leave or blooming plants, and you will have an exotic look for the summer pots.

If there is a remedy, therapy or treatment for Bulblitus that is available please don’t tell me. I completely enjoy this affliction, and it has such beautiful consequence.