How to Store Flower Bulbs Before Planting

Here are a few helpful tips on How to Store Flower Bulbs Before Planting. These tips will help prevent rot and mold that will damage the bulbs.

For any gardener, flower bulbs are a must to create a beautiful display. The ease of planting once and then watching those bulbs bloom each year is a wonder of nature that is part of the joy of gardening. While most plant right away, there are occasions when you need to store your flower bulbs for weeks or months before planting into your garden. In those cases, you will find these tips on How to Store Flower Bulbs Before Planting helpful.

Whether you are transplanting to a new location, purchased on clearance at the end of a season, or have fear that your climate is too cold for your bulbs to survive through a season, these tips are a great starting place.

How to Store Flower Bulbs Before Planting

Determine if your bulbs should stay in the ground during winter. Some bulbs are not strong enough to survive the cold temperatures of winter. While the bulk of flower bulbs will be fine in the ground year round, it varies due to climate and variety. Common flower bulbs you’ll want to consider digging and storing over the winter months are lilies, freesia, and elephant ear species.

Clean your flower bulbs. You don’t need to give them a scrubbing, but you should shake of debris and remove as much dirt as possible. If your bulbs are dirty, they are more likely to mold or go bad in the storing process. A great tip is to use a gentle paint brush to brush debris off the bulbs before storing.

Make sure they are dry. Moisture on your flower bulbs can create mold and mildew. As mentioned above, mold is a bad thing for your bulbsand ruins them. If you have a nice sunny day, you can spread them out on a cloth to air dry. Otherwise, wiping them down with a gentle cloth to remove moisture is the best way to go.

Pack your flower bulbs away properly. Always place your bulbs in the packing material face down and in a place where there will be no moisture getting to them.

Store in single layers separated by cloth or hay. Cheesecloth, packing peanuts, or hay are all great options to layer between you bulbs to keep the moisture at bay and the flower bulbs together easily.
Spreading your flower bulbs out so they are close but not touching gives them room to allow air to circulate as well as keeps moisture away.
Make sure your storage areas are dark and dry. Many suggest storing in your basement in a covered box.

You can generally store the flower bulbs for about a year in a good storage spot, but understand that less than optimal conditions will shorten that considerably. So, if moving or considering a different location for your garden the next year, it is perfectly safe to store your bulbs for longer periods of time.

Flower bulbs are generally strong and supple and will last a gardener plenty of time to get them in the ground. In between growing seasons if you have the need, these tips will help you to manage to store your flower bulbs easily and safely.