BULBS AS POT PLANTS 
Bulbs are the most desirable of pot plants and may be easily forced in the living 
room, kitchen, or small greenhouse. Their response is much more rapid than that of 
a recently potted non-bulbous plant because of their storehouse of food and energy in 
the bulb. The reward is often an outstanding flower in a few weeks. 
The proper time to pot will usually be given under the listing. It is very important 
to pot at once the following: Brunsvigia, Haemanthus coccineus, Amaryllis advena, 
Lycoris radiata, Sternbergia or others that bloom very early in fall. Pot soon the Arum 
Palaestinum, Veltheimia, Lachenalia, Cyrtanthus, Nerines and Oxalis. White Callas, 
Freesias, Baby Glads, Sparaxis, Tritonias, Babians, and those that flower from mid- 
winter on, may be planted from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15. Colored Callas may be potted as 
early as Dec. 15 if watered only lightly until well started. They start easiest about 
Feb. 15 and are less likely to rot from too much water before growth starts. Amaryllis 
hybrids and most Amaryllis species can be potted from Dec. 1 to St 1 but the early 
date is preferable. 
The Ismene, Elisena, Agapanthus mooreanus minor, A. pendulus, are sent as soon 
as dormant as all are deciduous. They do not usually start before about Feb. and should 
be watered very little until growth starts. Don’t water Ismene and Elisena before Feb. 1 
and keep these two in a very warm room, as this will make them start more easily 
and more sure to flower early. 70° to 80° is not too warm. Amaryllis, Agapanthus, 
Ismene and Elisena like a warm room when growing but most of the others need a 
cool room. 
Clivias are among the most gorgeous of pot plants. I would place only Amaryllis 
and Orchids as more desirable. They need a cool room and not too much water in 
winter. Cymbidiums Orchids are gorgeous pot plants. They should be potted in 34 peat 
and 14 sandy loam. or nearly pure sand. Half and half will do. Leaf mould may be 
used instead of peat. Light watering but frequent, they must not become dry nor soggy. 
Billbergias make nice pot plants with attractive foliage. Water sparingly in winter 
unless flowering. B. nutans has a lovely flower in Feb. 
The following can be moved or potted at any time: Amarcrinum Howardii, 
Sprekelia formosissima superba, Tulbaghia violaceae, Clivia, Cymbidium. 
Haemanthus Katherinae, one of nature’s masterpieces, is a gorgeous pot plant. This 
bulb is almost evergreen and has only a very short appropriate season for moving and 
repotting, usually late Jan. to Feb. but not always same date. Use regular potting soil 
with peat added and a 12” to 15” pot. (This bulb will be listed in Spring Catalog.) 
I have mentioned only the most outstanding bulbs for potting here. Dutch Iris, 
Allium neapolitanum and triquetrum, Brodiaea uniflora and many other bulbs listed in 
this catalog are also desirable for potting. For that matter one can grow about anything 
in a pot of appropriate size but I would not recommend a Sequoia gigantea. 
Potting Directions 
The pot for a 244” Amaryllis bulb should be about 7” diam. This is about right 
for most bulbs of that size. Give larger or smaller bulbs, pots proportionate in size. 
Small bulbs like Freesias, Babianas, Tritonias, Sparaxis, etc., if about Y,” diam. smay be 
planted 2” apart in pots up to 6” diam. Large sizes of these that are near 1” diam. 
ought to be 3” apart. 
It is most important that drainage be perfect and the soil of a friable texture that 
allows water to drain perfectly. Cover the hole in the bottom of pot with reversed bits 
of broken pots and on top of that small pebbles then coarse sand will help. An 
imperfectly drained soil often causes bulbs to rot before starting and if they start they 
do not grow and flower well. Yellow tipped leaves often indicate poor drainage. The 
pots should be clean and scalded. | 
The proper soil is a rich sandy loam with the addition of thoroly rotted leaf mould. 
Add peat or oak-leaf mould for acid loving plants.. Use no fresh manure or other 
6 
