Freesia Growing Guide

Planting Freesia

  • Plant in spring after the last frost.
  • If you cannot plant your bulbs and perennials right away, store them in a cool, dry, dark location, like a basement.
  • These bulbs need full sun and they do best in well-drained soil. Plant them with the pointy end up about 5 cm (2 in) deep and 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) apart.
  • Water thoroughly after planting.

Growing Freesia

  • If early blooms are desired, pot up and start indoors up to six weeks ahead of last frost date.
  • Move to a bright, warm 27 °C (80 °F) location such as a sunroom.
  • When shoots reach about 5 cm (2 in) tall, move the pot to a cooler 16 °C to 18 °C (60 to 65 °F) room in a bright window for a couple weeks until flower buds form. Turn the pot every couple days for even growth. When in full bloom, keep freesias out of direct sun to prolong the bloom time.

Care Freesia

  • These bulbs require frequent watering until they come into flowering. Once flowering, they should be lightly watered.
  • When in bloom, feel free to cut some flowers for bouquets. This will not hurt the plants and having scented blooms to bring indoors is one of the best reasons to grow them.

Winterizing Freesia

  • These bulbs are not winter hardy and need to be dug up after the first frost.
  • After you dry the bulbs, place in a paper bag.
  • Store away from drafts at 5 °C to 10 °C (40 °F to 50 °F) until the next planting season.
Freesia