Babiana (Babiana stricta), popularly known as the Baboon flower (because Baboons eat the bulbs), is a bulbous perennial with magnificent freesia-like blooms. Bibiana is particularly well-known for being one of the most extensively grown hybrid species and for its durability in the garden.
The colours of the blossoms range from vivid blue and purple to deep pink. Babiana stricta is a frost-tender plant that adds colour and fragrance to home gardens with its brightly colourful and fragrant blossoms.
They are pretty simple to propagate, and many bulbs will spontaneously self-produce via offsets, bulbils, or seeds. Others require human intervention to reproduce correctly, with chipping, scaling, and scooping being the most prevalent approaches.
However, most people dislike planting propagated Babianas since they are challenging to grow. So, if you enjoy flowering bulbs but have a complex space to plant them in, you might want to explore cultivating Babianas. This guide will teach you how to plant Babiana Bulbs and provide you with some tips.
Let’s get this party started;
Take these steps into consideration when planting Babiana Bulbs
You cannot simply plant some Babiana bulbs and wish for the best. Bear the following points in mind.
- Babiana is not wintered tolerant in areas where temperatures go below 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 C.). These bulbs may be transplanted in the spring when the threat of cold has gone. They will grow throughout the winter and blossom in the early spring. So, try to plant these bulbs during the season that we propose.
- Babiana also grows nicely in 12 inches (31 cm.) pots that may be carried indoors for winter storage. Don’t plant them in small pots because their roots like to move freely, so small pots have a chance to give them stress.
- Before digging a hole and planting, all fertilisers should be thoroughly mixed into the soil. Fertilisers may cause the death of Babiana Bulbs if they come into touch with them.
- Babiana prefers soil that is rich, porous and drains well. Add organic soil nutrients like peat moss or ground bark to your soil. Baboon bulbs require less water throughout their dormant season. Keep your flower bulbs dry until you’re ready to transplant them.
- Make sure the bulbs get enough air circulation to keep them from decaying. Keep bulbs in a cool, dry area. A garage or refrigerator with 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit temperature t is ideal.
- The perfect soil for growing bulbs is sandy loam, a well-balanced mixture of clay, sand, silt, and organic matter. Keep in mind that “balancing” is required for bulb soil needs. Clay and silt are two kinds of highly dense soil and leave little room for root development.
- After planting bulbs, they should be watered. This will aid in developing the plant’s roots and the establishment of the soil surrounding the bulb, therefore minimising air pockets. This will assist in levelling the dirt in the planting area and give the necessary moisture for the bulbs to begin roots. Water deeply since the bulb may be planted relatively profoundly, and the water has to bathe the roots properly, and over-watering during planting might result in bulb rot. Babiana Bulbs, on the other hand, are spring-flowering bulbs that prefer to become dormant in the summer, so don’t overwater them in the spring.
How To Plant Babiana Bulbs
Now let’s get down with our main event and learn about how to plant these Babian Bulbs, And try to follow our instructions and advice step by step-
Here’s how you plant them:
Step 1: Prepare Container and Soil
Most Babiana species thrive in a wide range of soil conditions, including those with a high sand component. Baboon flowers, on the other hand, demand adequate drainage. Avoid places where run-off from overhangs or roofs occurs.
Raising flower beds or adding organic material, such as compost, can help improve soil drainage. Babiana prefers sandy and loamy soil types, and the soil must be well-drained.
The pH level must be kept near 7 since acidic or alkaline soils hamper plant development. Babiana also grows nicely in 12 inches (31 cm.) pots that may be carried indoors for winter storage. Before planting, create a hole in the bottom of the pots.
It lets water in the soil drain easily, allowing ample air to reach the Babiana roots. Because Babiana prefers adequate drainage in their soil, two or three holes in the bottom of the pots are a requirement. After selecting a pot with enough drainage holes, set it in a location that receives full sun to part shade.
Step 2: Dug the Bulbs Properly Into the Soil
Plant 4 to 6-inch (10-15 cm) deep monkey corms. In colder areas, when the corms will be excavated for winter storage, the space between each Babiana bulb can be 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.). Large bulbs, such as most tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils, should be placed 6 inches apart or five bulbs per square foot.
Smaller bulbs, such as crocus and snowdrops, and small-bulbed tulips and daffodils, should be placed approximately 4 inches apart, or 8 per square foot. However, the ideal number of bulbs per square foot for Babiana Bulbs is 12 -15.
Step 3: Water Properly After Planting Babiana Bulb
When new growth begins, begin watering and keep the soil mildly damp until the foliage falls off after flowering. It is suitable for keeping dormant bulbs somewhat dry.
After-flowering maintenance: These bulbs may be kept in the ground for several years without being disturbed. However, its water requirements are lowered because it becomes dormant in the summer.
Provide water-soluble plant food every year before and after the flowering season. It will be more appropriate and result in better flowers if you administer water-soluble fertiliser three weeks before bloom time.
Problems Babiana Plant Faces
Babiana plants are renowned for their hardiness and simplicity of maintenance. They rarely pose complex problems for farmers. Nevertheless, some particular frequent problems may occur. Therefore, examine such problems and their remedies.
- The most prevalent cause of yellowing Babiana plant leaves is moisture stress, caused by either overwatering or underwatering. Roots cannot breathe in too moist environments. They dehydrate, shut down, and quit supplying the water and nutrients that plants require, causing their leaves to become yellow. So, if the leaves on your Babiana plants are turning yellow, examine the soil in the container to determine whether it is dry. If the soil is dry, cease watering your Babiana for a few days until 80 per cent of the soil is dry.
- Several soil-borne fungi that survive in the soil produce Babiana bulbs rot. The disease thrives in wet, poorly drained soils. The most straightforward strategy to avoid bulb rots is to prepare the planting location to be adequately drained. Planting should be avoided in poorly drained regions or gather water. On the other hand, we would prepare a new space for your bulbs using well-drained, sandy loam soil. Contaminated preservation solutions used in vase presentations for cut flowers can cause leaves and petals to wither or bow.
- With transpiration still active, the water absorption of cut flowers is hampered, resulting in a loss of water balance. To avoid this, slice the stem of the Babiana flower at an angle of 1 inch from the already cut end of the bloom. Then add three tablespoons of sugar to the tepid water in the vase, drop in the wilted flower, and set it aside.
- Cobwebs on your plants may indicate that you failed to dust for an extended period, but they might also indicate that your plant is infested with spider mites. To resolve this issue, dab a clean cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wash the bottom of the damaged plant leaves. Alternatively, you may kill the spider mites infesting your plant by combining one part rubbing alcohol and one part water.
FAQ
How tall is Babiana?
Although Babiana species can range in height from 8 to 45 inches (20-114 cm. ), most hybrids stand at 12 inches (31 cm.). That height is ideal for naturalising in rock gardens, growing in pots, or using in flower arrangements.
Are Babiana perennials?
Babiana stricta, often known as the baboon flower or blue freesia, is a blooming plant in the Iridaceae family native to South Africa’s Cape Province and has become naturalised in Australia.
How do you know choosing Babiana bulbs is healthy?
A good bulb is firm and fat, rather than wilted and dried is most likely out of date if it crackles when you squeeze te. Furthermore, they should be discarded if they feel soft or spoiled since rot has set in.
Closing Words
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Good Luck!!
