There are close to 2000 South African bulbous plant species and most of these are easy to grow. Enough variety to fill your garden and all the pots you can lay your hands on.  From well-known species in the horticultural world such as arums, freesias and chinkerinchees to a host of yet-to-be-discovered gems.  This section will provide some general information on how cultivate to the hardier bulb species.  Not much is said about the fussy ones, as they are generally not the best ones to start with. 

Selection of Species

To start with, you will have to choose the species you want to grow.  A sensible strategy that could help a beginner on his/her way, is to focus on the hardier, easy to grow (but not necessarily common) species suitable for the garden.  This will not only allow you to transform your garden into a showcase of exquisite beauty (at an affordable price), but also prepare you for the more difficult and delicate species.  Furthermore, this general exposure could lead the way for specialization in one or more of the genera (e.g. Gladioli).      

The availability of stock could determine what you grow, although if you propagate from seed you should not find this too limiting.  There are a number of commercial organizations that sell seed of a wide variety of South African bulbs and also not-for-profit organizations such as IBSA and the Botanical Society that distribute seed among their members. Visit the link section of this website for more information.

You will have to find an area outside your home that you can dedicate to the cultivation of your bulbs. This can range from anything from a couple of pots on the balcony of your flat, an under-cover greenhouse to raised beds or an open bed cultivation area. In general most winter-growing bulbous plants prefer a sunny position, while summer-growing species will do best in a semi-shaded position.  Evergreen species' requirements may vary from full sun to full shade.  Free air circulation is also important for most of the bulbs. 

The most important component of the growing medium is sand, preferably a medium-grained, washed river sand, although coarse industrial sand may also do. The one thing to remember here is that the proportion loam and compost in the medium should become smaller for the more difficult-to-grow species.  For example, while 'easier' species such as Gladiolus carneus should be grown in a medium consisting of two parts sand, one part loam and one part fine compost, difficult species such as Gadiolus debilis may be grown in three parts sand and one part compost (or even pure sand). Despite all of this being said, there is always scope for you as a grower to discover your own ideal growing medium. 

The depth of planting is the next most important thing to consider when the planting your bulbs.  At the worst this could lead to the demise of your bulb, or at least it could prevent it from flowering.  For instance, at least two thirds of the neck of bulbs of Boophone disticha should be exposed or otherwise they may be at risk of rotting.   Babianas bulbs, if planted shallow, will pull themselves down to the optimum level before they start to flower.            

Buying mature bulbs is the easiest and quickest way to get a pot or even a bed full of flowering bulbs, yet it could become quite an expensive exercise and the availability of bulbs is often a problem.  An innovative solution is to propagate your own plants at home. 

Sowing seed is one of the best ways to increase the numbers of your plants.  Winter-growing species should generally be sown in autumn (March to May) and summer-growing species in spring (August to October).  Evergreen species from the winter-rainfall region would do best when planted in autumn and those from summer-rainfall areas are best sown in spring.  As always there are exceptions to the rule (the members of Amaryllidaceae family), which should be sown as soon as they are ripe.  Most of the species will germinate quite readily.

This is that wonderful characteristic of some bulbs species to create identical off springs out of their own. 

Winter-growing species should be watered thoroughly when planted and then only once leave shoots start to appear.  Thereafter, the plants should rather be watered well at regular intervals (e.g. once a week) than light or irregularly. A number of species from our arid areas do not respond favourably to crown watering as it may cause rotting.  This is especially a problem under glass and in still and damp weather.  Watering from below could be a solution here. Be careful not to over-water container plants (it is preferable to have a growing medium that is too dry than too wet). A well-drained soil medium in a pot that is preferably tending towards the small side, will help to limit the likelihood of over-watering.  The exceptions are species of among other Geissorhiza (e.g. G. darlingensis and radians) and Onixotis, which require continually moist medium during the growing season. Watering should be withheld when the leaves start to turn yellow.

The main goal of feeding is to replace the nutrients in the soil as it becomes depleted.  With frequent repotting (every year or alternate year) it is therefore possible to grow most of the South African bulbs without feeding. Larger bulbs (e.g. Amaryllids) should be left undisturbed for longer periods of time and will therefore need feeding when cultivated in pots. This does however not mean that bulbs will not respond well to feeding. Use a liquid fertilizer low in phosphate and nitrogen and high in potassium at monthly intervals in the growing season.  

This section discusses some of the pests that could attack your bulbs in cultivation.  Details about other diseases and the treatment options available may be found in the literature.