Non-Hardy Bulb Care
By Brenda Hyde
If your ground freezes in the winter you'll need to dig up
and store gladiolus, cannas, dahlias and tuberous begonias.
You can dig them when they have yellowed and begun to
die back, or wait till after the first heavy frost but before the
soil freezes. You don't want to wait and dig when it's too
difficult because the corms or rhizomes may be damaged.
Always label your bulbs clearly as you store them to avoid
confusion in the spring. Makes notes of the location and
anything you want to change next year. Also, don't cover
your bulbs or seal them up in any way. You should store
them in an open box, bag or tub with wood shaving, sand,
peat or something similar.
Your basement should work for storage as long as
you use the coolest part, as far away from the furnace
or water heater as possible. Sheds or attached garages
should only be used if the temperatures don't get below
freezing inside.
Gladiolas should be cut to leave only about an inch of the
stem. Store them at about 70 degrees for a month to
dry the corms, then divide the bulbs, and clean them
up of debris, old stems etc. and then let them sit at
70 degrees again for about a week, then store them
uncovered at about 50 degrees. Glads should not be
washed with water to remove soil. Brushing away
the soil gently is enough. Store them in a box or tub
lined with peat or sand if you wish.
Dahlias should be cut back about 3 inches above the
tuber. Clean up any damaged part of the roots, and
place them upside down in the sun (on the porch or
deck works well-away from neighborhood rodents)
for a few hours. When dry, store them at about 40
degrees in a box or tub covered lightly with peat or
sand. Check occasionally during the winter. If they
look like they are drying out badly sprinkle them with
a small amount of water. It's usually better to divide
dahlias in the spring. Each part must have at least
one "bud" attached to the tubers.
Tuberous begonia stems should be cut to about
5 inches, then dried around 70 degrees for 2-3 weeks.
Once they are dry remove any dried matter and cover
them with peat, perlite or sand. They should be stored
around 40-50 degrees as well. The basement works
well, but don't use a shed, garage or any place that
may freeze.
Cannas should be cut so the stem is about 2-3 inches
high, then dig up the rhizomes very carefully, loosening
the soil as you go, so as to not cause damage. Remove
any soil carefully with a gentle spray of the hose. Allow
the cannas to dry in a shady ventilated location, then
store in a box or tub with peat or vermiculite at about 55
degrees. If you live in Zones 7 through 10 you can leave
the cannas in the ground and mulch thickly with straw,
grass clippings or chopped up leaves. Cannas can be
divided as long as they have at least 3 eyes on each
section that is divided. Simply break them by hand.
Elephant Ears should also be dug since they are a
tropical plant before a hard frost. They most likely will
only survive in Zone 8 and up otherwise. Cut off the
leaves, but don't wash or remove the soil. Dig the tubers
carefully and allow them to air dry in the shade for about
2 weeks or inside if it's too cold. After they are dry you
can remove the soil and dead leaves or stalks. Store
them in peat moss in a shallow container. You don't
want them to get too cold or moist-they need a dry, cool
location for storage.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is an avid gardener, freelance writer and
editor living in the Midwest with her husband and three
children.
BULB & PERENNIAL RESOURCES:
Spring Hill Nursery
Gurney's Nursery
Nature Hills Nursery
Pacific Callas
Bloomingbulb
DirectGardening 
Jackson & Perkins
