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Turquoise Ixia

Ixia viridiflora

When to plant -- Your bulbs (technically corms) will sprout in the Fall, around September/October in the Northern hemisphere.  Until then, store them in a paper bag.  Or you may plant them in soil, if it is kept completely dry until September.  Either way, keep them in a cool spot until Fall, out of direct sunlight.

Pot size -- The pot should be about 5-6 inches tall (15 cm) and each bulb should be about 2-3 inches (6 cm) from the next one, and from the edge of the pot.  The pot needs drainage holes. Avoid using a black pot, which may overheat the roots.

Soil -- This Ixia needs well-draining soil.  A good mix is 1 part potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse sand.  Do not add fertilizer to the soil, as most potting soils contain enough of it for this plant.

Planting the bulb --  To reduce the chance of rot, surround the bulb with a layer of perlite.  The way to do this is to fill the pot to within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top with your soil mix, then lay down a thin (1/4 inch / 6 mm) layer of perlite, place the bulbs on this, add some more perlite until they are covered, then continue filling the pot with soil.  Plant the bulb with the smooth, domed end up (the other end may have a "puckered" look - this is where the roots were attached).  The top of the bulb should be about an inch (2.5 cm) under the surface.

Water the soil lightly - just enough to keep the soil evenly moist throughout (but not soggy).  Keep the pot at room temperature until the bulb sprouts.

Sunlight -- Once your bulb sprouts, move it to a sunny spot.  This Ixia prefers full sun, although some afternoon shade might be needed in very warm areas.

Watering:  Aim to the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.  Avoid letting it dry out completely, but also avoid keeping it soggy.  You may use a moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture down at the root level.  You can buy this at garden and hardware stores inexpensively.  Simply stick the probe in the soil to the level where the roots are.

Feeding -- This species has relatively low fertilizer requirements, and strong fertilizers should be avoided.  Most potting soils contains fertilizer, so no feeding should be needed the first month of growth.  Feed twice during the growing season using an organic bulb fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended dose.  Avoid non-organic ("chemical") fertilizers.

Frost protection -- The plants must be protected from freezing temperatures.  You may grow them indoors in a sunny room.

Dormancy care -- The biggest risk of mold is during the "senescent" period, while the leaves are dying back, which occurs after the plant has flowered in the Spring.  Water very cautiously during this time, giving just enough water to keep the soil from becoming bone-dry.

Once the leaves have completely died back, you may remove the bulbs if you wish and separate the baby corms.  Store them in a paper bag in a cool spot until the Fall.  

The bulbs are relatively short-lived and may need to be replaced either by seed or bulblets after 4-6 years.

Pests -- I haven't had trouble with insects, but mealy bugs are reported to like the bulbs.  If you encounter this, email me for ways to control them.

Have fun growing them!

Jeff

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