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Freesias , freesias, strawberries or quitapesares are very popular bulbous plants for their flowers, which are not only very beautiful and of various colors, but are also some of the most fragrant that exist. If you like its image and also its intense and sweet smell and you want to start having them at home, we recommend that you know well how to care for this type of plant, as bulbous are delicate in some aspects, such as watering.

If you want to learn how to care for freesia to beautify your garden or home, join us in this AgroCorrn article where you will see a practical guide.

You may also be interested in: Holly care
Index
  1. Characteristics of freesias
  2. Freesia care – a basic guide
  3. Climate and location for freesias
  4. Light
  5. Soil and substrate for freesias
  6. Fertilizer for freesias
  7. How to water freesias
  8. Other care of freesias

Characteristics of freesias

Generally speaking, these are the main characteristics of freesias :

  • Freesia, also called freesia or strawberry, is a genus that originates from South Africa and owes its name to the 19th century naturalist Theodor Freese. It is part of the Iridáceas family and has about 20 species and a large number of hybrid varieties , most of them currently cultivated in the Netherlands.
  • These bulbs, which are planted in the fall and then bloom in the spring , can reach heights of around 30 centimeters, although some can reach as high as 50 centimeters.
  • Its funnel-shaped flowers are grouped in inflorescences and can be of a wide range of colors depending on the species or variety, but the white ones stand out especially for their great aroma.
  • The leaves are thin and long and deep green in color. It is common to have them both in pots and on the ground, since the plant is suitable for both outdoors and indoors, although it depends on whether the climate is temperate or extreme.
  • If you get freesia corms or bulbs, buy them in the fall to plant immediately, and look for them to be firm to the touch. The soft ones are probably in bad condition or sick, so it is preferable to avoid them.

If you like bulbous, do not hesitate to visit this other article about 15 bulb plants: names, characteristics and photos .

Freesia care – a basic guide

Freesias are not a particularly delicate plant, but they are not very rustic or super resistant, so they need some care. Follow these guidelines on basic freesia care to keep your plants in the best possible shape:

  • Climate, light and location: they are temperate or warm, so they can be outside in these but they must be indoors in cold places. It is better to place them in a semi-shady area, which receives a lot of but not direct light.
  • Substrate for freesias: they need a light substrate with good drainage to avoid puddles.
  • Compost: it is advisable to use a little compost such as compost, bokashi type, or worm castings.
  • Irrigation: although they need constant humidity in the soil, the most important thing is to avoid puddles so that the bulbs can rot. During the hot months, which is when the plant is active, it waters quite frequently but in small quantities.

Next, we explain in more detail each of the care of freesias or quitapesares.

Climate and location for freesias

Freesias originate from a warm climate and therefore cannot stand cold climates or frost, which can kill bulbs. If you live in a warm area you can place them outside , without having to move the bulbs in winter, but if in your climate the temperatures drop a lot in the cold months, you will have to keep them in a pot indoors .

In a pot, place them individually in small containers, or join several bulbs in a single large pot, always respecting about 10 centimeters of distance between them. In any case, bury them about 2 inches deep. Containers need to have drainage holes. Both indoors and outdoors, keep them in a location protected from strong winds or normal drafts.

Light

These plants do best in very bright conditions . However, the direct incidence of sunlight, especially in very hot climates or with intense sun, can spoil or spoil freesia flowers.

Taking this into account, the ideal location for them is a semi-shady place , either in an area protected from direct sun in the garden, or in a well-lit room but away from the windows.

Soil and substrate for freesias

Like most bulbs, freesias need well-drained soil to avoid flooding and problems derived from excess humidity. If you plant outdoors, be sure to adequately aerate the soil, and check that it does not puddle or retain too much water when it rains or you water. If so, you will have to add light soil prepared by yourself.

In a pot, use a light substrate for the bulb to grow properly. A mixture with a part of peat, another of coconut fiber and another of worm humus, with an addition of perlite, will result in a light and very rich substrate that does not puddle and has a large amount of nutrients.

Fertilizer for freesias

These plants will appreciate being planted in soil rich in organic matter. You can enrich your soil or substrate with organic organic fertilizer or compost , such as bokashi compost or worm castings. Add some of this to the soil or substrate when the warmer months begin, and as a result, the plant will produce more flowers in spring and summer.

In these other gardening guides from AgroCorrn we teach you how to prepare and use these fertilizers.

How to water freesias

These plants need to have a certain level of humidity in the substrate or soil constantly, at least during their months of activity. Water very often and in small amounts , so that you can keep the soil moist without ever getting it flooded. Between autumn and winter, after its flowering, stop watering to force the plant to enter a vegetative state, which it will keep throughout the cold season.

To learn more about watering freesias and other plants, we advise you to visit this other gardening guide on When to water your plants .

Other care of freesias

If you’ve planted your freesias too shallow, they may need a trellis . Use a stick or wire to guide them and keep them upright, without sagging too much.

In addition, this plant can be attacked by the spider mite or aphid in conditions of high temperatures and humidity. Apply some of its ecological remedies or, better yet, go ahead with preventive measures if you are used to seeing these pests in your area. To help you, at AgroCorrn, we have prepared these guides on pests:

If you want to read more articles similar to Freesia care , we recommend that you enter our Growing and plant care category .

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