Ixia is related to gladioli—it's also propagated from bulbs and dug up for the winter. If you're considering adding this exotic beauty to your garden, let's learn more about Ixia: planting and care in the open ground, see photos, and determine the proper care.
Ixia came to us from overseas, specifically South America. It's an easy-to-care-for plant with beautiful blooms. Numerous hybrids have now been developed, and by planting several species, you can create a beautiful flowerbed that will delight the eye. Moreover, this exotic flower is not only delicate and beautiful, but also very fragrant, making it even more appealing to gardeners to cultivate such beauty. Ixia can grow up to 70 cm, so consider its companionship with other plants when planting. The flowers are varied and close at night, but in the morning, as the sun rises, you step out into the garden and are amazed by the unearthly beauty that unfolds!
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How to plant ixia
The flower is virtually disease-resistant and easy to grow. It requires a bright, wind-protected location, free from trees to block the light, loose soil, and regular watering. Remove spent flowers to make way for new buds. You can plant bulbs or divisions (by dividing the bulbs into sections), each with at least one or two buds and the beginnings of roots.
So, you've got your ixia bulbs, what's next? First, wait for the air to warm up and the soil to warm up, as this tropical beauty is sensitive to even slight frosts and requires gentle and careful handling. Now that the weather is warm and frost is no longer expected, it's time to take out the bulbs.
Now we choose a spot on the plot, loosen the soil, and if it's too heavy, add some sand and sawdust to improve drainage and prevent water stagnation. Next, dig holes not too deep, up to 8 cm, with a spacing of 15-20 cm between them. Any deeper will shade each other.
If you're planting divisions, you can make the holes smaller and more closely spaced. Especially when the weather warms up, the divisions are delicate and vulnerable. It's a good idea to add some fertile soil to the holes. That's it, plant them, cover them with soil, cover them with a couple of centimeters of mulch, and forget about them for a couple of weeks. Only when the first sprout emerges is it recommended to begin watering. Now, it's important to understand that large, healthy ixia bulbs will bloom this year, while small ones and divisions may bloom next year, or even the year after.
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If you live in the southern regions, where winters are mild, you can plant the plant in the winter to encourage early blooming. Then, dig a hole 10 centimeters deep, choose healthy, large bulbs to ensure vigor, and mulch the top generously. When the weather warms up in the spring, remove the mulch and the plant will begin to grow vigorously.
How to care
Once the sprouts have emerged, water them generously with warm water, but don't overdo it. To prevent the bulbs from rotting, water and fertilize them periodically, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. Remove any drying flowers, and spray these tropical beauties in hot weather. Incidentally, if your soil is very waterlogged, you can treat the bulbs with a fungicide before planting to prevent rot.
How to preserve for the winter
A tropical plant won't survive the cold and will die, so it needs to be hidden for the winter. As soon as the ixia blooms, dig it up. Carefully peel the bulbs, dry them, treat them with potassium permanganate, dry them again, wrap them in clean newspaper, and store them in a cool, dark place until spring. You can place them in a pot like the one in the photo and cover them. It's best to replant them each spring; that will be better for them.
See also: Garden hydrangea: planting and care in open ground.