How Many Times Does Freesia Bloom in a Year? A Full Guide to Its Blooming Cycle

Freesia is loved by people for its rich colors and the strong fragrance of its blooms. It not only has high ornamental value, but its essential oil can also be used as a raw material for bath gels, body care lotions and other personal care products. So, how many times does freesia bloom in a year?

1. How many times does freesia bloom in a year?

Freesia blooms once a year, with the flowering period from February to May; when planted in autumn, it generally blooms from November to December. Generally, small corms need to be grown for 1 year before they become flowering corms. During the growing period, light needs to be increased; during the flowering stage, water must not be lacking, and fertilizer should be applied once every 10 days until flowering begins; stop fertilizing during the flowering period.

2. Key points for cultivating freesia

1. Light and temperature

The habit of freesia is that it fears both cold and heat. When summer is hot, it enters dormancy; after the weather turns cool, the corms begin to sprout, grow and send up stems to bloom. The suitable growing temperature is 18-20 degrees during the day, 14-16 degrees at night, and the overwintering temperature is 6-7 degrees. Freesia is a light-loving plant, so it requires sufficient light, but under conditions of strong light and high temperature it tends to grow leggy. Freesia flower bud formation is completed under short-day conditions; after the flower buds form, long days promote flowering.

2. Pot and soil selection

Clay pots are preferable, and it should be planted in early September into pot soil that is loose, fertile and well drained. When first potted, the water requirement is not high; water once a week, and later gradually increase the frequency and amount of watering as the plant grows. Freesia has fairly strict water requirements: it fears dampness yet is not tolerant of drought. Too much soil moisture easily causes root rot; a lack of soil water hinders growth and the leaves lose their luster.

3. Fertilizing

When the plant grows 3-4 leaves, it begins to enter the flower bud differentiation stage. Apply a dilute soybean cake water once every 10-15 days, or other phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and shorten the number of light hours (give only 10 hours of light per day) to favor flower bud differentiation. During flower bud differentiation, keep the pot soil moist and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer 2-3 times. After flower spikes appear, stop fertilizing.

4. Watering

In the early growth stage, do not water too much; generally water once a week. When the flower stems are being sent up, watering should be sufficient, but the pot soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise root rot easily occurs.

Freesia is suitable for pot culture or as a cut flower. Its flowers are elegant and beautiful, with a rich fragrance, and its flowering period is relatively long. It can be used to accent furniture, and can also be used in flower beds or natural mass plantings.