What are the precautions for growing freesia in water?

  Freesia blooms are both beautiful and fragrant, and it is also very widely used: it can be grown in pots, and it can also be used as a cut flower or in floral arrangements grown in water. Clearly, freesia is a very practical flowering plant, whether used to beautify and accent a space or simply enjoyed directly, it is excellent.

  However, when grown in water as a fresh cut flower or in a floral arrangement, it does not bloom as long-lasting or as on schedule as when grown in soil. In a water-grown environment, freesia generally grows rather slowly and blooms rather late, so you need a certain amount of patience before it opens into its beautiful form. Moreover, the flowering period in water is relatively short, especially when fresh cut flowers are used in a floral arrangement grown in water, where the conditions required for blooming are even more demanding. So, what precautions are there for growing freesia in water?

  There are usually two ways to grow freesia in water: one way is to use corms for hydroponics, just like hydroponic garlic; the other way is to take soil-grown freesia flower stems, gather them into bunches, and then insert them into a glass bottle as fresh cut flowers to grow in water. The former often has a fairly long flowering period, lasting as long as several months; but the latter has a rather short flowering period, often lasting only 1-2 weeks.

  I. Growing corms in water

  If we grow freesia in water using corms, we generally adopt a low-water-level growing method. Choose healthy, undamaged corms, then place them one by one in a glass container holding a small amount of water for planting. It is usually recommended to use a planting basket for growing them, and at the same time put some small stones in the container to fill the space and hold the corms in place.

  Note that the water quality must be clean, and tap water must not be used directly. If tap water really must be used, it also needs to be left to stand and air out for a few days in advance. Also, change the water frequently, and each time you change the water you can add a few drops of nutrient solution. This is because freesia grown in water mainly relies on water and nutrient solution to sustain life and growth.

  II. Growing floral arrangements in water

  Growing floral arrangements in water is roughly the same as the water-growing method for ordinary flowering plants, except that we generally cut bunches of flower stems from soil-grown freesia and insert them into a glass bottle, then pour in an appropriate amount of clean water, likewise growing them at a low water level. If the water level is too deep, it will inevitably submerge some of the leaves on the flower stems in the water, which easily causes rot and brings about its own pathogens. So, all the leaves below the water surface need to be removed.

  In addition, when growing freesia floral arrangements in water, the water must be changed even more frequently, generally keeping to a change every 2-3 days, and you can also add a few drops of nutrient solution as appropriate. Also, when changing the water, promptly wash the container clean, and the base of the flower stems should also be trimmed appropriately. Besides ensuring the amount of water, light and temperature must also be suitable. Especially when the light is too strong and the temperature is too high, it is unfavorable for the opening of the cut flowers.