Is it okay to store bulbs in paper bags?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.When it comes to storing bulbs, paper bags are the superior choice: they enable airflow while blocking light, while plastic bags will not. Paper bags also absorb moisture, so that they do not create pockets of condensation that form in plastic bags. I have successfully stored ranunculus corms in paper bags for 10 months. Line the bags with dry sphagnum moss so that it absorbs residual moisture while avoiding overly drying the bulb(s).
Bag Prep
- Punch 10-12 pencil-sized holes for airflow
- Line with moss layer 1" thick
- Label with waterproof marker
Monthly Checks
- Inspect for bag degradation
- Replace if edges tear or discolor
- Test moss dryness, replenish if brittle
Moss abundance is determined by regional humidity. Gardeners on the coast will only need 0.5" of moss as it will be too moist if soaking full size; If you live in a dry climate area, mist the moss lightly every 6 weeks. A client living in Nevada said he kept tulips that he stored this way, in a garage cabinet for 11 months and they remained plump.
Do not place bulbs in a paper bag stacked on top of one another, as this can cause pressure rot if they are too tightly pressed together. Use separate bags for larger quantities of bulbs. I organized mine according to when they bloom: early-spring blooming bulbs in red bags, and late-spring blooming bulbs in blue bags. This way I avoided and chaotic replanted spring last year.
Ethylene gas from nearby ripening fruit destroys your paper-stored bulbs. Store the bags in areas separate from the kitchen. A client had amaryllis bulbs sprouting too quickly when they were beside ripening bananas; thus she now uses charcoal filters in her storage closets to neutralize gasses in the air.
Read the full article: How to Store Bulbs: Expert Guide for Healthy Blooms
