Where is the best place to store bulbs?

Finding the best storage location for bulbs depends on the temperature, ventilation, and humidity levels. Unheated basements and garages are my first choices due to staying cool to cold, but not freezing. A client stored dahlias in an attic, and by November, the summer heat had turned them to mush.

Regional adaptations are important. Beach gardeners will want to buy dehumidifiers - I use one or two compact models in my Pacific Northwest workshop. Residents of the desert? Line the inside of your storage boxes with damp burlap to combat the dry climate. One of my Tucson clients revived some thirsty dried-up irises in this way last year!

Don't underestimate the ethylene gas. A simple bowl of ripening bananas could wreck nearby bulbs. I once lost a crate of ranunculus to a forgotten avocado there, and now I have a strict "no fruit" rule in all my storage spaces. I also have silica gel packs to absorb any residual gas.

Label everything. Use waterproof tags to identify the bulb type, storage date, and ideal temperature. Use colors for each storage container, blue for cold-hardy plants, etc., red for tropical plants. When I had crates without labels last year, I ended up with frozen cannas overwintering in the garage. If you want to know what I lost, a $300 lesson taught me to label and check every month.

Read the full article: How to Store Bulbs: Expert Guide for Healthy Blooms