winter bulb storage help

[tangers40]

i bought a couple calla lily bulbs this past summer, and now that it's time for a cool rest (i.e. in the fridge you go lol), i have a couple questions. i've never stored a bulb for the winter, so this is all new to me.

1) do i cut the existing roots off the bulbs before storing them? they both have some super long spidery roots, but i have no idea whether i should cut them (they were rootless when i got them) or not.

2) i plan to store them in a paper bag...should i add some sphag or something with them? i've read conflicting reports about this.

thanks for any help you can provide for a bulb n00b. and keep in mind these were cheap (i.e. the pot they came with is worth more than these guys are), so i'm not really worried about killing them, but i'd like to make every effort i can to keep them thru the winter.

[orchids4me]

Hi,
We have some that have been in the ground for 20 years and I finally dug them up and potted them this year these ones get as tall as waist high (were my grandmothers). Others in pots I just move the pots to the garage and store them cool no water. My grandmother use to store bulbs trimmed dried roots in brown paper bags in the garage.
I know I've heard tulips defiantly need to be dug up and stored. But I (personal experience) don't usually dig up the cala lilys. Just store them in their pots.

[katrina]

Wyoming winters are RADICALLY different than East Bay, CA. Actually, radically different might be an understatement. LOL!

I don't grow Callas but I do grow Tuberoses and Canna. I dig them up...shake them off and let them dry. I then put them in a paper bag w/a little bit of peat. I have a friend who grows Canna and she just wraps them in newspaper. I'm not sure if it matters all that much as long as they aren't left wet.

I know we have some Calla growers so hopefully one of them will see your post and chime in.

Almost forgot...I do trim up the extra long roots w/mine. I always leave a little bit just so I know which side is "up" when planting again. I think you could do the same w/the callas.

[Daethen]

This is my first year growing callas, but I have been doing dahlias for a couple. I just dig them up shake off the dirt and put them in a paper bag. Then its down to the cellar for the winter. Wisconsin winters are no picnic either.

[orchidea]

I just bought Calla's a week ago blooming in the containers (2 of them, they were on sale...). They are beautiful; one of them is almost black color.
They like my orchids I guess, because they are standing next to them and still blooming....
I was planning to store the bulbs in the bag in the vegies bin in the fridge..... after they are done blooming.... And then I was thinking to put them back in the containers next Spring. I think it's too dry here for them to be outside......... Did you grow them outside?

[Daethen]

I grew mine outside.

[janet_a]

i wait until mine are all dry and crunchy, then pull them out, comb thru the roots with my fingers, and anything that doesn't come off stays on the bulbs. then i put them back in the ventilated plastic bag they came in and leave them downstairs by the sliding glass doors; it can drop to as low as 50 degrees down there over the winter.

eta: and since my county just emailed me a panicky "freeze warning!" i guess i should pull them out tonight....

[tangers40]

yes, i should clarify: these were not grown outside. i got them late in the year (it was early august, i think), so they didn't have time to bloom this year. but they did put out a good root system and grew several smaller bulbs (tubers? i have no idea) on the sides of each main bulb.

and since i don't have a garage or cool spot to winter them in, they're getting tossed in the veggie bin in the fridge. i would have just left them in their pot but it won't fit in the fridge lol.

i'll take katrina's advice and just trim up the super long roots. these are pretty easy to tell up from down even without roots since the top has a nice little point to it. but i'm guessing since they came with no roots whatsoever, they re-root pretty easy and chopping this year's roots shouldn't hurt too much. thanks to everyone who chimed in! i appreciate the help!

[Daethen]

Just realize that some bulbs will react with some foods in the fridge and it can cause them harm. I'm not sure what reacts with what though.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Daethen

Just realize that some bulbs will react with some foods in the fridge and it can cause them harm. I'm not sure what reacts with what though.

Yep...it's ripening fruit. The ethylene gas fruit puts off as it ripens can cause the flower buds inside the bulbs to be damaged and/or cause them to abort. ie - no flowers. Supposedly apples are the worst offender for this.

[tangers40]

fortunately, i don't keep any fruit in my fridge, either i'll give em another day or so to dry out, then in they go.