Greetings, Southern Gardener. We are the Tuberose, Polianthes tuberosa, and we are grateful for your care. To thrive in your warm climate and reward you with our intoxicating fragrance, we require specific attention throughout the year. Here is our calendar of needs, from our perspective.
As the soil warms reliably in March or April, it is time to wake us from our slumber. Please plant our tuberous rhizomes in a sunny location (we demand at least 6-8 hours of direct sun) with well-draining soil. Bury us about 2-3 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart. Water us thoroughly at planting to settle the soil around us, but then wait. We are susceptible to rot if overwatered before we have significant growth. Once our green spikes emerge from the soil, you may begin a regular watering schedule, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between drinks. As we establish ourselves, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer will give us the strength for the growth to come.
This is our time to shine! The intense Southern heat is perfect for us. We are now in our active growth phase and will be putting all our energy into growing tall stalks and developing our magnificent flower spikes. Consistent moisture is crucial now; we require deep watering about once or twice a week, depending on rainfall. The goal is to keep our roots moist but never waterlogged. In early summer, please feed us with a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the package) to encourage our spectacular and fragrant bloom production. By mid-to-late summer, our white, waxy flowers will open, releasing our signature perfume most intensely in the evening. Deadheading spent blooms will help us look tidy.
As the days shorten and the intense heat begins to fade, our blooming period will end. Please stop fertilizing us now. We need to begin preparing for our rest. You can reduce watering frequency as our foliage will naturally start to yellow and die back. This is not a sign of neglect; it is a natural process. Do not be tempted to cut our leaves down while they are still green. We are using this process to draw energy back down into our rhizomes to store for next year's growth. Once the foliage has turned completely brown and withered, you may then gently cut it back to ground level.
In the warmest parts of the South (USDA zones 8-10), we can often overwinter in the ground if provided with a thick layer of mulch, such as straw or pine needles, to protect our roots from a rare, hard freeze. However, in areas where the soil freezes or becomes cold and soggy, we must be lifted. Carefully dig up our rhizomes, brush off the soil, and allow us to dry in a warm, airy place for a week or two. Then, store us in a box of peat moss, vermiculite, or dry sand in a cool (50-60°F), dark, and dry location until it is time to plant us again in the spring. We need this period of dormancy to gather strength for another cycle of growth and fragrance.
