From our perspective, water is the essential lifeblood that transports nutrients from our roots to our delicate petals. However, our relationship with water is a delicate dance. We are not thirsty giants like some plants, nor are we desert dwellers. Our tuberous roots are particularly susceptible to rot in soggy, oxygen-deprived soil. Conversely, if we become too parched, our growth will be stunted, our leaves will wilt and brown, and our famed blooms will be few, small, or may not appear at all. The goal is consistently moist, but never waterlogged, soil—a perfect, crumbly cake-like texture that allows our roots to breathe and drink at the same time.
You cannot simply water us on a rigid calendar schedule. Our needs change based on our environment. Primarily, you must consider the weather and season. During our active growth period in the cool spring and early summer, we are constantly moving water and nutrients to support rapid foliage development and flower production. Warm, sunny, or windy days will cause us to lose moisture more quickly through our leaves, requiring more frequent watering. Conversely, during cooler, overcast, or rainy periods, our soil will retain moisture for much longer, and we will need far less from you.
The most reliable way to understand our needs is to physically check the soil around us. We prefer you push your finger about an inch into the soil near our base. If the soil at that depth feels dry, it is the perfect time for a deep, thorough watering. If it still feels cool and moist, please wait and check again in a day or two. When you do water, do so slowly and deeply at the base of our stems, avoiding wetting our foliage, which can invite fungal diseases. The goal is to encourage our roots to grow deep and strong in search of moisture, which makes us more resilient plants. A light surface sprinkle is worse than no water at all, as it only dampens the top layer and encourages shallow, weak roots.
Our watering needs are not static. When you first plant our corms, we require consistent moisture to wake up and initiate root growth—keep the soil lightly moist but not wet. As we mature and develop buds and flowers, our water demand is at its peak; this is when consistent moisture is most critical for achieving those "perfect blooms." Once our flowering show is over and our foliage begins to yellow and die back naturally, this is our signal that we are entering dormancy. You must drastically reduce and then completely stop watering. This dry period is a crucial rest phase for our corms to recharge for the next growing season.
