They produce some of the most desirable flowers we know and love, but a bulb can be very confusing to an amateur gardener. We look at this little stub and think, "Seriously, a daffodil is going to sprout up from this thing?" As tropical houseplant growers, bulbs can be a totally different game when it comes to caring, with different sets of tips to be mindful of. Jenks Farmer is a bulb expert and lifelong gardener and in this ep, he joins us to break down everything you need to know about bulbs. Let's dive in!Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Society!The Bloom and Grow Garden Society is your one-stop shop for plant parenthood growth. When you join, you'll gain full access to the Garden Party Community Platform and App PLUS monthly plant care lectures with Horticulturist in Residence Leslie Halleck, monthly office hours with Leslie to troubleshoot your personal plant care issues and monthly Growing Joy Calls with Maria to develop our community of Society Members and explore the plant/person connection.Click here to join us!Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!In this episode we learn:[00:49] Growing Joy updates and invitation[02:04] Watering technique tips and water quality lecture[04:05] How Jenks became the bulb expert he is today[07:35] What is a bulb? How do we identify bulbs?[11:52] Listener question: When is the best time to plant alliums? Will the plants reproduce over time?[12:43] Where can you find bulbs in nature?[14:33] Beginner terms: Annuals vs perennials[15:10] What is a naturalized garden?[16:29] When do you plant different kinds of bulbs?[18:35] How does ground temperature trigger bulb growth?[19:03] How do you force bulbs indoors?[23:14] How do bulbs grow? Why do we need to divide bulbs?[24:53] The best gardening products for any gardening situation[26:14] Where to get pre-grown plants and seeds for your spring garden[27:47] Why do we need to dry bulbs? How do you store dry bulbs?[28:16] How do you store caladiums?[31:04] Jenks’ indoor bulb recommendations[32:00] Do all bulbs go dormant?[34:21] How do you plant bulbs? Do bulbs have to be planted right side up?[35:32] What is the ideal soil mixture for bulbs? How often should you fertilize bulbs?[37:08] How deep should bulbs be planted? Why is depth important?[39:17] Jenks’ bulb recommendations for every season![42:05] Why does Jenks like crinums?[42:50] Where do crinums originate from?[44:11] Where can crinums grow in the country?[45:29] Why Jenks wrote a book on crinums[48:04] Where to find Jenks online[50:01] Maria’s gardening plans update and spring announcementsMentioned in our conversation:PRE-ORDER LINK: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungThe Crinum Book, book by Augustus Jenks FarmerFunky Little Flower Farm, book by Augustus Jenkins FarmerDeep-Rooted Wisdom: Skills and Stories from Generations of Gardeners, book by Augustus Jenkins FarmerJenks Farmer’s bulb and containersThank you to our episode sponsors:Territorial Seed CompanyExcited for this year's growing season? If you’re looking for plants for your garden, skip the lines at the garden center and let Territorial Seed Company deliver top-of-the-line, healthy and hardy vegetable plants right to your door! They have a great line of pre-grown plants, an expansive seed catalog, and over 40 years of experience delivering the best seeds and plants for everyone's garden. They are offering an exclusive discount just for listeners of Bloom & Grow Radio, use code GROW10 to get 10% off your first order. Order now at territorialseed.comEspoma OrganicEspoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To learn more about their pet safe indoor and outdoor gardening products, visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Jenks: WebsiteInstagramYouTubeBooksFollow Maria and Bloom and Grow Radio:Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet!Take the Bloom and Grow Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram and Facebook: @BloomandGrowRadioTiktok: @bloomandgrowradioSubscribe to the Bloom and Grow Youtube Show! /BloomandgrowradioWebsite: www.bloomandgrowradio.comJoin the (free) Garden Club: www.bloomandgrowradio.com/garden-club