Dormant Plants

Question

I read that I should cut the flower stalks off the plant when they died but leave the leaves on but one plants leaves are so long they fell over so don’t know what to do with it.also was told just to leave dormant plants in a sunny window water and set outside in the spring to bloom.thought bulbs had to go dormant.thanks for any help you can give me

Answer 1

If you mean spring-blooming bulbs, their foliage needs to die back gradually so they can nourish the bulb for next year. Same is true for lily bulbs. Cut off the dead flower stalk but let the foliage die back naturally. Then in the fall the brown foliage can be removed. Then if your bulbs are not hardy in your area, they need to be dug up and stored in a cool but below freezing place for winter.

Here is more information on dormancy.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/when-do-plants-wake-up.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/tips-for-adding-bulbs-to-your-flower-garden.htm