Understanding how and when to plant Liatris corms is extremely important, especially if you have high expectations for your ‘blazing star’ perennial. By understanding the appropriate process to follow, you will certainly be satisfied with your blazing star’s full potential at maturity. We’ve included the easy 3-step process for planting Liatris corms.
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When to Plant Liatris Corms
Liatris corms are ideally planted in the spring, although they can be planted during other times of the year if temperatures are cool enough. Cooler temperatures are generally better for planting because it helps the plant get established more quickly and efficiently. After about three months, the first flowers should start blooming and will continue to do so for several years.
One of the reasons that Liatris is such a popular selection for flower gardens is because it is a perennial flower that generally doesn’t require a whole lot of maintenance. They also grow quite quickly and can bloom on a much quicker timeline than other similar companion flowers. Perhaps even more importantly, the location in which you plant the Liatris corms could be even more important.
There are specific types of locations where you should ideally plant the corms. The corms have a shallow root system, which makes it easy to plant multiples. Source. You’ll have an opportunity to learn about the planting process in more depth as you continue reading.
How To Plant Liatris Corms
The first concept that we are going to explore is the spacing for when you plant the corms. It’s important for there to be adequate spacing within the hole in which you are planting them. If you are planting the corms individually, this is less of a concern.
Step 1
You’ll want to start by loosening the adjacent soil.
Step 2
You should start to dig the hole. It’s a good idea for the hole to be about four inches deep, although this can vary slightly and not cause any issues.
Step 3
The corms should be carefully placed inside the hole at this point. If you are planting them together, about six inches of center spacing is probably a good idea for the best results.
The soil conditions should also be monitored. It’s never a good thing if the soil is too dry. If you believe the soil is not moist and too dry, you’ll want to cover the hole and slowly add water to the surrounding area.
Less water can be added if the soil is already moist enough, although more water should be added if the opposite scenario exists. Finding the right balance will be worth it, especially since we are trying to make it as convenient as possible for the Liatris to grow.
General Maintenance After Planting Liatris Corms
Don’t underestimate the general resilience of Liatris corms. They are extremely tough and capable of surviving on their own once they are established. That’s the key though, they need enough time to establish themselves and this takes a reasonable amount of time.
There’s no way to speed up the process but you can expect better results if conditions are ideal and you supply the proper amount of water every week.
In the days immediately after planting the corms, you’ll want to water them about once every seven to ten days. The reasoning for this is that you don’t want warm and dry weather to take a toll on the newly planted corms.
After maintaining them for a couple of months, Liatris will have built up enough of a root structure to take care of itself. This is the point in time where maintenance is very optional because of the overall tolerance of Liatris in the first place. It’s still a good idea to help out your Liatris plants whenever you see fit, especially if you believe a drought is occurring.
Mistakes To Avoid After Planting Liatris Corms
The first mistake that you’ll want to avoid is to make sure that you don’t overwater your Liatris corms. This can cause harm or reduce the overall potential of your new plant and it’s just as dangerous as not watering the new corms at all.
The same thing can be said for just about all bulbs, but it remains true with Liatris. After a few weeks and months go by, you won’t need to do anything at all to keep your plants alive. They are known to be very tolerant of drought-type conditions and should have little difficulty surviving on their own.
On the other side of the spectrum, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t ignore your Liatris corms. They will likely need weekly watering for the initial weeks after planting so that they can build themselves up enough to support themselves in the future. This is a common mistake that some people make and it generally results in a less-than-ideal outcome when everything is said and done.
The final common mistake is placing the corms in a location that doesn’t have sufficient access to sunlight. Perennial flowers like Liatris require a significant amount of sunlight per day. A minimum of six hours is generally recommended, so you’ll probably want to make sure that the location that you choose has at least six hours of full sunlight per day for optimal conditions.
Related Questions
How much spacing should there be when planting Liatris?
Two and a half feet at a minimum should be provided to your Liatris when planting them. This is true even if you are planting Liatris around other types of plants. Without sufficient spacing, you could experience difficulties with growing out your Liatris perennial plants.
When do Liatris corms sprout?
It’s common for Liatris plants to grow from the corms that sprout in the early months of the year. This is generally around the spring, but it can rarely extend into the early summer. The Liatris flowers will then bloom in the middle of summer and conclude by the end of the summertime.