Verdant View - September 2025

September Is “Bulbing” Out All Over

There is a pot right outside of my bedroom door leading to the terraza that blooms every year in December. The flower is a hypnotizing red and its long dark green leaves grow most of the year, awaiting the arrival of their flower. I did not plant the amaryllis. The previous house owners must have been the gardeners. I thank them for having left me such a constant gift. I feel the amaryllis is a stalwart friend, greeting me in the mornings, faithfully blooming on time.

Like this amazing plant, bulbs in general mirror our progress as humans. Bulbs are hidden underground and as individuals we may start with hidden potential. We make conscious efforts while planting and tending to the bulb symbolizing making efforts to cultivate our own skills, relationships, or goals. The manifestation of growth, progress, and the realization of one’s potential can be represented by the flower. Bulbs endure harsh conditions representing difficult periods in life, but they persevere and ultimately bloom, symbolizing resilience and the ability to overcome adversity. The flowers that emerge from bulbs bring color, joy, and beauty to the garden and serve as a reminder to appreciate the present moment of beauty that exists in each stage of life.

What to plant in September

The rains are tapering off. Look for Moluccella or Bells of Ireland. It may be hard to find, so consider starting the plants from seed. Also at the viveros: Ageratum (in pink, blue, and white), Kalanchoe, Chrysanthemum, the familiar annuals: Zinnia, marigold, Cosmos and sunflowers, and all the plants that do well all year round.

Now is the time to put members of the cabbage family into your veggie garden and also lettuce, peas, and spinach. Since our rains are at their end, you may have to begin a regular watering schedule towards the end of the month. Water deeply once or twice a week to promote deep root growth. Let the soil around established plants dry out between watering. Keep pruning, deadheading, and fertilizing, especially if you use a liquid fertilizer.

September’s mildness makes gardening tasks pleasant. The soil and air are warm but not overly hot. Fresh summer produce is still delicious, but production is slowing down. Garden tasks usually center around cleaning up the old garden and getting the new one started.

Hose off plant foliage, both top and underneath leaf surfaces, to lessen insect populations. This is especially helpful to get rid of aphids, caterpillars, mealy bugs, spider mites, and whiteflies on beans, collards, kale, tomatoes and roses. Be sure to do this early enough in the day (preferably early morning) so that the foliage can dry completely by sunset.

Continue replenishing your compost pile. Spent annuals and vegetables add a lot of bulk now, along with grass, other garden clippings and non-greasy trimmings from the kitchen. Leave out plants that are obviously infected with diseases. Destroy or dispose of these infected clippings instead. Chop up bulky items to help them decompose faster. Layer greenery with a bit of soil and dry matter. Keep the pile moist but not waterlogged and turn it or loosen it every other week or so to let in air.

Choose big, plump bulbs, as these have the most stored food and will produce the largest and most numerous blooms over the longest period. They cost a bit more, but they’ll provide a great deal more pleasure when they bloom. Refrigerate Hyacinths and tulips for six to eight weeks before planting them in November.

Don’t forget to buy some bulbs just for indoor color from Thanksgiving through January. Good choices include Amaryllis, Crocus, Freesias, lily-of-the-valley, paper whites, and tulips.

Depth of planting also affects when the bulbs will bloom. Shallower plantings will bloom sooner, and deeper plantings will bloom later. If you want everything to bloom for one spectacular display, plant the bulbs at the same time and at the same depth. If you prefer color over several months’ time, plant bulbs every several weeks varying the planting depths each time you plant.