In virtually all areas where plants grow there is fierce competition for both space and water. Any number of species may be living close together and they are all struggling to get their share of the available resources. Bulbs are an ingenious plant adaptation that helps them get ahead of the game. As an example let us look at the life of a daffodil - the national flower of Wales.
In the wild, the daffodil springs into life early in the year and in advance of most of the plants that it might have to compete with. It grows quickly. By the time that its neighbouring plants are waking up from their winter sleep the daffodil is producing its flowers and it can extend its leaves into all the space it wants because the other species haven't yet got their lives into gear.
The daffodil uses its extended leaves to soak up the sun's energy and to photosynthesise to produce food. The food it produces is stored safely away in its underground bulb.
As the spring progresses, the leaves of all the different plants around the daffodil crowd into its space and deprive it of light but the daffodil doesn't care because its work for the year is now complete and its foliage dies down. The daffodil enters its annual period of dormancy and is completely oblivious to what happens around it. Even if it does not rain all summer long it will be completely unaffected.
Early the next spring the daffodil calls on the precious resources in its bulb to start growing very early in the year so that it can once again get a headstart on its neighbours.
Bulbs are to the plant kingdom what foxes are to the animal kingdom. They use cunning and guile to get what they want from life!
We hope these quizzes will add to your knowledge of how to grow and care for your own bulbs.
