Arizona Flower Bulb Care

Chilling

• Spring bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths and daffodils require a chilling period, a certain number of weeks where the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the time, Arizona desert winters can't meet that requirement, so the bulbs must be chilled in the refrigerator before planting.

Feeding

• Arizona soil is poor because most of the natural vegetation doesn't produce much of organic material for the soil. The leaves of desert trees, such as palo verde and ironwood are small to conserve moisture. There's not much rainfall, only an average of 7 inches per year, so the vegetation that falls to the ground decomposes slowly. Bulbs require the soil to be amended with compost or other organic material, as well as additional feedings.

Heat

• Temperatures in Arizona reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on a daily basis in the summer, which begins in May and lasts through September. Summer bulbs such as lilies require afternoon shade.