How to Grow Ixia

Summer Care

• 1

  Site Ixia corms where they will receive full sun. Alternatively, a site with morning shade and afternoon sun will suffice, but the flower stems may elongate and bend.

• 2

  Plant wand flower in the fall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 6 through 9. In areas colder than zone 6, plant the corms in the spring and lift them in the fall, just as you would gladioli.

• 3

  Space corms 2 to 3 inches apart and 5 inches deep at the base. You'll be able to plant 10 to 12 corms per square feet. Wand flowers look best when planted in large groups or drifts, or when interplanted with other bulbs that bloom at the same time, such as late tulips or early lilies.

• 4

  Water Ixia often enough to keep the soil constantly moist, even wet. If your soil is sandy, mix a 2 to 3 inch layer of compost or other organic material into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil before planting the corms. The organic material will act like a sponge, holding water until the wand flower roots need it. How often and how much you need to water will depend on your soil structure and the weather, but a good rule of thumb is to give the plants a deep soak when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry.

• 5

  Fertilize wand flowers when you plant them and again after the flowers have faded. Use a fertilizer specially formulated for bulbs and follow the package directions for the amount of product to apply. In zones 6 through 9, where the plants stay in the ground year-round, feed established plants in early spring and again after the flowers have faded.

• 6

  Remove the flowering stems after the blooms fade. This allows the plant to put all its energy into preparing the corm for the next year's display rather than making seed. Do not cut back the foliage until it turns yellow. As long as the foliage is green, the plant is using photosynthesis to make food.

Winter Care

• 7

  Cut the faded leaves to ground level when they turn yellow or brown. Leave Ixia corms in the ground in plant zones 8 and 9. There is no need to give them a winter mulch in those zones.

• 8

  Spread a 3- to 4-inch winter mulch over the corms in plant zones 6 and 7 after you removed the faded foliage. Winter mulches need to be light and airy, so use hay, coarse bark, leaves or pine boughs. Gradually remove the winter mulch in the spring as the weather warms.

• 9

  Dig the corms after the foliage has faded in plant zones 5 and colder. Shake off most of the remaining soil and allow the corms to dry in a warm, protected spot. Store them for the winter in paper bags in a dark spot that stays between 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.