Tuberoses (Polianthes tuberosa), also known as Rajnigandha in India, are tall spikes holding waxy white flowers with a captivating, sensuous fragrance. However, they are not roses but are part of the Asparagaceae family, which includes Hostas and Asparagus. They bloom into the night, making them an ideal choice for moon gardens, and their perfume intensifies as night falls, to attract the night pollinators. Tuberoses are considered a symbol of romance and devotion and are often used in Hawaiian Leis and Indian weddings as well as religious ceremonies. My mother used to get a supply of them twice a week for her prayer room.
They are long-lasting as cut flowers, and if you choose stalks which have only a bud or two open, they will all gradually open and give you a beautiful fragrant flower arrangement for over a week. Team them with some gorgeous Gladioli and you have a striking fragrant flower arrangement that gets better every day./
Tuberoses are grown from bulbs. They need to be planted when it is warm, around 22 degrees Celsius, which is probably year-round in the Gulf. Tuberoses need a rich, well-draining soil mix, and I would add some home compost and some gravel to the soil mix while planting in pots. They also require a soil PH of 6.5 to 7.5 to flourish and need full sun for at least 7 hours to flower.
In the Gulf, they do fine in the full sun even at 42+ degrees centigrade, so a definite must-have for your summer garden. They are heavy feeders and need a balanced fertilizer on a schedule. Alternatively, try one that is high in phosphorus and potassium. Bunny poo works a delight for these. Make sure your pots have good drainage and water well regularly, making sure soil is moist but not waterlogged. They are normally pest-free but sometimes get thrips and mealybugs. A broad-spectrum pesticide like deltamethrin works well, but I use orange bioenzyme every two weeks at 100ml/L, which works well. I have linked the earlier blog post on how to make bioenzyme here.
If the bulbs are small, they take around 2 seasons to flower, so pick the larger size, mature bulbs. They come in pale pink and yellow varieties as well as a multipetalled variety called Pearl. Normally, tube roses will yield for three years or so before dying down. That is when it is a good idea to separate the bulbs and replant. The video below shows you how to separate the bulbs.
I have seen little signs of dormancy here in the Gulf, but I would assume January and February are the time. Please reduce watering then, but keep the soil evenly moist. Separate and replant in February and fertilize well then for amazing flowers in May. As a thumb rule, they bloom 90-120 days after planting.
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