- 1). Give Christmas bells support to grow because they are climbing plants. The best way to do this is to plant them near a support structure, such as a trellis or fence. They only climb to about 2 feet, so the support does not need to be tall like other climbing plants. They also make good container plants; just insert a small plant trellis designed for containers when planting.
- 2). Provide them with soil that drains water well. A common way to improve drainage is to incorporate 3 or 4 inches of organic matter --- compost, peat or leaf mold --- with the top 8 inches of soil.
- 3). Water the tubers after planting; 1 to 2 inches will suffice. Then, keep the soil slightly moist until you see growth, at which point, water weekly with an inch of water if rain is scarce. When the plants are finished blooming, stop watering.
- 4). Mulch the tubers in the fall in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9. This is a transitional zone where the tubers may or may not survive the winters, so it's best to cover them to prevent them from freezing. Hay or leaves make a good mulch. About 4 inches will suffice.
- 5). Lift tubers with a trowel or pitch fork in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 and cooler in the fall before temperatures drop below 50 F. They are planted about 2 inches deep.
- 6). Store lifted tubers in moist peat moss or vermiculite until the spring, when you can plant them after the last frost. Check on the tubers every couple weeks to make sure they are not drying out and add water if necessary. Discard rotten tubers. Keep tubers in a cool, dry area around 63 F, according to North Carolina State University.
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