The bulb might have roots growing from it. In that case, be very careful and try to keep as many roots intact as possible while you’re removing it from the ground. Always wear gloves when handling bulbs to avoid possible irritation of the skin.
You can use a bag to transport the bulbs, but be sure to carry them very carefully and avoid dropping or jarring the bag.
If the bulb is damaged during its removal, discard it. Damaged bulbs will likely not last in storage and can begin to rot in the container, potentially damaging the rest of your bulbs.
If your bulbs don’t have any leaves when you dig them up, you can skip this step in the process.
If it isn’t sunny on the days that you’re storing the bulbs, place them inside near a window. It can take 3-4 days for the bulbs to completely dry indoors.
Keeping the bulbs away from sunlight will prevent excessive drying, which will cause the bulbs to die when replanted. Try to choose a windowless room like a basement, garage, or garden shed.
You can use a box or a plastic container as long as it’s clean and dry. Be sure to wipe out the container completely before use. Try to avoid storing the bulbs in layers because this can cause the lower layers to rot or dry out in storage.
Always remember to wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area when handling chemical powders!
After 2 weeks, you can remove the bulbs from their curing area and begin to prepare them for longer-term storage.
Be careful not to wrap the bulbs in multiple layers of newspaper, as this can cause them to become too dry.
The bulbs can touch, but make sure they aren’t packed too tightly! You should be able to move the bulbs around and rearrange them with little effort. If you need to layer the bulbs, place a layer of newspaper in between the bulbs to protect them further.
If you have to layer the bulbs in the container, include a layer of newspaper between each layer of bulbs and storage medium. This will protect the bulbs on the bottom from rotting and help to maintain moisture.
Avoid getting water on bulbs that aren’t drying out, as this can cause rotting.
A good way to check for rotting once per week is by gently pressing on the medium around the bulbs. You shouldn’t be able to press all the way down into the bulb.
