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You can light- up you
yard next spring by planting spring bulbs now. But guess what? You can do
the same thing, to light up your outdoor containers or to bring spring bulb
colors inside your home. Instead of planting bulbs in the ground, simply
plant them in a pot!
Growing spring bulbs in
a container - Now here’s what you’ll need for your potted spring bulbs
project:
-8 inch or larger pots,
with good drainage holes in the bottom
-Soil-less potting mix
for our potting medium
-A little of Espoma’s
Bulb Food
-And the bulbs of your
choice. Any of the spring flowering bulbs will work, so look at doing some
pots of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths for great fragrances, and a few minor
bulbs, like these crocus, for early colors.
1.) Take your pots and
place about an inch or so of soil-less potting mix in the bottom.
2.) Then, evenly
distribute your bulbs in the mix, point up, and feel free to plant them a
little closer than you would normally in the ground. For the tulips, place
the flat side of the bulb to the outside of the pot.
3.) Cover your bulbs
with more of your soil-less mix, sprinkle on a little bulb food, and then
continue to fill the pot to the top, lightly compressing the soil as you
fill.
4.) Water your potted
bulbs thoroughly.
5.) Now, here’s the
secret. You must over winter your potted bulbs in a cold area. So, leave
your pots sitting outdoors. Once the temperatures outside have become very
cold, consistently, move the planted bulb pots inside an unheated garage or
shed, put them down in a window well, or actually heel them in the ground,
and cover with mulch or leaves for the winter. Check to make sure they
even moisture over the winter, and otherwise, just let them sit.
6.) Early next spring,
when the bulbs start to grow, bring them in to the house, or place your
potted bulbs in an outdoor planter, give them a light feeding, water as
needed, and let them do their ‘spring thing’. When they’re totally
finished, you can take them out of the pot, plant them in the garden and
enjoy them for years to come! |
