Autumn has begun. And although spring still seems far away, it is important to think about it already. After all, now is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. Think tulips, daffodils, muscari and crocuses, among others. And this time we're not doing that in the open ground, but rather in pots. Flower bulbs in the city or in the countryside: everyone can see them bloom!
When do you plant flower bulbs?
Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted from September to the end of December. With the exception of tulips, which are best put in the ground only from mid-October. The later you plant them, the smaller the chance of botrytis tulipae, a dangerous fungus that attacks your bulbs when the soil is too warm. By the way, the planting time for flower bulbs is an indication, because experience shows that you can plant them as long as the soil is not frozen. January is really the last chance, though, because the thing about bulbs is that they prefer to have had a period of cold. That way they bloom without much trouble.
How deep do you plant the bulbs?
Anyone can plant flower bulbs, because the job doesn't involve much. Make a hole, insert bulb and you're done. But there are still a few points to keep in mind. For example, plant the bulb 2 to 3 times deeper than it is tall. It's not an exact science, but you do want it to be deep enough so it will be firmly planted later. It goes without saying that a tulip or daffodil should therefore be much deeper than an iris or crocus.
Flower bulbs in pots: also in the city
We honestly can't imagine a garden without bulbs. And honestly: if anything, we like them even more when they are in a pot or zinc tub. Yes, they grow perfectly there, too. You can move them easily, and you'll have a nice close-up view when everything starts blooming in spring. Below are our step-by-step procedures:
Choose pots that are frost-resistant and can stay outside. In our shop you will find a range of handmade terracotta pots that are frost-resistant and will not crack due to a high firing temperature.
Fill the pot with (peat-free) potting soil. Depending on the size of the bulb, half full. Bulbs need some depth to grow.
The bulbs may be placed close together. You want to get as many flowers out of a pot as possible. Make sure they are not against each other, but leave a little space between each other.
Then put another layer of soil on top. Not to the top. After all, we are going to finish the bulbs with our secret weapon: pansies!
Pansies are very rewarding bloomers, continuing to bloom throughout the fall and winter. Even in spring they bloom the tiles off the roof. Combined with your bulbs, this is very beautiful. And let's face it: that way you won't be sitting around looking at empty pots all winter.
Top the soil with a small amount of small bark, or trimmings from the garden. This will keep the soil covered. Less weeds and less chance of drying out.
Watering is important, a pot can dry out quickly from wind and sunlight. Even in winter. So don't forget to water occasionally (when it's not freezing).
Tip
Does it rain a lot during the winter months? Put the pots with the bulbs under a shelter or - if that's not an option - turn the saucers over, then the pots won't have their feet in the water and your bulbs are less likely to rot.
making flower bulb lasagna
Ever heard of a bulb lasagna? Not strange kitchen jargon, but a very fun way to combine several flower bulbs in one pot. The goal? You create a pot that looks beautiful forfour to five months. Each variety follows one another and makes for an impressive spectacle. Possibly I'm romanticizing things a bit, but you really can get a good result. The principle is simple: you start at the bottom with the last flowering tulip and then layer until you get to the earliest flowering one. First late-flowering tulips, then daffodils and then crocuses and possibly early irises. That way you have a new flower every month and there is always something to do.
Learn more thanks to our videos
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In this video, Angelo explains to you how to make the most beautiful combinations yourself with bulbs in a pot. He shows exactly how to get started.
A shallow pot for your bulbs
Did you know that flower bulbs like tulips and daffodils are planted an average of 10 to 15 inches deep? That means you can also plant in shallow pots. And that's what we recommend you do, it looks so incredibly beautiful! Especially if you combine them with the slightly taller ones. Height difference is very important, if you want to make a nice display with flower bulbs.
What do you do after flowering?
Wondering what to do with bulbs in a pot after they bloom? You can take them out and plant them in the garden, or let them sit, keep watering and let them bloom again next year. If so, add some extra compost in the pot so there are some organic compounds from which the bulbs can draw. Keep in mind that tulips, with the exception of botanical varieties, often only bloom really well once. After that, the flowers get smaller and smaller, until eventually they stop blooming and form mostly leaves. Thus, regular tulips often only give everything once and then become weaker.
