Decide how many pots you want and where
you want to place them. Pots with a 16 inches or
larger diameter will support a mixture of bulb
varieties better than smaller diameter ones. Use
smaller pots with a single type of bulb overplanted
with violas or pansies. For example, a 16-inch
diameter pot will hold about 30 tulips or 15 large
bulb daffodils, or 30 smaller bulbs like hyacinths,
or about 50-60 crocus/grape hyacinths. A word of
caution: most bulbs do not like shady spots and
will not perform well. A minimum of four hours a
day of sun is recommended.
Once the pot or pot groupings are planned,
you can begin the fun process of planting. When
combining bulbs, choose ones that bloom at
approximately the same time. For example, don’t
pair a late blooming daffodil with crocuses that
are very early bloomers.
If planting a single type of bulb such as
hyacinths, add soil to the pot and leave about 4
inches. Add bulbs, cover lightly with potting mix,
and add any winter color such as pansies, dian-thus
or violas over the bulbs. Fill in with soil.
If doing bulb combinations, begin by adding
the largest bulbs to the lower half of the pot and
add a light layer of soil. Continue to add bulbs
from largest to smallest in this fashion. Place
bulbs close to one another, but not touching.
Leave at least one inch at the top of the pot so
when you water, the water doesn’t overflow.
If you don’t like seeing a pot filled with soil but
no greenery, feel free to overplant the bulbs with
winter color that the bulbs can grow through.
Avoid plants like cabbages and kale that will
consume the planter and not leave room for the
bulbs to emerge and grow properly.
Once the pots have been planted, water
thoroughly. Then check to make sure the soil
stays moist but not wet. Once the bulbs begin
to emerge, check on plantings more frequently
because the water needs will be greater. Don’t
let the bulb plantings dry out or the flowers will
not form properly. Watch out for those pesky
squirrels that will dig in planters.
When the flowers are spent and the foliage
is beginning to turn a little yellow, plant the
bulbs out in the garden for continued years of
enjoyment.
HERE are some fun combinations to try. Your
local garden center may have these, if not
they are commonly available online. Happy
planning and planting!
IBULB.COM
COOL AS A CUCUMBER
o Thalia daffodil
o Maureen tulip
o Mt. Everest anemone
o Joan of Arc crocus
o Carnegie French hyacinth
o White Magic grape hyacinth
PRETTY BABY
o Pink Impression tulip
o Ice Follies daffodil
o Delft Blue hyacinth
SUNSHINE
o February Gold daffodil
o Tete a Tete daffodil
o Sun Disc daffodil
o Golden Apeldoorn tulip
o Yellow Mammoth crocus
o City of Harlem hyacinth
FLOWER POWER
o Red Apeldoorn tulip
o Kedron daffodil
o Blue De Caen anemone
o Pickwick crocus
PLAYIN’ THE BLUES
o Negrita tulip
o Purple Pride tulip
o Shirley tulip
o Delft Blue hyacinth
o Blue Jacket hyacinth
o Red De Caen anemone
o Lord Lieutenant anemone
o Grape hyacinth
o Spanish bluebells
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