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| Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard |
| Bulbs are the perfect option for dressing up a stairway to an apartment or urban home’s entrance. Try using several matching containers of red or pink tulips. |
Nothing brightens up an entryway, patio, balcony or rooftop quite like big, beautiful planters of brightly colored bulbs! They can be clustered and arranged in groups to create attractive, changeable displays in so many settings and are a great way to beautify and soften the look of any bare spot, no matter where you may live.
The best part about planting bulbs in containers is that it’s easy – you just need to know a few tricks.
For starters, you need to pick the right pot – and not just one that looks pretty or matches your outdoor décor. You need to consider size, insulation and drainage, too. So when shopping for your containers, keep these things in mind:
Size. Bulbs need enough space for their roots to grow and for soil to support their stems. Pick large, deep containers that are able to accommodate your bulbs at their proper planting depth, with room to spare.
Porosity. Porous terra-cotta allows plant roots to breath while still offering some insulation. Thin, plastic pots, on the other hand, can overheat in sunlight, so limit their use – or slip them inside decorative ceramic pots that will insulate them. If using a porous pot, paint the interior with a breathable latex sealant. Dry the sealant-painted pot overnight before planting, and soak terra-cotta pots in water before use. Drainage. Bulbs need good drainage to avoid fungal diseases, so choose containers with drain holes – or drill them yourself. Then add a layer of porous landscape fabric, pea gravel or pottery shards to the pot’s bottom to keep soil and roots from clogging the drains. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard | | Add a punch of color anywhere – from balcony to back door – with a beautiful container of bulbs! |
Once your containers are ready, it’s time for the bulbs! The best spring-blooming bulbs for containers are anemone, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip. Good choices for containerized summer bloomers include tuberous begonia, caladium, dwarf dahlia varieties and lily. For blooms later in the year, try autumn crocus, cyclamen and meadow saffron.
Single-species bulb plantings (no matter when they bloom), are somewhat easier to plant than mixed species, so sticking with one kind of bulb for your first containerized bulb planting is a great way to learn. To plant a single type of bulb, first note its recommended planting depth (typically 3-4 times the bulb’s height). Then partially fill your container with loose potting soil, compacting it until the distance from the soil’s surface to the rim of the container equals the required planting depth, plus an additional inch (so the container isn’t filled to the brim with soil). Next, arrange your bulbs in the container, spacing them closely together. (Containerized bulbs can be planted closer together than what’s recommended for outdoor gardens.) Finally, cover the bulbs with soil and water them in.
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| Warnings |
- Large pots filled with bulbs, soil and water are heavy, so be careful when it comes to moving them. Always use lifting aids, and be sure to display containers on sturdy supports or stands that are able to hold their full weight.
- If you reuse containers, sterilize them first in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water. Household bleach is made with sodium hypochlorite, a powerful skin and eye irritant, so wear protective clothing and gloves when sterilizing. Dry pots overnight before planting.
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| Tips |
- Don’t have time to plant your own tulips (or live in a warm climate where they don’t get the chill they need to grow)? No problem. Head to your local garden center and pick up some forced bulbs (ones that are already blooming), and plant those in your containers. Just cut away the outer plastic pot and move soil and all to the new, larger container. Be sure to match the soil level of the original container, then water heavily to compact the surrounding soil. Keep watering your transplanted bulbs the first few days until the soil is soaked, then water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Forced bulbs rarely bloom in their second season, but if cared for properly, they can regain strength and bloom in subsequent years.
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| Facts |
- Containers drain rapidly, are susceptible to drought, quickly lose water-soluble nutrients and may overheat in direct sun. You can counter these tendencies with careful placement, frequent watering and regular feeding during active growth with either granular or foliar (leaf-absorbed) fertilizer until the flower buds form.
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| Faqs |
- Q: Can I layer spring- and summer-blooming bulbs in the same container for a season-long display?
A: It’s really not a good idea. Spring- and summer-blooming bulbs have different planting times, care needs and growing conditions. You’d be better off planting different containers for the different seasons.
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