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Preparing and Planting
Bulbs in Containers
Preparing Containers to Plant Bulbs
Preparing containers and planting them with bulbs are simple and nearly foolproof skills you’ll easily master in record time.
Bulbs are among the easiest of all landscape flowering plants to grow in pots and containers.
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The only trick to a successful bulb planting is choosing and preparing the right container [see: Bulbs in Containers].
Remember that function is more important to bulbs than the appearance, color, or decorations on any container. Choose suitable containers that are large enough, are made of non-porous and insulating materials, and have good drainage.
Planting Containers of Bulbs
Once your bulb-planting containers have been prepared, it’s time to plant. You may plant a single species in a pot, or layer multiple bulbs together to make a beautiful living flower arrangement.
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Single-Species and Multi-Species Plantings
Single-species plantings—whether of spring, summer, or autumn bulbs—are somewhat easier than those of mixed species. If it’s your first time out, plant single-species pots to gain experience, then experiment with multiple-species plantings.
Always avoid mixing spring and summer bulbs in the same container; their planting times, care needs, and growing conditions are very different.
To plant a single type of bulb, note its needs [see: Bulbs].
Partially fill a container with loose potting soil. Compact the soil until the distance from the soil’s surface to a point 1 inch (25 mm) below the rim of the container is the same as the species’ recommended planting depth.
Arrange the bulbs in the container, spacing them closely together. Bulbs in container plantings are always planted closer together than those in outdoor gardens.
Finish by covering the bulbs with soil and watering them. Allow the container to drain completely, then place it in a sheltered spot until the bulbs’ sprouts emerge. Once the bulbs are up, move it to its display location.
A cool, dry location safe from freezing is appropriate for spring bulbs; a sheltered outdoor area with filtered sunlight is best for summer and autumn bulbs.
Layering Bulbs
You’ll enjoy even more colorful containers when you layer different species of bulbs. Layering is the technique of planting different bulb types separated vertically in the same pot.
If possible, plant deep, late-blooming species on the bottom, then shallower types above them. Tulips and crocus are a popular combination, but you’ll find many other striking options to explore.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Pick the right container to fit the needs of the bulbs you choose to plant [see Bulbs in Containers].
Each species has a specific planting depth—a good rule of thumb is 3 times the bulb’s height. Every bulb also has specific soil needs it requires to thrive [see: Bulbs].
A bulb container should be at least 3 inches (75 mm) deeper than the recommended planting depth. Check for drain holes and, if necessary, add or enlarge them.
Choose and prepare your containers for planting by following these steps:
How to Prepare Containers for Bulbs
Choose containers that are made of insulating materials to keep your bulbs from overheating. Best are ceramic, insulated composite plastic, terra cotta, and wood.
Add more drain holes, enlarge any that are too small, or drill your own drains by using a power drill fitted with a 3/8‑in. (9‑mm) masonry bit.
If containers are dirty or you reuse containers again, sterilize them in a solution of 1 part household chlorine bleach mixed with 9 parts water. Wear protective clothing and gloves while mixing or using the bleach solution. Soak the pots in bleach solution for at least 30 minutes, then rinse and dry your containers overnight before planting bulbs into them.
Reduce the likelihood of unsightly mineral salts forming on the outside of porous pots by painting their interiors with breathable latex sealant. Dry the sealant overnight before planting. Soak terra-cotta pots in water before planting.
Warning:
Household bleach is made with sodium hypochlorite, a powerful skin and eye irritant. Avoid hazard by wearing gloves and protective clothing whenever you handle bleach solution.
Layer containers with several different species or colors of bulbs for simultaneous bloom, or plant species with different bloom times to extend the season.
Using the technique demonstrated, three or four layers of bulbs are planted in turn. The bulbs requiring the greatest planting depth are at the bottom of the pot, while smaller bulb species grow above them.
The finished planting in full bloom is seen above, at right.
Gather your bulbs, potting soil, and container, and follow these simple steps to create a layered bulb planting:
Planting Pots in Layers
Line the container’s bottom with pea gravel or porous landscape fabric to collect moisture below the soil and protect the drain holes from clogging.
Fill the container with 3 in. (75 mm) of potting soil, then compact it with your hands. Next, add large, deeply planted bulbs, slightly crowding and evenly spacing them.
Place the first bulbs with their pointed ends facing up. Cover them with potting soil. Measure the depth to the pot fill line that will become the finished planting’s soil surface. Add or remove soil as necessary.
Cover the first layer with soil until it reaches the depth needed for the shallower bulbs. Add your second layer of bulbs, spacing them evenly. Cover them with soil. You may repeat, moving up, with other bulb types for third and fourth layers, as desired.
Fill the rest of the container with soil and level it to about 1 in. (25 mm) below the pot’s rim. Water thoroughly to settle the soil. Allow the container to drain completely before moving it to its display location.
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